New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1892-04-17
PRINCE DE CHIMAY.
A VIOLIN-PLAYING NOBLEMAN.


Paris. April l.
Prince de Chimay has just died from peculiar
kind Of govt. His mother was daughter Of a
Minister OF Louis Philippe who involved
in the Teste ana Cubees jobbery scandal which
TO Judge it in the light of many financial
scandals Of our time was a small affair She
owned Madame &c Pompadour's chateau of Menau
near BlOis and it there the late Prince Joseph
born. lie married a daughter of Napoleon
dc Montcsquiou Fezensac, playmate Of the King
OF Rome he icing SON OF the Duchessc dc
Montesquiou Fezensac the govcrness Of that Prince
She was an amable, easy-going woman who could
never bear see children conradctcd or restrained
and her own least Of all. They used to bring
their ponies into the schoolroom, and the animals
were allowed to stay there, for otherwise the
children would not learn their lessons. Their
mother thought herself fortunate because her
drawngroom was not turned into stable. Prince
de Chimay was not less obliging and goodnatured
though he had a firm character. He was long
Secretary OF Legation in Paris, and he and his
wife were in high favor at the court of Napoleon
ILL., The Empress Eugene made up the unfortu.
nate match, as it proved, OF his sister Valentine
now Princess George de Bibesco. with General
the Prince de BauifermOnt Prince dc Chmay
also represented Belgium at Berne, and then was
made Governor of Ilainaut, an office he held for
fourteen years. lie lived at Mons as Governor
OF that province At all times a Clerical and
Conservative, he entered the Becrna.rt in 1884
as Minister for Foreign Affairs, and held that
post I'D 10 the time of his death The King found
him helpful in his African affairs, and Prince
de Chirnay though French in many respects,
did not stand in Leopolds way when he went on
after the Beernacrt Cabinet entered office, holding
the candle to Prince Bismarck, accepting Berlin
fnln fio aotin and
rather showing the cold shoulder to France. Re-
ing anti-Republican in feeling, Prince de
Chimay preferred the Kings German proclivties TO
intimate relations with the French Republic.
But il was as q musician that the late Prince
de Chimay was most distinguished, and az
violin player lie sat at the feet OF Auber, used
to play the violin at Meyerbeer's private per-
formances of his own scores, and was first hdde
Vieuxtemps was a cherished guest at his house,
and dedicated to him a sonata. One OF the most
curious collections of iddles in the world was
made by Prince de Chimay at his house at Chlmay
in Hainaut. lie made the great mistake, for one
Of his age and bis state Of health, Of marrying
the beautiful Senorita de Barandiaran, of Mexico,
who claims by her mother descent from the House
of Albuquerque. The Prince had settled all his
children, save his two younger daughters, Gene
We've and Ghisaine-hs eldest daughter having
his eldest son the pretty and wealthy Miss Clara
Ward. of Detroit, and his second son an heiress
Of old lineage. He felt that a wife was needed
at the head of his house at Brussels, where, as
foreign Minister, he obliged 10 receive much
company, and could not choose the persons whom
be received. What chiefly attracted him in the
now dowager Princess were her musical talents
He had concert room in his town house. and
another at Chimay. In both the greatest mu-
sicians Of his time had held concerts. His second
wife Is brilliant pianist. and plays to perfection
the guitar, banjo violin and vioonccllo.
The last time / saw Prince de Chimay was
in Belgium after he and General Boulanger had
had a meeting lie had told the General that
he did not like 10 be party TO his expulsion,
and advised him to leave of his own accord.
This would secure to him freedom TO come back
when the storm blew over. nasmuch as there
would be no decree against him. The Prince
then a long grizzly beard.
lie had very open and simple manners and
gave himself no airs. He was fond of gossip
and related how the Queen of England never
came back TO Brussels since early in the seven-
ties, when the Queen of the Belgians refused 10
accept John Brown gentleman He had been
lifted TO the rank of esquire and personal at
tendant, and the Queen would not hear of him
dining with the Wallets The courtier class Of
servants would not dine with him. and the King
settled the difficulty by getting the steward who
is u Of family TO invite him to take his
meals in the Swiss cottage which stands in the
Royal farm the side of the road opposite -
the Park Of Lacken.
We have been living in the midst of alarms, the
Anarchists having agreed 10 demonstrate their
doctrines in dynamite explosions. The Ravachol
case is rather complex, and there are features 10
il which | own | AIN unable TO penetrate. 10
begin with Ravachol was in prison for a murder
and was allowed 10 escape. He was going ahout
Paris in the most Ostentatious way, and the police
never came upon his tracks, though they suspected
him TO be the author of the Boulevard ~. German
explosion His discovery and arrest were not due
the skill of the detectives. but the sharpness
of n waiter In a low restaurant. II RavacbOi hal
been wanting TO get arrested. he could not-shors
OF delivering himself up-haVc acted otherwise
than he did. Last Sunday IN the forenoon ~
brought Ia the cafe where that waiter tho
news of the Rue de Clichy explosion, which was
not Yet in the papers, and proclaimed himself m
Anarchist and believer in the dynamite doctrine.
\ hue and cry description of Ravachol had been
published by journal which obtained many
particulars about hnl from old chum. The
waiter lad read il and noticed that molcs and
cicatrized sears on RavachOl's face and hands lay
in the places indicated in the newspaper portraits
He communicated his suspicious to his employer
and some Others, and the police were sent for
RavachOl. lie is now treated with all the dignity
OF a State prisoner, is not in the usual House u
Detention but at the Concergerie Jail where the
Due d'Orlans lay and is visited by the Preects
and other great personagcs. The fellow is
tremcly vain and deals in fine phrases. He enjoys
pcsturng as desperate 4. G.
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THEY SnURED THE NF0RMITIOy
p,,,, E,to Ee,d,s WASHINGTON