The evening times., 1897-02-11
Sin And INSANITY.
Sad Story Of the Wretched Princess
De Chimay.
"The Stranger" in Conrt-The Law
yers Handle the Case With
Extreme Delicacy.
fFrom the Figaro }

The Courtroom was almost empty, ana no
sightseers were outside What do the miners
Of the black country care for this aristo-
cratic scandal?
For some weeks ow Clara Ward, former
ly Princess de Chimay, and today the mis-
tress of the gypsy Rigo, has been making
herself notorious among the lovers OF scan
dal and lending herself TO the most ex-
travag CANT interviews The journalists whom
n. Morelle, borr owing an old phrase,
which he evidently believed to be new,
called 1.-The professionals OF indiscretion,"
would have given proof of supernatural
virtue if they had closed their eyes and
ears to this extraordinary case; and after
the hearing L can relieve the anxiety Of
the young magistrate of CharlerOi. The
trial added nothing TO the scandal; on the
Contrary, 1T toned it down, and that is "A
thing which does credit 10 Me. Beernaert,
formerly president OF the council and pres
ident OF the house OF representatives, and
also To Me. Delacroix, the counsel for the
Prince de Chimay.
In the life OF the unfortunate woman
who, in many letters to her husband, lie
clares herself unworthy of the name OF
Chimay, il is only nece ssary TO turn over
the leaves Of the calendar of the past year
to find the evidence of imprudence and Of
guilt. The newspapers have given accounts
of her visits to suspicious houses in
Paris, of her wanderings in disreputable
localities, and OF her Indulgence in the
most scandaIous and gross fancies.
Messrs DeIacroix and BeernaeTt did not
attempt to rummage through all that un-
clean linen. One single episode sufficed
for the demand for a divorce ON the partOf
the Prince de Chimay-nameiy, the latest
infatuatiun OF the princess, her craze,
to employ her own style, for the gypsy
who used to play the fiddle at the Pail
lard restaurant. She ran away with him,
installed him in the hotel of village in
the neighborhoOd OF Chimay, and brazenly
visited him there in broad daylight, driving
To the place in her crested carriage. She
also received him in the castle, in the
absence of the prince, ana had the river
dug in the park of Chimay in order that
her RigO might enjoy swim. He need
ed il.
The entire population was astounded by
the scandal The burgOmaaer notified tie
princess that he would be compelled TO
claim the passports OF the lazy foreigner
who she took under her protection and
called her friend. The cure Of Chiuay, in
a sad letter t. the absent prince. told him
that the proce sSion OF Corpus Christi
could not pass through the park OF Chimay
this year The old custom could not be
followed.
Condemned by all and in dread OF her
husbands just anger, the princess fled
with her lover. After hiding for some time
in a granary in the neighhUrhood, when
her husband believed that she was abroad,
she took the train for Paris, accompanied
by Rieo, and, followed ny her factor and
his wife, who consented to aid her in her
flight on arriving in Paris her first care
was To give them dinner at the ambaS-
sadors. Rigo, Of course, was there, and the
next day after that evening party in prl-
vate apartments the princess wrote TO the
factor an astonishing letter, in which sne
advised him To. watch his wife closely,
because, from the oysters to the dessert,
especially the dessert, she never ceased
eyeiuG RigO."
All that is known, and the princess her
self took good care 10 keep the puDhc
informed in regard to her amorous Odyssey
We find her in London. Rome and Budapest,
appearing every day t. be more and more
In love with RigO. She had not even the
excuse uf being seduced by good looks, be
cause her gypsy is fea rfully pock-marSed,
or by education, of course. or even by the
wild art uf his bewitching music, because
She hates the violin and compelS him to put
away his bow.
And during all this frenzy of vice and
debauchery she wrote sentimental letters
To her husband, full of expressions Of re-
pentance which the lawyers of the prince
regard as MASTERPIECES offeminine dupiicity
In one of them, when Rigo was installed
at Chfmav, and when she was with him
every day, the princess begged her hus-
band To forgive her and to save her. She
wanted To throw herself at his feet, and
implored him to allow her TO 90 penance
for two wears in a Carmelite convent, or
To take her on a long voyage far,
far away from the temptations and ras-
calities of the world"
In another, perfect specimen of in
sanity or bold depravity, she asks for
sort of conjugal leave of absence or re-
lease OF five years, TO enjoy perfect love
with Rigu on the flowery banks OF some
river in the south. When the fire or ber
passion would be extinguished and her
caprice thoroughly satiated she would
return and resume her place in her old
homel 1--WE may yet see" she writes
"SOme bright days at Chimay."
Inanuther letter she Seads TO her husband
her engagement presents, her jewels and
her PRAYER book, the latter Ito be given TO
her little daughter on the day when she
makes her first communion"
In other letters she declares that she is
no longer worthy of the illuStrious name of
ChiInay on the night preceding her de
parture from Chimay with RfSo, whose
name she Will henceforth bear, she slept
with her little boy and her little girl,
and she tells her husband how the little
things cuddled up to her, each repeating
several times, Wont you let me sleep
with you every night, mamma?'
In still another letter she says that
"after all, divorce is not made for dogs"
and she begs her husband to take mis-
tress, hoping that he will make better
choice" than he did when he married her.
A few lines further ON she speaks with
affection for her children, and would
"loye to kiss their little rosy feet" and
purchase their happiness by giving up all
the years of life that remain to her.
In all this correspondence there is not \
word of reproach against the Prince de
Chimay The princess constantly repeats
that he was always good to her, that he
deserved to be loved, that she holds him
In the highest esteem, and that Inc never
for a single moment caused her any trou-
BILE. She calls herselfa wretch, a cursed
and infected creature" poor hysteri-
cal thing &C.
More indul gent in terms, il not in reality,
Me. Allan dehcately pleaded alternating
circumstances in favor OF his client. "She