New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1895-03-24
TOPICS IN PARIS.
A DUKE INTERESTED IN AMERICA.
MEATH OF 4 sEMI-AMERICAN pEINCE-FRENCH
MEN WHO BECOME MONkS-THE
KlNGMAKER OF SPAIN


has probably been none save De TocqueNile 10
take 81 profound an interest in American affairs
no tho Duc de Noailles, whose death took place
mere four DAYS ago. lie spent considerable Uihe
in tho United States during the time. DeheVe
when his Younger brother, the Marquis oe
Noailles. occupied the post OF French Envoy al
Washington and he may be said 10 nave FlSl'eu
the country more as student thah as d i"'Ie
tourist Deeply interested in all questions per
tanning 10 political economy. the history OF 'he
American Commonwealth was II him an mex
hauetible field Of study and observation ana ho'h-
ing is more curious than his work. entitled "A
u,ndrod Years Of Democracy in the United
states" written on his return from mis- American
tour. For it portrays that country as viewed
from the point OF view of an aristocrat OF 'h'
most ancient and illustrious lineage. who had IN
berited all the prejudces of his caste modh'd 10
q certain degree II is true. by the extent o' HIS
reading and of his studies. Inc hCraI VI ''e
book if may be permitted to use that eNpi''
sion is that disorder, anarchy ana cohi"Sio" are
the inevitable result OF demcciaHc SNH'e"' "a
government. and he urges that the United states
furnishes the most striking proof OF the ruin oi
this argument. He looked every inch duke
one too. OF the old regime. Tall, with somewhat
marked features spare and elegant in figure
only slightly t!nged with gray in spite OF his
sixtv-eight years. he was never seen. at any rate
in Paris. save in a long and unbu;toned froek
coat. with a big roll collar Of the style OF ls'''
double-breasted waistcoat and black stock Of
somewhat voluminous character. His manner
was exceedingly amiabe. but almost too imbued
with courtesy Of fashion long since passed
away to put one altogether at ones ease. II IN
sensibIv called forth similar ceremoniousness on
the part of the people who were brought into
contact with him. and cannot possibly imagine
any one, no matter how impudent and ir!eVeren''
treating him with disrespect. or even with tamil
iarity He was devoted adherent oil the Comte
de Paris up to the time of the B0ulanSer episode
accompanying the pre,ender to Lisbon on the 'oc-
casion Of tine marriage Of Princess Marie Amele
10 the present King Of Portugal. But he cut loose
from the monarchical party at the moment when
Boulanger was taken into its councils. being
shrewd enough TO foresee that no good could
ever accrue TO the Royalist cause from such an
alliance He is now succeeded by his son. the
Due dAyen. d wef-known and popular sports
man who married Mile. de Luynes. who IS the
sister of the Due de Luynes and we'll known at
Newport and New-York. having spent some time
al both places five years ago. The Due de
Noailles received his education at seminary
where he had fellow-pupis and as principal
cronies couple Of boys. one Of whom is now
General the Marquis de Gallifet, while the other
has become Cardinal LangenieuX. prelate who
has not only married the Dukes children. but
who also administered to him the last rites of the
Church and closed his eyes.
Few men were more universally popular or
more widely known here up till ten vars ago
than Prince Achille Murat. who is reported to
Cd ,icfl prc- liIrO Of
delirium consequent upon sickness. He inherited
his bright blue eyes and fair hair in all proba
bility from his American mother who Miss
Fraser of Philadelphia. while his merry ways
and ever-cheerful demeanor doubtless came to
him from his jovial father. who at one time in
his adventurous career compelled to drive
IA 1nl<cart at Trenton. in New-Jersey. for Nv
ing. Prince Achille distinguished himself toward
the close of the Empire by first Of all calling
out and fighting duel with the Marquis de CALI
fet who was colonel in command Of the hussar
regiment in which he held the rank Of lieutenant,
inlicting severe wound upon his superior Off
GER and then by administering similar punish
ment to Henri RochefCrt who had ventured to
allude to him as a mere cardboard prince. For
his duel with De Gallifet he temporarily re-
tired from the army; but thu war Of 1870 found
him an orderly officer the staff Of his kins-
man, Napoleon III. and he was by the side Of the
Emperor throughout the entire battle of Sedan
subsequently accompanying the unfortunate ruler
into his gilded captivity at Wilhelmshohe. After
the conclusion of peace the Prince returned 10
Paris. and took up his residence in his perfectly
appointed mansion in the Avenue du Bots de
Bouogne. with his lively and extremely wealthy
wife. daughter OF that reigning Prince Of Min
grelia who had been compelled to surrender his
sovereignty IN the Southern Caucasus to the
Car in 1866, receiving liz return a large none
tery payment ;nd the assured possession Of all
his vast estates. 1t is upon these estates that
the Prince has been living for the last ten years,
only rarely visiting Paris. where his two sons are
now serving as nor-commssoned officers. the
one of dragons, and the other of chasseurs.
Parisians We're subjected to a severe scare the
day before yesterday. When they opened their
morning papers the first thing that met their
eyes was an announcement that ". Felix Faure
had abandoned the world as well as his Govern
ment Offices. and had entered holy orders as a
monk at the Grande Chartreuse At first they
thought that the new President had become even
more quickly disguised with his office than had
his predecessor NJ Cas!mir-Perior, and that he
had been compelled 70 seek peace and refuge In
the dim retreat of monastery But further In
ves,igation brought to light the fact that the
new Chartuson was not President Faure. but
another Government functionary OF considerable
eminence a member of the Council OF State, who
bore identically the same name. lie Is man
considerably older than our chief magistrate. has
sons and grandchildren. aid is himself the son
Of that Felix Faure who was The bosom friend
Of Stendhal. and Of whom the latter wrote
"Faure has darkened by mis- contagious sadness
all that epoch OF my life" 1t is strange that
one finds in France and in particular on the
banks Of the Seine larger number OF men OF
the world than anywhere else or the face of Tho
globe suddenly abandoning everything mundane
to take the cowl-e popularity which | imagine
Is attributable TO the fact that nowhere is th'
quest OF pleasure and amusement carried TO sucf
IN oytrerne and satietN so speedily ACQUIRED a!