New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1895-12-08
TOPICS IN PARIS.
ABUSE OF TITLES IN FRANCE-CONSE-
GRAFTON OF A GREAT BELL
Paris. November %.

Paris. November %
Titles OF nobility are becoming so common IN
Europe that 1t Will socn be more distinguished t"
he untitled than to possess any handle to ones
name. They have been lavished broadcast b!
every petty sovereign of Germany, most OF fneIn
being accorded either to unworthy favorites or
to more or less reputable hnanciers who have
rendered monetary assistance to these generally
impecunous rulers. Both the King of Italy ana
likewise the Holy Pon;iff have been led by fnan-
cial considerations to confer titles of nobility
upon everybody willing 10 pay the heavy dues
collected from the new-fedged aristocracy as
"chancery expenses In Spain and in Portugal
a similar state of affairs prevails. and things
have reached such pass that the ancient patrl-
clan families at Madrid, Rome and Lisbon dis
pense with the use Of their titles altogether,
contenting themselves WITH the mere prefix OF
Don "Dona' to their Christian names
leaving 10 the newly enn0bled matters, taiors
and butchers the questionable honor OF
bearing their fresh and high-sOundng titles OF
dukes. marquiSes. counts. etc. Here in France
at least two-thirds of the titles are Improperly
borne and OF spurious character. while IN
Russia. owing to thes misuse Of the Western
word prince" individuals bearing that honorary
distinction are to be found occupying the most
mental positions and throngng the Jails ana
charitable institutions.
As if this were not sufficient the pretenders,
Of whom there are now dozen or more putting
forth claims to TIE rueiship of the various coun-
tries of Europe. have started a wholly indie
feasible practice Of comforting titles upon them
selves upon their relatives and upon their
friends. Thus the Duo dOrleans. neither whose
father nor grandfather ever reigned or occu-
pied any throne has cooly conferred the title
of Duke of Vend6me upon his cousin Prince
Emmanuel OF Alencon dOr,eans, title which was
last borne by of the most celebrated generals
of King Louis XIV. which became extinct at
the death of that brave and noble soldier and
which cannot under any circumstances be con-
sidered as belonging to any of the houses that
have reigned over France. simultaneously with
the pompous announcement that the Duke Of
Orleans has designed to grant" this once Illus
trious dukedom to his cousin, comes the news
that another French pretender, the disreputable
Prince Victor Napoleon. who lives at Brussels,
has decided to assume the .tite Of Duke Of Mont.
fart which conferred by the Powers upon his
grandfather the great Napoleons younger
brother Jerome. by way Of compensation for the
loss of his mushroom kingdom OF Westphas.
Tx-King Jerome bore this title Of Duke Of Mont
fort until the moment when the elevation Of his
nephew Prince Louis Napoleon. TO the Presi-
dency of the French Republic brought the Bona
.
France and Princess Mathilde Jeromes daugh-
ter. used TO he known as the Princesse de Aont-
fort until she became the wife Of the Prussan
millionaire. Anatole Demidoff. Prince of San
Donate Nothing more heard Of this duke
d IN after Napoleon III became Emperor, and 1t
had dropped into oblivion. and had been entirely
forgotten until Prince Victor. who claims to be
the eldest grandson O, old King jerome, pro-
claimed the Other day his intention Of assum-
ing 1t.
AN EXCELLENT MATCH.
With regard to Prince Emmanuel dAlencons
marriage TO Princess Henriette of Belgium, the
match is an excellent one for the young Prince.
who is not rich, and has little or no prospects
to speak Of For his bride is not only charm
ing and good-looking, fair-haired girl but also
g great heiress her father. the Count Of Elan
drcs. only brother to King Leopold and heir to
the Belgium throne. being one of the richest
princes in En ,pe. Prince Emmanuel is a tall
slight elegant young man, with winning face
and manners. and has received his military
education in Austria, in the army OF which he
is row serving lieutenant Of cavalry haV-
ing received his commission through the inlu-
ence of his mothers sister. the Empress of
Austria. TIE Duchess d'Aencon. il may be
remembered. at one time betrothed to the
late King Louis of Bavaria. But the match
stances which have always remained shrouded
with mystery
The Champs Elyseo Is SO familiar to every
American who has ever visited Paris during
the last fifty years more. and has been so
much read about by those who have never
crossed the Atlantic. that widespread interest
is likely to be aroused in the United States in
the radical changes which this celebrated
nue. is about to undergo The removal OF the
Palais de rIndustrie which erected in
1884. and has been used this year for the Con-
cOurs Hppique and for the Salon for the last
time will entirely alter the aspect OF the
Champs Eysees especially as a broad boue-
ward is TO traverse the site Of the Palas de
lIndustrie extending to the new bridge which
is to be built the Seine. 1t is to be
hoped that these improvements will comprise
the sweeping away OF all those cafes chantants
restaurants and other places of entertainment
which detract from the beauty of this un-
rivalled thOrOughfare extending from the
grandiose Place de la Concorde to the majestic
Arc de Tromphe The obstacle to this. how
ever, is TO be found in the relatively large sums
which paid into tn municipal treasury by
the proprietors and managers of these various
eyesores. Thus the Cirque dEte pays $1,000
per annum; the Palais de Glace $4,000: Lee
doyens Restaurant. $4,000; the Ambassadors
$1,000 the Alcazar. 5000. and the Horloge.
$1,000. while smaller sums received from the
numerous "Guignos" and puppet shows, from
the owners OF the goat-carriage Stations and
from the daries where the city-bred Partisan
may enjoy the satisfaction Of seeing his two
sous worth o. tactical refreshment MIXED in his
presence
On Wednesday last the great nell OF the Sacre
Occur Basilica. on Monmartre Heights was
solemnly consecrated by the Cardinal Archbishop
OF Paris in the presence OF an immense crowd
The ceremony was quaint and interesting the
huge bell, which is fifteen feet in height and
fourteen feet in diameter. being arrayed for the
occasion In enormous white lace robe the gift