The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1897-08-16
PRINCE HENRI As ADVERTISER.
some Peculiar Light on the Course or Evcuts
That Led 10 thr Duel

some Peculiar Light on the Course or Fycute
TINT Lea 10 thr Duel.
For n Prime .lrst nearing his thirticth birth.
dav Henri of O'leAns has had n rather retnarka.
bic list of failures. In fact lie has been fully
successful only as n Prince Charming. He 10
one OF the lady.killers of the European cont.
nent, ranking with Duke Ernst GInther Of
Schlcswig.H olstein. and Leopold, King Of the
Belgians. in the royal diversion OF conquering
opera singers. actresses, and other women Of
fame. Aside from lndy-killing and posing, he
has had II sorry time in seeking the reputation
that some day might be useful for an Orleans In
France.
Prince Henri is a newspaper hero. He Is a
prcss.made man. He is a cool advertiser. That
Is the best index to his character in a few words.
While throwing away money in a way to mako
a Russian Grand Duke stare. and seeking the soft
side OF life with an acuteness to stir the envy OF
Notwithstanding. he has ~professcd the desire
TO violate the traditions OF both by doing some
thing worth doing. 1t is not recorded that he
ever did that something. Nevertheless, he has
clutched at the reputation OF having done It;
therein lies the secret of his undoing.
Two or three years ago Prince Henri was
known in Europe principally as a wildly ex.
travagant young man who was pouring forth
gold pieces in greenrooms to the increasing pain
of Prince Philippe. Duke OF Orleans. the pnrsi.
monious head OF the family. His only relative
who looked on him with any degree OF favor
was the Princess Helene, now Duchess OF Aosta,
who has an equally theatrical streak through
her nature, as she has shown by her two at
temptst 10 run away from her Italian husband
and her one attempt to kill herself. The Duke
OF Aumalc was so disgusted with his speudthrift
nephew that he did not leave him a sou in his
will. although perfectly aware that Prince
Henri's financial condition would have made
him the most grateful heir in the family.
With 5000. 900 francs of debts and the desire
to make more. Prince Henri was In n way to do
something unusual after he had passed his
twenty-seventh birthday. and he did it. He
went to Asia He decided 10 gain the reputa-
ton Of an explorer. Just how he went about 10
is a matter OF some doubt. The Paris newspa-
pers say that he settled down in an Asiatic city
far from the haunts OF newspaper correspond
ents and travelling Englishmen and there
imagined terrible adventures in undis-
covered country. In due time. however,
he returned to France. He returned with
n whoop, and two dailies. one Partisan and one
not SO Partisan. though it is published in Paris.
set about booming him in grand style. He had
been in he heart Of Asia. they said. had risked
his life in thrilling encounters with wild beasts;
had discovered new trade routes from India TO
China. and, moreover. had the maps TO show he
had discovered them. as he had the skins 10
show that he had killed the wild animals. He
was AT once the pet OF the women. not only in
the greenroonr, but in society. He was the
geographical! BoulanGcr Of the hour. lie was
invited TO tell tho Geographical Society OF his
explorations. Tho Ircsiicn: hnng on his breast
tho cross of the Legion o. Honor.
In the midst of this iUt!!cc three pero
came forward with positive statements that
Prince Henri was n humung and that he never
had been at the head waters OF the 1rrawaddy.
They compared HIS maps and trophies OF the
chase with the iis, th:t n man takes home TO
prove that he has been fishing. One newspaper.
the on Bias, proclaimed that. on Prince Henri's
demand. it would name the man who had the
full story OF the Princes loailng in safety while
supposed TO be pursuing tho roaring tiger and
the winding trade trail. 1t was never called
upon TO name him. A new turn was given Prince
Hcnri's career by tho Abyssinian venture
which led To the duel of yesterday morning.
The expenses OF Prince Henri in Asia had been
paid by business friends in Paris. They were
out OF pocket and 50 was he. II IL n bad thing to
stop midway in the race for reputation. so Prince
Henri set out TO keep what he had and get moro.
There are various accounts OF the why's and
whcrcforcs OF the arrangements for this journey
and its eventual aims. The special Paris cor.
respondent of the Berlin B0crscn Courier tells
this explanatory story:
cit was absolutely necessary for him TO draw
public attention to himself. Perhaps this was
u IdlillNi iCNc9Silg v NJ WAS ObIlhCl, AZ tu0
glare OF publicity, TO endure a scrutinihing OK.
animation Of his financial affairs. Yet others
drove him to It; they were his creditors, among
whom the Figaro and the .Neir YORK HcrGld arc
the most considerable. These two newspapers
were the organizers and promoters OF tho
Prince. How far their speculation is IA success
full one remains to be seen" After u brief
resume of the Princes doing in Abyssinia, the
correspondent continues:
Prince Henri travels on. 1t is hoped that he
soon will discover gold fields which. he can make
particularly useful fog himself and his creditors.
Tor these gentlemen did not Organize ami pro
mote tho Prince for nothing. Their services N
paying part OF his debts and cquipplng hun for
his journey to Abyssinit wcrc not iur, Of course,
to pure brothorly love. These gentlemen meant
business. They have in their strong rON "A great
|, quantity of beautifully autographed paper, On
each piece OF this paper stands written for all
who arc Interested in reading IL That The piece
! in question co,tsuit doc, no, say 'i1 worth,
rid OF these beautifully autographed pieces OF
? paper, for the promoters are not selfish: they do
moi Wish TO keep the paper al to themselves.
:. fcrcd. retired mOdestly. leaving the Autographs
! in the hands OF the promoters, who now. IN thcil
G leisure moments, may ilnd diversion n studying
3 these products OF thom mo Tern printers art. Per
!, hups the promoters JOY IL not unallOycd. One
. thug Il rgitatn howewGr. The promoters must
\ wise they would not have placed such u high
= selling price on them"
a great flourish OF trumpets, He was held up az
the incarnation OF French enterprise and
. colonial daring. French pride was aroused. and
French pride. seemed ut i!rst To respond with
igor, AS II almost invariably does. no matter
Q whether a Panama canal or 4 Franco German
a war is in, question. So Prince liouri went
= loaded with presents for the willy Meuelek. and
l win the assorted hopes of assorted groups Ia
Paris and ~elsewhere. Tho expedition was moi
8 beating OF big drums and with such az
astounding amount OF newspaper advertising