Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1892-02-11
THE STORY OF THE coURrsurp.

Francois Ernest CASTOR, Due de la Roche
foucauld Prince de Marcilac. is an ex-cavalry
officer and was born April 81, 1853. He sue
ceeded to the title in December 1879 His FAM
lily motto is "C'est mon plaisir."
The elder branch of the La Rochefoucauld
family descends from one Foucauld. cadet of
the Sires de Lusignan, who received the land
de la Roche. In the Angoumois, as an appanage.
The La RochefOucaulls became successfully
barons. counts and dukes, the last named title
being conferred in 1922, and in due time there
were added thereto the dukedoms Of de Lian-
court, d'Estissac and Doudeauville.
WHAT SENATOR MITCHELL SAYS
The marriage Of Miss Mitchell and the Duke
de la Rochefoucauld is one In which the peo-
pie of Washington have taken a deep interest
Ever since her debut here several years ago she
has been known as one Of the handsomest Of
the fair daughters of the nations capital, and
to the graces of lovely person were added un-
usual accomplishments and an amiability that
Of Washington bellies. Miss Mitch.
ellis devotion to her mother was /. a
striking characteristic. and her reward comes
in the successful contamination of a oourtship
that extended over several years and was at
tended with much more than the ordinary
amount of that opposition which doubtless
gave rise to the old adage that true love never
runs smooth" This courtship was viewed with
varying degrees Of interest by friends and ac-
quaintances here. and every incident OF its
progress noted and commented on.
When the young folks first began to betray
an interest in each other further intimacy
was discouraged by the young lady's parents
Senator and Mrs. Mitcheil-who preferred that
their daughter should wed an American They
were naturally fearful, III view % the con-
stantly increasing lumber OF undesirable in
ternational marriages that Miss Matties hap
piness might BIO jeopardized by an alliance
with one OF fOBeign birth, whose tastes and in
clinations, the result Of generations of training
and environment, would vary 30 widely from
her own.
The feelings Of the parents were fully made
known to Miss Mitchell and perfect under
standing arrived at between them. Loyalty
devoted to the object OF her young affections
she yet gave abundant proof of strong final
love, and promised that she would we'd no one
without their consent. Mrs. and Miss Mitchell
returned TO the United States about this time
the parents hoping that the daughters affec-
tions might by absence and change OF scene be
Withdrawn from the gallant young French
man.
I'VE kept her here three years." said the
Senator. but time and distance made no i'm
preston upon her She and the duke kept up
a correspondence all the while they we're sspa-
rated, the cable being frequently used when
the mails proved too slow. Our opposition to
tine match had also another element--tho atti-
tude Of the dowager duchess. She had not met
my daughter during Ma.tie's first visit. to
France and earlier acquain lance with her son.
family alliance between the duke and cousin
had been planned by his mother, and until she
should express desire to have her son we'd our
daughter we would not consent to an engage
ment
Last year Mrs. Mitchell was ordered by her
physician to a famous French bath she
would regain her health and Matte went with
her Shortly after her arrival the duke called
and renewed his suit. Matte wrote O letter.
stating the facts. and saying: 4 will be per-
fectly frank with you. Frank (as she called
hIm] has been to see as and tho old question is
before US. AZ told you, will marry no one
without your consent; we are Old enough to
know our own minds, and il Frank and
may not marry each other we have deter.
mined that we will never marry at ALL.
1T came then to BIO question OF INV dauch-
ter's happiness and ! determined no longer 10
be Q bar thereto and to give my consent 10 the
marriage (she had already won over her
m0ther) il the dowager duchess were satisfied.
So wrote asking what sine thought of the
matter. In the meantime che had met Mattio
and became enthusiastically in favor Of the
match, urging it upon Mrs. Mitchell aud Mat
no longer any reason for holding out against Il
and my consent went over. The dowager
duchess you viii see, gave the diner de contrat
after the civil marriage at her Paris residence y
The duke and his bride will start ON wed.
| ding tour, which VIII include this country,
reaching here some time in the spring. 3
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