The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1897-01-08
SHE HATES HYPOCRISY
PRINCESS DE CHIMAY'S REASONS
FOR LEAVING HER HUSBAND.
I'm n Letter to Her American Country
women She Condemns the Fetid At
mOsphcre of Modern Society.

NEW YORK, Jan. THE World pub
fishes the following letter from the Prin-
cess de chimay. formerly Clara Ward of
Detroit, who is now at Buda-Pesth, ac-
dressed ITO my countrywomen:"
1T is hardly necessary to say that do
not dictate this letter with the intention
OF influencing public opinion in my favor.
what is commonly called public opinion
does not exist for me- and that. therefore
a regard for ii could not in the least infiu-
ence my doings. i leave it to anybody who
so pieaseS TO condemn or excuse me-
know too well who and what the people
otten are, or pose to be, whom the world in
which L had the misfortune TO live can
never cease praising. The judgment of
these people is of no consequence to me-
Nor do L intend by my letter to induce any
OF my countrywomen to follow my exam
pie What have done, L did because | felt
mat had to do ii. / hate hypocrisy and
lies. l wanted to have done with them.
mosphere in which modern society lives.
Could have been man | would have be-
come second Count Tolstoi in certain re-
spects What / want TO impress on nv
countrywomen-especi on those of them
who. like me. are spoiled children of for
tune1is always be true to themselves and
10 others. Never to give up the highest
ideals of life for the sake of social position.
There are. L think, only a few American
preu women who could feel themselves
really happy i'm the high European espe-
cially continental. society. There are ex-
ceptions. but few. very few only / know
that even the very best counsels have but a
sisters at home, would take my fate as a
lesson
The Princess De Chimay and Caraman. of
Belgium, nee Clara Ward, of Detroit was
the daughter of the lake captain, Ebert
d. Ward. who at the time of his death was
possessed of thousands of acres of pine
lanos. tne biggest fleet of ships on the great
lakes. and was beyond doubt the richest
man II, Michigan. Clara was born i'm 1879
ana Was two years old when her father
died. Shortly after Clara's mother. who
was Captain Wards second wife. left Dc,
troit. spending three years in travel wit,
cara in Europe. Then she married Alex.
ander Cameron. Windsor (Ontario) law
yer, afterward a banker. Clara lived in
toronto until she was fourteen. when she
was sent to England to school She was OF
a reckless, restless disposition and even In
school spent her income of $40 0O0 a year
which Captain Ward left her
AT the age of seventeen she rebelled
against going TO school. and when Prince
Joseph proposed i'm 1890 she accenfad hjn,
not that she liked him. but to escape schoo
restraints and please her mother. Whc
urged the suit OF the prince. In order tc
pay Prince Josephs debts 10000 of hel
fortune was settled on him at the mar
riage. Clara inherited all her fathers stub
born traits, and no surprise was felt her,
When II was noised about some two wear,
ago that she was not loyal to her husband
fhe two children born to her did not suffic,
to heal the differences between her husba nC
and herself, and the prince was only dis
suaded from getting a divorce two wear,
ago by the entreaties of his wife's mother
now Mrs. John Morrow
The reported elopement of the Princes,
awakened but little surprise among tIp
intimates OF her family who have wa:che,
her course. When last seen here. i'm tn,
late eighties. she was a beautiful. shapeiv
high-spirited girl. whose only guidance wa,
a passing whim. and over whom her mothel
nad not the slightest control Her forum,
from Captain Ward is left her in such ;
way tnat no one can touch 1t except at he