New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1894-09-23

Pretender and one which is Of nestln'abe ad-
vantage in France where family relations and
above ALL fal obligations held more sacred
than anywhere else in the civilized world. The
Duke Of Orleans however. possesses neither ms
fathers mental abilities his sudousness.
lie is not the kind Of man to ever take any in
terest in the great social ard pOlitCO-ecOnomc
problems which absorbed the attention OF his
father; and whereas the latter sowed his Wild
oats II l may be permitted to use the eXpres-
sion, on American battlefelds, fighting CALAMITY
as soldier for the Union AM doing lots of hard
work on the staff Of General Mcclellan, the oats
of the Duke have fallen for the most part in the
boudors of actresses and In the coul!sses Of the
"petits theatres" The Conte de Paris from
the moment when he attained manhood. man.
aged to inspire respect and esteem to such an ex-
tent that notwithstanding his abnormal position
as Pretender, he was treated at ali the Euro
pean courts with almost much honor and
Difference as If he had been seated on the throne
of France. This cannot. unfortunately. be SAID
of his son. whose conduct at st. Petersburg was
of so indiscreet character when he travelled
thither In the suite of popular actress that
the Car not only declined TO recognize his pres
ence in the Russian capital but even insisted
on one occasion on his Withdrawing from the
Grand Opera for having been too conspicuousiy
enthusiastic and premature in his applause OF
the prima donna. instead of waiting for the En-
peror and Empress to give the signal or appro-
val. The Duke of Orleans likewise is on record
as having Tilted in particularly heartless and
cruel manner his charming cousin. Princess Mar
guerite de Chartres; this. too just after she had
been exciting universal admiration by the touch
ing devotion to her betrohed which she mani
tested during his Imprisonment at ClermOnt con-
sequent upon his futile attempt to get enrolled
in the French army. What military education
he has received he owes TO his term of service
in the English army. where his career was
brought to close by practical joke which he
played upon his commanding general. 1t was at
Aldershot during the manoeuvres. While wear
ing the uniform of a lieutenant Of the Rifle 3r-
gade. out Of pure spirit Of mischevousness.
and of consciousness that his royal rank would
protect him from any punishment, he deliber-
ately cut the rope holding the captive balloon
from which the commanding general. Sir Evelyn
Wood, and two other superior officers were sur
veying the operations. OF course the balloon on
being released sailed away and 1t was not until
couple of hours afterward that Sir Evelyn
could effect a safe descent at a distance Of sew
eral miles from the mimic battlefield and from
headquarters. AS Sir Evelyn Justly stated az the
time only Paris gamin could have perpetrated
such a trick: and realizing how utterly subver
sve OF all ideas Of discipline both 10 the officers
and TO the men such conduct on the part Of the
Prince must be. and remembering. too, how very
different had been the department OF the Prince
Imperial, who. like the Duke. had served under his
orders he brought about the latter's withdrawal
from the British service. II was probably n
knowledge Of this episode that subsequently led
the Queen Regent of SDain. the Emperor or
refuse the Dukes application for commission
in their respective armies.
What the future has in store for the Duke II
Is difficult to say since he is impulsive, pas
sionate and reckless. possessing many OF the
worst defects and but few of the qualities OF
Emperor William Of Germany. He has already
inaugurated his career as a Pretender by dis
pensing with the services Of all the veteran
royalis,s (such as tie Comte d'Haussonvillo) who
his fathers principal advisers. on the plea
that he requires younger men. capable Of devel-
e aud IL
Inasmuch as this activity and energy cannot be
wanted for any other purpose than To carry on
warfare agains; the present Government in
France. II is to be feared that the Duke has no
intention Of conforming 10 the advice contained
in the last manifesto issued by the Comte de
Paris. in which the latter besought mis- followers
TO give their support TO President Perier's adj
ministratiOn in its efforts TO combat Anarchy.
The Duke Of Orleal.s should. however. bear In
mind the fact that the French people will scarce
ly be disposed to dream OF seeking ruler In the
person of one devoid Of patriotism as to have
fomented disorder In the expectation Of being I'LL
tmately called in to suppress IT.
OF Prince Victor Napoleon there Is little 70 be
said his private life at Brussels being even moro
disreputabe than that Of the Spanish Pretender
Carlos until the time Of the lattcr's recent mar
riage. His conduct has been such that his own
relatives have been forced to close their doors
against him, while the estimation In which he
Is held by the royal families Of Europe may be
gathered from the fact that when Princess
Josephine Of Flanders was married at Brussels
last spring ne received no invitation 10 the fes
tivities. although resident in Brussels at the
time.
The fourth French Pretender Is the self-stylcd
Duke Of Normandy. claiming 20 be grandson
of that unfortunate child Of King Louis XVI
whom some believe 10 have been tortured TO
death in the Temple Prison at Paris during the
Reign OF Terror at the close Of ;he last century
Others equally firmly convinced that the
child escaped and was subsequently deprived of
his rights and declared an impostor by his uncle
King Louis XVIII whose only professions to the
throne Of France were based on the alleged
death of the Dauphn The Duke Of Normandy
involved in legal difficulties a short time
ago al Paris with one OF his feminine supporters
who charged him with attempting 10 defraud her
out Of some 81 900 under false pretences He has
no large following probably because he has no
money-and the people who believe in his pre-
tensions are few and far between.
EX-ATTACIIE
TIE ADvANCE ~ TIE PRICE OF PLATINrM