Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1897-05-08
THE DUCHESS OF UZES.

The Duchess Of Uzes, the lady in
] whose stall the fire broke out yesterday,
/ causing a terrible panic at charitable
fair in Paris, is one of the most famous
women ia France. The family in which
she is the dowager duchess stands at
( head of the ducal houses, tracing ITS
descent back to the Crusaders through
Ia long line of noblemen who distinguish
ed themselves in war. She is herself
also of an ancient and noble family, be-
I ing the daughter of the Count of Mort
mart and his wife, the Duchess Of Mon
tebello. But a more readily recognized
title TO fame is the fact that she is the
granddaughter of the Widow ClicquOt
and derives q large part of an enormous
income from the ancestral vineyard,
the champagne from which has made
her grandfather's name household
word throughout the world About
fifty years of age, plain of face and short
of stature, but quick of wit and endow-
ed with a geniality which makes friends
in all classes. the finest sportswoman
/ in France and the leader Of the old
nobility, she is a person of no small I'M
p0rtance in the political world when she
takes up cause as she did that OF
Boulangism.
She has always been royalist and
was a staunch friend and supporter OF
the Count of Paris. 1t was with the
idea that good would come TO the roy
alist cause as result of the upheaval
that she patronized Gen. Boulanger en-
tertaining him at dinner with the fam
lilies of the old nobility and supplying
him with funds to the sum OF nearly
81 100000. Ii was not strange that she
should have been taking prominent
part in the bazaar, for she has always
been noted for her charity. During the
FrancC-Prussian war she fitted up at
her own expense a large hospital Tor
the soldiers and gave all her time and
attention TO their relief. She has
splendid mansion in the Avenue des
Champs ElySees, where she entertalhs
on large scale. unlike most OF the ola
aristocracy. She also has a famous
country place. known as the Forest OF
Rambcuillet. in the department OF the
Seine and Disc, consisting of over 5000
acres magnificently laid out in parks,
lakes. and pleasure grounds. Her
horses and dogs, especially her fox
hounds. which are Of a special breed
named for her. are widely renowned.
In this region she hunts in a style IN
imitation of that of the days Of Louis
XVI. wearing a gold-laeed hat and
carrying jeweled dagger at her side
as a symbol of authority. There are
two castles on the estate, in one OF
which she sumpuously entertains a
hunting club of which she is the head
and which includes members Of the old
nobility and the officers Of a nearby
garrison. The other castle once belong
Ell To the BOurbOns, and there Marie
Antoinette lived and started a model
dairy for her own amusement.
Her husband died in 1878. Her old
est son was a prodigal who was sent
10 this country to keep him out of mis-
chief. but as this remedy proved of lit
lie efficacy he was next sent on an eX-
ploring expedition through the basin
Of the Congo and died on the way four
years ago. The title Of Due d Uzes
then passed to her second son, who in
1894 married Mile. Marie de Lynes,
daughter of the late Due de Chaulnes.
The brides brother had already mar
ried a sister of the young Due d Uzes,
making a double union between the
ducal houses of Crussol and d Albert
Buffalo Courier.