The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1898-05-07
THE ODD PRINCESS De SAGAN.
A CLEVER FRENCHW0MAN AND HER
PLANS FOR a TITLE,
Father Has Opened sss- Chap
ter In Fight That Has later
ested France for Many Years.

estea France for Many Years.
Inc death OF Due de acknowledgements
saleneay in Berlin last week promises to
create Interesting diplomatic and legal
Questions He was The head Of the horse
OF IaileyraRd-Perigori. inherited en- Sis
mothers side the Silesian Duchy OF Sagan
and Prussia confirmed his rights in 1875
and again In isss. For many years he had
neen member of the PrsIssian house of
iords while retaining his French citizen
snip, being mayor Of vaiencay. His eldest
son. Prince de Sagan for a generation had
oeeE the Beau Brummel Of Paris. He Is
now an Invalid and an imnec.le at Cannes.
when the late duke died the German
government in,imated that the estate
would be considered as that of German
subjects. Emperor William is now preoc-
cupied with the question OF the succession
or the Duehy OF Sagan. He has deter
mined that a French citizen shall not sue
coed again. and at the same time ne shud-
ders at the prospect that Ellie will. reu,,-
date his French citizenship In order to
vindicate his claim to the Prussian nohil-
ity, 30 which. In the emperors opinion, he
would be disgrace.
The family or Talleyrand-P erigord has
been connected with this country for many
years through the marriage OF members OK
Princess de Sagan is believed to have done
more than any other woman in French
society 10 promote the marriage OF Ameri-
can heiressss TO French ncblemen. IL Is
said tina. the present Countess de Castei-
lane met her husband at the Princess de
Sagans house, and had opportunities to
see him there frequently. The Duke Of
Talleyrand and Sagan was twice married.
and his second wife was member of the
Casteiane family and closely related 10 the
young man to whom Miss Anna Gould was
married. The brother OF the late Duke de
Taileyrand and Sagan. the Duke de Dino.
also married an American. and so did the
Baron Seiilere. a brother Of the present
Princess de Sagan. Both of these ladies
were New Workers. There were also other
members OF the family that married Amer
lean heiresses.
The present Princess de Sagan Is the
most remarkable woman in France. She
was the daughter Of Baron Senliere. who
made many millions in war contracts by
cheating the government. When the
Franco-Prussian war revealed his rascal
ity, and all France was so bitter that it
was better to be dead than a proved enemy
OF his country. the baron had the grace to
kill himself. Then the Prince de Sagan
refused to allow his young wife to profit
by the dirty money of her dishonest sire.
On that issue they separated. and for more
And such a life. The prince. in his moral
code. drew the line at financial dishonor.
but at nothing else. apparently. He was
one Of the maddest set OF corrupt young
men OF title in Paris. who exhausted every
sensation in life. from gambling to fighting
duels. Sagan's duel with NJ. de Hermant
was OF these the most famous. The prince
had inherited the iron constitution that
enabled his father 10 live TO the age OF 81.
but it failed him at last The strain was
too great For some time he has been a
hopeless paralytic.
Not only that. but he is a pauper, having
sold his life interest In the Valencay and
Sagan estates long ago to Baron de Hirsch,
partly to get the money. partly to prevent
his wife from enjoying them after his
death.
That Is one reason why the death OF the
old duke does not enrich either the present
prince or his sons.
And the princess? How has she Jared
since that memorable day when the prince.
calling the servants TO witness that he took
away nothing but his umbrella, left the
great house OF the princess In the Fau-
bourg st. Germain-never. as he supposed,
TO return? In faith. not badly. She has
had enormous wealth at her disposal, has
won social success, and has in one way or
another managed TO keep her name before
the public.
One OF her exploits was when she in
duced the Prince of Wales 10 persuade his
wife, the virtuous Alexandria. TO yirit her.
That was a night. IL happened in 1878.
The Prince OF Wales had for some time
smiled upon the French princess, but IL
needed woman's approval 10 put the seal
upon her social success. IL was not until
midnight that the Princess OF Wales APP
peared, leaning on the arm OF Raymond
Seilliere brother Of Nine. de Sagan. At
the sight there was prolonged "A-a-h!"
as much as 10 say: "She did come. after
all, We'll! Well, Well,'
The Prince de Sagan was not present on
that occasion. It was said that his wife
offered 10 pay all his debts II he would be
the master OF the house for that one even
ing 1t was n huge bait. but he declined.
So the princess was well launched. but she
had her reverses as we'll as her victories.
The Duke of York never followed his fla
theirs example In paving her courtesies.
and Emperor William OF Germany ssernly
refused 10 allow her 10 meet the empress.
Still, the princess was we'll advertised.
Now. she was making all Paris talk about
her skill as a pistol shot. Now an sxpio-
sion i'm her Paris house was attributed to
political plotteTs. Now she was bitten by
a pet monkey while fonding IL. and be-
came patient OF the Fasseur institute 10
avert possible danger from rabies One
Of the most amusing Incidents of her gay
life was the rebuke administered 10 her by
President Garnet for gossiping in the Com
edie Franchise She owned a box there
and was accustomed 10 disturb the audi
ence by talking and laughing with her
chums Nothing could be done 10 stop g.
But the rules Of the house permitted the
president of the republic TO choose any
box he wished for his own use. ~. Carnot
chose that OF Nine. de Sagan. She was
frozen out of the theater. which was
quieter thereafter
About the princess elaborate toilets Pa
ris has had the fight 10 gossip. They have
been remarkable as the lady simply would
not consent 10 grow. old. but has continued
at 90 to look q years old. But the morning
toilet, which took half an hour in 1876 takes
two hours and half now. This extraor-
binary woman reserved until last autumn
her most notable most daring stroke. Her
husband was then paraiyfic and speech
less He lived with his cider brother. the
Due dc Mantmorency, and his eldest son.
f~ornte Heiy he ACKNOWLEDGMENT,
couute Bosom, the second son. lived with
his mother One day the princess. her
son. Corste Bosom, and her physician called
Al the eiuf, Of the prince. the cercie de Ia
II sf..xf