The morning call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1878-1895, 1893-05-14

ohamps- Elysees and the Rue de Chaillot
Is superb mansion that has the appear
ahce oil veritable palace. In this princely
ABODE, after Easter, numerous fetes we're
gwen by its mistress, the Duchess de
Gramont, nee Rothschild.
NINE. de GramOnt bought this residence
ohiy snort time ago, but months have
oeeh necessary to complete the furnishing
anu arrangements, all done under the
supervision of Its owner.
me Duchess de Gramont was the first
member Of the Rothschild family who mar
ried Christian, but her example was
quckly followed by her sister, who be-
came Princess de Wasram, and her cousin,
VINO married the Earl OF Rosebery.
Marguerite Alexandrine de Rotbschild
had much difficulty when she forsook the
traditions OF her ancestors. Her father.
baron Charles de Rothsrhild. of Frank
lori, disdained the Christian aristocracv
ana was determined that his daugh-
Ter should marry one of her cousins.
When she signIfed her intention of marry
Ing the Duke de Gramont then Duke de
Guicne, her fathers horror NAV be i'm
agined. Marguerite, however. received
christian baptism, and her marriage with
Tue Duke de Griche was celebrated accord
ing TO ancient custom at midnight in the
crypt OF 81. Augustine Chapel, Paris.
The Duchess de Gramont is In appear-
ance daughter OF her race, with large
PACK eyes and clear Creole complexion,
she Is very animated in conversation. re-
markably well informed and a thorough
musician.
The Duke de Gramont is handsome, for
me GiaiInhts are celebrated for their
beauty. his first vile was Princess de
Beauvan, and she had one daughter. horn
in 1879. The present Duchess has three
children, and at the family castle. near
!aris, her great happiness is To aid them
IN their studies and share their enthusiasm
for sport.
Inc Gramonts are among the Oldest fam
HES In France and dated from King Pelage
OF prehistoric times In the sixteenth CEN
tury, the family being extinct in male
llne, Clare de Gramunt married Count
Azure, ana he relinQUished his own name
and title for that OF Gramont. His grand
son, PhilibeGt de Gramont. married Corr
sandre d Aud0uln. the beauty who became
the tavorite of Henry ".
After the siege of La Fere Corisandre
was widow and Henry remained for
months at a time at the Chateau de Gufche.
where he forgot the Kingdoms of Franco
and Navarro. With his own blood he
signed the promise TO place her on the
InIOho "a Ildhcer anu COIlSanQre gave IN
return her money, jewels aud affection,
But, when King of France, Henry neglected
ia belle COrlsandre and his promise to her,
She was too proud to make known her sor-
row, and buried herself at the Chateau de
Gulche where she could hear nothing of
the fetes at court. However, Henry of
Tered her son the privilege of placing ON
his coach the arms of France with The bar
sinister. because Of filial lity the son re-
fused and replied 10 the Kings offer. ut
was suiflcent to take from my father his
wife and his happiness. without taking
from him also his descendants"
But the name Of Corisandre belongs to
the women Of each generation, and is now
borne by two daughters of the Duke and
by his sister, the Countess de Brgode.
During the reigns of Louis XIII, Louis
NV and Louis XIV, the Gramonts held
the highest positions. The grandmother
OF the present Duke was sister of the
famous Count d'Orsay, and his mother
was Seotchwoman, daughter of William
Alexander Macklnnou, chief of his clan,
and member OF Parliament. The Dukes
father was ambassador and Minister of
Foreign Affairs uuder Napoleon III; ne
served his country with distinction, but it
was he who had the misfortune to declare
war in 1870 and his friends say that ia
died of a'brOken heart. The late Duke de
Gramont was remarkably intelligent, very
spiritual in conversation, ana especially
noted fer his Kindness of heart.
The present Duke has two brothers and
one sister: his eldest brother, the Duke de
LeSDarre, married some years ago the
daughter of the Duke of Conegiano. The
second brother is Count Alfred de Ora
mont, the hands0mest member of the
family; his wife is daughter of Monsieur
Sabatier, once French Consul in Egypt,
The home OF Count Alfred de Gramont is
so Avenue HOche, mouse filed with
nrfan tot NJ
Reid was Minister to France he occupied
this house, but during his stay the sphinx.
mummies and PharOahs were not placed
in conspicuous positions. | have already
mentioned COTlsandre de Gramont, COun-
tess de Brigode. She is considered one of
the most charming women in Paris tail
and graceful, her carriage recalls the
beauties painted by Natter. Although
the Countess de Brgode is not sad, an ex-
preston OF melancholy makes her face
most interesting. No Frenchwomaa has
greater taste in dress than the Countess,
because with her nothing Is banal. Until
the last few years the Paris home of the
Coun tess de Brigode was in the Rue
Dumont d. Urville, but she preferred to i've
at the Chateau de Folembray. belonging to
her husbands mother, the Baroness de
Polly.
Folembray, left to his wife by Baron de
Polly, is odern castle and contains a
=
the most hOspita BILE dwellings in France.
The Baroness de Polly is eldest daughter
of the Marquis du Hallay-Coetquen, noted
for his bravery. As Madame de Polly had
no brothers, her fathers title belongs to
her second son. The du Hallay-COetquen
descends in direct line from the kings and
dukes of Brittany. 1t was Jean de Coet-
ouen who had the honor of accompanying
the Queen of Louis XII when she came
first to his kingdom.
As have said. Mademoselle du HalIay-
Coetquen married first the Count de Bri-
code, and her second husband was Baron
de Polly. The BrgOdeS are very ancient
family. of Dutch origin, and the husband
of Mademoiselle de GramOnt has inherited
the Qualities that made his ancestors re-
nowned in arts and the science of war.
1t is with these people that a daughter
of the ROthschilds Is now allied; ii is TO
member of this family that she has
brought her enormous wealth. wealth that
has made of her home in the Champs
Eiysees a miniature Versailles. For we
might believe ourselves transported 10
Versailles when We are in the Clock salon
and the TriauOn boudoir, enriched with
portraits of Duchess de Polignac and
Duchess de Guiche.
The Duchess de Gramnnt had six sisters.
The eldest is widow of Baron Solomon de
Rothschild. and her daughter Helene fol
lowed the example OF her aunt, aud, against
the will of her family, married a Chris
tlan. Baron Van ZIylen Van NYva;t. The
second sister is the wife of Lord Roths-
child of London; the third, widow of
Baron James de RoThschid; the fourth.
unmarried; the fifth died at the age of 20
years, after having written "Lettres a
une Annie chretienne sur les verites fonda
mentales du Judaisme," letters that have
been considered worthy Of translation in
several languages. The youngest sister.
as have before said, is the Princess de
Wagram.
From her father the Duchess de Ora
mont has inherited a taste for bibelots.
Baron Charles was a celebrated amateur.
and among other works of art he possessed
Tischbein's portrait of Ge he and the
wonderful silver service made By Wenzel
JammitZer, the greatest silversmIth of the
renaissance. For this the Baron IS said to
have paid one million francs | do not
think the Duchess de Gramont has in
herited her fathers love for politics He
was an ardent patriot, and because Of his
Intervention during the war between
Austria aud Prussia. in 1866, Frankfort
only paid three millions instead OF the
twenty demanded by Bismarck
For mark of gratitude the city of
Frankfort, in 1867. sent him as Deputy to
~. a.