The people's journal. (Pickens, S.C.) 1891-1903, 1896-12-24
THE STRANGE STORY OF HIS ANCESTRY.

THE STRANGE STORY OF HIS ANCESTRY,
T.. g. DIE ToNrAINE's FAMILY Sc
CRET.
His Father an Exile from Franco
With Charles the Tenth--He Mover
Revealed the Secret OF His Life
Even to His Son.
Tho death OF Mr.. l.. G.. dc Fontaine
recalls strange story published in the
Charleston World in 1890 concerning
his parentago. The article was sent the
World by its Now York correspondent
and tho facts were given him by Mr..
de Fontaine himself, although his
name was not mentioned in the article
itself. 1t Is u highly interesting story
and is here reproduced:
New York, May 2S.-(Special cor
rcspondcnce of the World. )-Eesidiug
now past middle age, whose life ap.
pears to have boon identified with ~
mystery that, whom solved, may ono
day create no littlo commOtiOn in the
political circles Of tho Old World.
Tho name he bears is that OF two
brothers, distinguished Italians, whose
achievements in science, art and liter
aturo are chronicled in all the encyclo-
ppdias, and is likewise one which he
has himself made moro or less familiar
in the United States. Nevertheless, u
curious chain Of circumstances mako
it probable that for moro than half a
century this name has masked u politi-
cal secret connected with European
affairs which is not likoly TO be reveal
ed until fatc takes the matter in hand
and discovers what has been refused
by tho ordinary records OF family de-
scent.
Whilo visiting the residence of this
gentleman recently my attention was
attracted by an enlarged copy of pc
culi&r coat OF arms SO unlike others
secn in American families, It's distinc-
tive features being d ducal coronct, q
armorial bearings OF royal Significance,
that | made tho inquiry whether it
was connected with any notable ;lsso
Citations or history.
Yes" was the reply, but unfortu-
nately, they concern u life OF which [
know little or nOthing-that Of my own
father. Heretofore | have rarcly re-
forrcd to the subject, even in tho pres
cncc OF my own family; but as the wifo
and children are all here to-day, and [
am gctti:G along in years, perhaps
this is as good au opportunity as any
to tell the whole story. Light u cigar.
"You will remember be continued,
that when Charles y WAS compelled
by the revolution of July, 1880, to abdi-
cate the French throne, be went into
cXilc in Edinburgh, Scotland, and, ac-
cOmpaniCd by his two sons and other
followers who adhered to his fortunes,
made his home in HolyrOod Palace.
Among this little court was my father.
Some time during the winter Of 1881
the latter came to this country, land
ing, | believe, in New York. as !
learned in latcrycars from old aliaus,
who, by the way, regarded him with
much difference, referring TO him aS
the Chcvalicr Louis Antoine de-.
he was possessed OF ample means anu
Travelled extensively throughout the
United States. | can easily recall the
exquisite diamonds ana 'bijOutcriC.
which he owned is late as 1918, and
The attention they attracted when dis
played. His marriage took place in
1873, and in July, 1884, the fourth an
nivcrsary Of The bloody month Of the
revolution, the usual rejoicing cclc-
bratcd the birth Of the first child, he
who happens to be telling you these
l.
ter were subsequently the result Of the
union.
You probably wonder whether my
mother knew anything concerning the
previous history Of her hus band. Only
that his name was the one | have
mentioned that he was born in Paris,
as he said, baLween 1890 and 1893: that
he had passed through various START
ling viciSsitndcs in both France and
Italy which had caused him 10 become
Il political exile, and finally that for
years he was in frequent cOmmunica-
tiOn either by person o. paquct with.
some source Of great interest to him
on the other side OF the Atlantic. She
know him also to be IA man of brilliant
intellectual requirements, speaking
eight or ten languages and familiar
with every part of Europe, over which,
he told her, he had travelled when q
youth under the care Of q tutor. Re
ference to his past, even in a spirit OF
jest, seemed to give him pain. On
one occasion he went SO far as to say to
her that if he was not what he seemed
she would know all in good time, and
tbcn-good-b to America. ;"
What was the personal appearance
Of your father ?" | asked.
This photograph OF Il dagucrrcO-
type taken in 1916 will generally an
swcr your question. IN stature he was
small, say about five feet five inches
in height, and his average weight was
about l2O pounds. His head was mas
sivc, forehead high and broad, hair
raven black, eyes dark and piercing,
nOso long and straight and lips ilcx-
ible. The only distinctive mark on
his person was ~ bent finger ON his
right hand, which he said was caused
by his grusping tic blade OF IL sword
that had broken at the hit while he
was in somc kind OF q light-whcthcr
a battle or personal affair | do not
remember
Until | was l5 years OF age he
would frequently entertain me with
stories descriptive OF scenes and asso-
Citations in his early life, especially in
Florence, Naples, Venice, Romc and
in the Austria capital, and it was the
impressions thus made in my boyhoou
that deepencd as the time rolled on
and | became old enough to understand |
little circumstances that seemed to
corrCboratc the truth Of his remark To
my mother that if he was not what he |