The morning call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1878-1895, 1892-05-08
A WOMAN OF MYSTERY.
Sketch Of The EVGntful Career Of Mime.
D'YVQn.
The Supposed Daughter of King George ~
A Magnificent Residence
In Paris.
Written for THE MORNING CALL.

u
house with which few palaces can be COM
pared. For years 6S Boulevard de Cour-
celles has been considered one of the "show
places" of Paris, but comparatively few
Americans have had the privilege of view
ing its splendors. Now. all these treasures
are to be sold to the highest bidder, and
collectors are disputing about the value Of
tapestries and statues. About the mistress
of this palatial home there was always an
air of mystery. Who was shep That was
question never fully answered. Some
believed her to be daughter of the Duke
of Kent, others could prove that her father
was George ". l remember the first time
l saw Nine. d. Yvon exclaimed, "How
she resembles the portraits Of George W.
And, indeed. Nine. d'YvOn was remarka-
bly, like this King of England. In her
family salon, hanging at one side of the
mantel. is large painting of the monarch,
and when Nine. d'Yyon was seated be-
meath the portrait no one could deny the
relationship.
In the secret history OF the English court
IL is recorded that George ", as Prince of
Wales and husband of Mrs. Fitzherbert.
was father of child of whom but little
was ever made known. 1t is more than
probable that the child so ignored in history
was none other than Nine. dYyon. When
she died last week she was more than 90
years old, although the funeral notice gave
her age as 81. Aud until few months be-
fore her death Nine. d. WON received her
friends every Tuesday afternoon. The
guests were uShered through a splendid
antechamber, Louis XIV, XIV and XVI
salons, and then to a smaller salon, where
in chair of state the old lady waited TO re-
ceive them. Men kissed her hand and
women kissed her on both cheeks, while she
expressed great pleasure in seeing them all
STIMULATING YOUTH.
The endeaYor to appear young was some
times painful to an extreme degree. She
was always arTayed il blue, purple or green
satin, slippers like her gown, and curled
blonde wig framed face the wrinkles of
which were hidden by paint and rouge.
Madame d'YvOn certainly was fat and fair
until the age of %, but she suffered terribly
from asthma, and because of an accident
she was able TO walk only with a cane.
Strange that no one OF this generation can
certify 10 her maiden name, and in the
funeral invitation she was called Mary Ann
Smith, widow of Monsieur d'Yvon. Smith
was the name OF her first husband, and some
say he was Belgian druggist, others a
Belgian Speculation; in any case, the first
marriage was arranged by Leopold /, King
of the BelgianS.
1t will be remembered that Leopold was
twice married, and when his first wife. Prin-
cess Charlotte, daughter Of George ~, died.
lie went 10 ClaTemOnt House. There while
mourning, he discovered the mysterious
person who resembied his dead wife, and
made her his dearest friend. Even then
there were legends about the birth of the
woman who afterward became Mime.
d'Yvon. In addition to those already men
toned il was said that Queen Caroline was
her mother. But although it was never
said that Nine. d'Yvon's parents were be-
meath royal rank, or rather. although royal
rank has always been allowed 10 one of her
parents. she spoke English that was iucom-
pTehenSible. and French that was not
French, either in pronunciation or gram
mar. English people were shocked at her
ignorance OF their language, while the
French excused her by saying: "She must
be English, because she speaks French so
badly"
THE KINGS FRIEND.
When the King Of the Belgians returned
to his own country his friend accompanied
him and was his only thought until affairs
of state compelled him to marry the daugh-
ter Of Louis Philippe. Queen Louise COM
planned bitterly to her father, who in his
turn complained to Leopold. The Belgian
King saw but one recourse-to marry his
fayVritc. He chose for her husband Mr.
Sm..h. aud to Mrs. Smith a dang liter WAS
born. This child was the image OF King
Leopold, and when she was II years ola she
NJ.
Ger, and was married in England.
After the death Of her fist husband
Nine. Smith came to Paris and met NJ.
Alexander d'YvOn, charming both in ap-
pearance and manner. Through the in
fiuence of King Leopold NJ. d'YvOn was
appointed by Napoleon III director of the
GaTde Meuble. AT that time the home of
the Yvons was Rue de Belechasse. Fan
bOuTg Saint German. and 1t is true that
their receptions were attended by dis
tinguished representatives Of the foreign
colonies and by some members of the French
aristoeracy. Whenever Leopold came to
Paris he was guest of the d'Yvons, and
through his influence the family held
certain position.
As NJ. d'Yvon was director of the Garde
Meubie he had an opportunity to enrich his
house with specimens, curious as those
found in any palace. Nine. d'Yvon became
q great eOnDoisseuse, and even in her old
age objets dart, and pieces Of bric-a-brac
were brought to her for inspection and
approval. About 10 years ago the d Yv9ns
removed to the palace in the Boulevard de
CouTcelles.
VERITABLE TREASURE HOUSE.
While the house was building no one knew
to whom ii belonged Some supposed that
Gambetta, then at the apogee of his power,
was preparing retreat for the days when
he should no longer he the leader OF Repub-
lican France. The YvOns said not a word,
and only when their curios were transported
from the FaubouTg Saint German to the
Pare MOnceau quarter did their friends
know the house was theirs. And what
wonderful house it is How many SOU
venirs in the history of French s0vereigns
are there recalled. The antechamber con-
tains furniture of all periods, but the salons
Louis XIV, Louis XIV and Louis XVI are
pure In style. In the first, hung with mar
velous tapestries embroidered with beads,
10 hc III folsf rrfu
Monarque by Parliament On this table Is
collection of bronzes worth Kings ran
som. There is an equestrian portrait Of
Louis XIV and splendid bust OF the mon
arch. The tapestries represent young
women aud varlets with rare birds and
hawks attached to their wrists; chairs and
sofas with gilded carved frames are uphol-
stored with silken tapestries.
The Louis XIV salon is also authentic.
There are seen all the toys that ence be-
longed to Louis XIV, and among others is q
tree, at whose base stands a child. Rare
they fly. they sing in marvellous manner.
The toy is veritable chef d'9uyre.
ARTISTIC DECORATIONS.
In the salon Louis XVI, the tapestries on
the walls and furniture are those that the
city OF Paris gave as q wedding present to
the Daupbine, Marie Antolnette. Every
thing In the salon recalls the martyred
Queen-from the clock, incrusted with dla-
monds, to the bibelots that were her per-
sonal property. What most attracts the al
tention of visitors Is the harp OF which she
played. and the strings. broken at the time
OF her captivity. have never been replaced.
In the fourth salon are family portraits
and a wonderful Magdalen. by Fragmard.
But the dining-room is the masterpiece Of
the entire house. This is In pure Renals-
sance style. with high Francois | mantel-
piece, gigantic bahuts and wonderful
faiences. Among the treasures are splen-
did salt-cellar, given TO Diane de Poitiers by
her ilustrlous lover, Henri ii, cabinet
that once belonged to Charles V and the
piece OF pottery first signed by Bernard
Paissy. The table-c0ver is in silken tapes
try, and re presents the history Of Gabrielle
distress and Henry ~.