Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1894-03-01
GREAT FAMILIES FALL.
Degenerate Sons Sooner or Later Ruin
Them

Them.
In the little village of Grodno, Lith-
uania, there died a few weeks ago the
bearer OF one Of the proudeSt names
in eastern European history. says the
New York Tribune. He was an ordin-
any 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 Iith-
uania. By the victory of Tammenberg,
in 1410, the founder of the family broke
the power of the German order" The
difference between the simple life of
this DR. Rezio'' and the magnificence
of his ancestors led 4 German writer
recently to collect a number Of in
stances Of the degradation of the de
scendantS of once famous and power
full families.
In GrOsswarddein, Hungary" he
writes. died recently modest and in
dustrious clerk. Johnann Szabo, who
had passed his life in semi-poyerty.
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 grand
son Of the Marquis Chabaud Rohan,
who imTnigrated into Hungary after
the French Revolution. The old gentle
man taught languages in the Wenck-
helm House, adjusted himself to his
changed condition, married and gave
the name Szabo to his descendants
When it was learned that a Rohan
had died in France leaving an i'm
nense fortune. they came forward and
proved they We're genuine ROhans. But
the recognition of their claims was use
less, as they had not been remember
ed by the testator. The old Szabo con-
tinued his work as a 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 ROhan, who was sentenced
to prison In Paris two years ago and
subjected to the fine of 1000 francs.
The last BOrgia came to his end
short time ago at Guigl. near Salzburg.
He was Baron CaliSto Won Borgia,
whose father lost his fortune through
the Austrian Government in 1887, and
lived later in Salzburg, as an employe
of tobacco house. The younger Bar
on was employed for a short time in
the Office Of a lawyer and became later
a photographer, living for twenty
years in Germany. long sickness
impoverished him, and his widow lives
from the aims Of others.
"On board OF steamer going from
Bordeaux to the Thames in 1885, just
as the vessel came in sight of the Eng
lish coast an Old man, apparently pow
erty stricken ended his days. He call
ed himself Charles Edward Stuart,
count of Albany. He was, in fact, the
Last descendant of the Pretender, Char
les Edward, and his wife, the Princess
Louise StOlberg.
Leon de LuZignan, 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 1889, and
was wounded at Solferino. Napoleon
III. granted him a pension which.
however. was not paid after the fall
of the Empire.
1.-THE famous family of Mont-Moren-
cy. related to the LuSignans," adds the
writer, has sunk so far that Il Mont
MOrency is a farm servant in the neigh
bOrhOOd of Paris. A descendant of the
ValOis family is a letter-carrier in
Saint-C hamas; a Marquis de Fatigue is
an omnibus ugard, a Saint-Megrin is a
Cab-driyer, a Count Charles de Busse-
role is a floor-cleaner in Ruffec. and
De Ia BOurdarfiere is a WaSherWOman.
only a short time ago a minister in
the village of West BromWick. York
shire. discovered possibly the last
Plantagenet in d small b0y-of-ail-WOrK.
His father was a chimney sweep, and,
despite the family tree in his posses
sion, had shortened the name into
Plant. to escape being teased by his
comrades A Tudor died in Wales in
the thirties as poor coppersndth.
The fall of the great German noble
family of Won Sickingen is also inter
esting In the churchyard of the little
village Of Yorch, near Sauerthal, is the
grave Of the last male descendant of
Franz Won Siclingeu, who once babe
defiance to a German Emperor and
made France fear. He died, after
wasting his property, in 1854, in the
hut of a peasant, who had giYen him
shelter from pity.
LAS the Paris Figaro recently told
its readers, Il Princess Galitzin works
as a stable girl in a French circus; a
Prince Krapotchin is Il cab driver in
Moscow; a Prince Soltikoff is labOrer
in q st. Petersburg market; Princess
Pignatelli is a music hall singer, and
Countess Glossy is a circus rider.
Among the cab drivers of London is
an English lord, a continental baron,
and an ex-member of parliament"
AGE AND MARRIAGE