The evening world. [volume] (New York, N.Y.) 1887-1931, 1894-09-28

d
upseial Cable Despatch to The WORLDLY
PARIS. Sept. N.-It is possible, even
probable. that the widespread reputation
OF the young Duo d'Orleans as "un
homme gallant" might not seriously in
terfere. other circumstances being pro-
pitious. with his accession to the throne
OF France, although public sentiment In
respect to such conduct In public men
10 surely. II slowly. changing for the
better In this republic.
Significant Of this fact is the very
general discussion of the Dues moral
character as compared with his fathers
which continues in the provincial as
well as In the Paris newspapers.
/; The old story Of the Dukes relations
with Mime. Melba has been revived. The
alleged fact that he accompanied her
to Paris two years ago in the disguise
of her liveried servant has been made
much of. and hitherto has not been pub
licly denied. This scandal. II true,
would seriously injure the pretender's
prospects, however nebulous they may
>Se. The French people may be COM
plaeent towards a libertine, but they do
not forgive libertinism made ridiculous.
The matter probably is not politically
important. yet X may be OF interest to
know that Nine. Melba at last has
positively denied the story.
A representative of The World found
her to-day in her apartment on Rue
Prony. actively preparing for her de-
partu-a for London, where she joins Mr..
and Mrs. Abbey. She will sail with them
by the steamship New York on Saturday.
In reply to direct question as to the
story. she said. after some hesitation:
For reasons of my own / have never
before spoken to any newspaper repre-
sentative on this subject. say now that
the Due dOrleans did not come to Paris
as one OF my servants, although that
statement was widely published at the
time. NJ. Loze, then Prefect of Police,
has since confessed to me that he had
my house carefully watched and salts
fed himself not only that the Duke was
not only not with me, but was not in
Paris. In fact. he was at that time In
Russia, and my husband was with me-"
But after all. nothing seems now more
certain than that the Duke will never
come to the throne. The monarchical
party grows smaller in numbers yearly
:. and less in influence daily. The govern
It
professional men-lawyers, professors In
colleges. journalists and doctors. These
are almost universally strong in theil
democracy.
Naturally the men belonging to the
party in the majority are filling the civil
offices under the Republic, and for tn,
last few years promotion to the chieI
grade in the army has also largely de
pended upon the undoubted republican
ism of the officers. The arlstocrati,
class. therefore. has little opportunity
for ambitious effort except in not only
renouncing monarchical or imperiaisti,
connection, but protesting an even NOR
fervid republcanism than that of the!
democratic rivals.
OBJECTIONS from the Legitlmlst an
Napoleonic parties are in consequence
constant and numerous. They eveI
have been unusually large from tn
former class in the brief interval sine
the death OF the Comte de Paris. Hi
high personal character made him re
spected by the bourgeoisie and his liter
airy qualities by professional men. Hi
young successor is conspicuously lack
Ing IN everything 10 recommend him I
either OF these two influential classes
while It certainly is doubtful whethe
the peasantry is disposed to more tina
admire him for his more snowy quail
ties. He seems to have nothing else I
personally recommend him.
After her reference TO the Duke, Nine
Melba talked OF her American tour, say
ing:
"Of course a woman on the stage
Always more or less talked about and