The Cambria freeman. [volume] (Ebensburg, Pa.) 1867-1938, 1894-03-02
GREAT FAMILIES FALL.
Degenerate Sons Sooner or Later
Ruin Them.
Lithuanian Prince Who Died Almost n
Psuper-How Noble European Houses
Have Been Dragged Down-Descend-
ant of q King becomes a Walter.

Lithuanian Prince Who Died Almost a
Pauper-How Noble European Houses
Have Been Dragged dDown-Descend-
ant of q King becomes a Walter.
In the little village of Grodno, Lith-
uania, there died few weeks ago the
bearer of one of the proudest names in
eastern European history, says the
New York Tribune. He was an ordi-
nary physician. and went his daily
rounds among the village sick, collect
ing with the greatest difficulty enough
money To support his aged wife 1t
was Prince IgnaZ Jagello believed by
many to be the last scion of the royal
Jagello family, which once ruled in
Lithuania. BY the victory of Tam
menberg, in l4I0, the founder of the
family broke the power of the Ger
man Order" The difference between
the simple life of this DIR. Rezio'' and
the magnificence of his ancestors led a
German writer recently to collect a
number of instances of the degrade ton
of the descendants of once famous and
powerful families.
''In Grosswarddein, Hungary" he
writes, died recently a.modest and in
dustrious clerk, Johnann Szabo. who
had passed his life in semi-povertv
Few who followed him to the grave
knew that his real name was one of
the highest and greatest in French
history The aged SZabo was a grand
son of Marquis Chabaud Rohan. who
immigrated into Hungary after the
French revolution. The old gentleman
taught languages in the Wenckheim
house, adjusted himself to his changed
condition, married and gave the name
SZabo to his descendants. When il was
learned that Rohan had died in
France leaving an immense fortune,
they came forward and proved they
were genuine Rohans. But the recog-
milton of their claims was useless. as
they had not been remembered by the
testator. The old Szabo continued to
work as poor clerk TO his death, and
no one can say that he ever dishonored
the famous noble family to which he
belonged. That was left for another
scion of the race, Prince benjamin Ro-
han, who was sentenced to prison in
Paris two years ago and subjected TO a
fine of two thousand francs.
The last Borgia came to his end
short time ago at Guigl, near Salzburg.
He was Baron Calisto Won Borria.
whose father lost his fortune through
the Austrian government in 1857, and
lived later in Salzburg, as an employe
of tobacco house. The Younger
baron was employed for a short time
in the Office of lawyer and became
later a photographer, living for twenty
years in Germany 4 long sickness
impoverished him. and his widow lives
from the aims of others.
''On board of a steamer going from
bordeaux to the Thames in 1850. lust
the vessel came in sight of the Eng
lish coast, an old man, apparently pow
erty stricken. ended his days. He
called himself Charles Edward Stuart,
count of Albany. lie was, in fact, the
last descendant of the pretender,
Charles Edward. and his wife, Princess
Louise Stolberg.
Leon de Luzignana, prince of Kori-
coss. a descendant of the Armenian
kings, died in Italy in 1876, in the most
abject poverty. He had served in the
French army until $50, and was wound
ed at Solferino. Napoleon Ill. granted
him a pension. which, however. was
not paid after the fall of the empire.
THE famous family of Mont-Morency,
related TO the Lusignans," adds the
writer, 'has sunk so far that a Mont
neighborhood of Paris. a descendant
of the Valois family is letter-carricr
in Saint-Chamas; Marquis de Fal-
lique is an omnibus guard, Saint
Megrin is cab driver, a Count Charles
de Busserolle is a floor cleaner in Ruff
fec and De la Bourdarfiere is wash
erwoman.
Only a short time ago a minister in
the village of West BromwiclI, York
shire. discovered possibly the last
Plantagenet in a small bOy-of-all-
work. His father was a chimney
sweep. and, despite the family tree in
his possession, had shortened the name
into Plant to escape being teased by
his comrades. 4 Tudor died in Wales
in the thirties as poor coppersmith.
The fall of the great German noble
family of Won Sicllingen is also inter
csting. In the churchyard of the little
village of Yorch, near Sauerthal. is
the grave of the last male descendant
of Franz Won Sickingen, who once
bade defiance to a German emperor
and made France fear. He died, after
wasting his property, in 1884, in the
hut of a peasant who had given him
shelter from pity.
''As the Paris Figaro recently told its
readers. a Princess Galitzin works as
u stable girl in n French circus; a
Prince Krapotchin is a cab driver in
Moscow; Prince Soltilloff is a laborer
in st. Petersburg market; Princess
Pignatelli is a music hall singer and
Countess Olosy is a circus rider.