New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1899-06-24


St Simon. who knew the Princess des Ursns
well. declared that "she reigned In Spain. ana
Ter history deserves to be written" In DIS
,-,o,rs no left invaluable material for por-
nat of the once famous lady. and In more re-
csrt times she has been studied by various MS
t,,,ans. Miss HILL however. is the first writer
', give in English a succinct account OF the
,,cs. imnortant decade in the life OF the Prln-
cess She was on the verge of her SIXTEEN year
when she went to Spain az Camerera-Mayor' OF
Superintendent Of the Queens Household. ohe
was nominated for the post by Louis AlN We
cause he thought her qualified 10 give eoou
advice TO the young King and Queen. fhlhp
was only seventeen. His bride. Marie LOUISE -
Savoy. was four years younger Neither Vi ,"e
two was prepared to cope authoritauNeiS "''.
the fearsome etiquette Of the Spanish Co"'"
The Princess des Ursins. on the other manu. y" q"
old enough and experienced enough TO keep hef
roval master and mistress IN the r'sh' p"'"'
She did more She ruled them both
The story OF this ambitious woman IL o"e W
the most romantic in European history ~
,yos NJ the family Of La Trimouille ana 'hus
closely allied TO the French nooiiity one ms
,oarr,ed the Prince de Chalais and atter MS
soo,h was welded to the Due de Bracclano'
,,ho a,so bore the title Of Prince Orsini one
s.,,, much Of Spain and Italy, as well as VI
v,oo Al Rome she had been serviceaDe u
rrorcb interests When she proceeoeu u
Madrid she was a fully trained woman OF the
world versed in diplomacy. quick 10 see ""."
acton was necessary and as quick 10 90 'he
needed thing. She had TO deal with d uuoio''
s,ata of affairs at the Court OF the young rniip'
The people were not inimical 10 the eS'"0'
ment Of the Bourbon dynasty Dut 'neS W.
ready 10 resent anything that seenleu Inc o.
undue encroachment upon their rlsh's oN "a"
mart OF the French. There was not "a"'i"e' -
80 q marty eager TO treat Spain as Klho
=, oorouored nrovince Of France. and neither the
v,nc nor the Queen had the strength 10 pre-
Won't unaided. the inevitable friction Inc
pr,rcess des JTrsins strengthened came 10 'he
reecue ST Simon expresses the SITUATION pei
fectly. She regned. and with strong MANU.
Her first setback seemed serious her seVle-
tarv d'Aubigny. was something OF huii'oi is'
III, conversation amused his mistress and she
allowed him a certain liberty or speech Ohce
.o,,o familiar words OF his were overheard by
enemies OF the lady. and when they came 10 '"e
ears Of the French Ambassador he straigh'way
mt them in a dispatch to his King Ihis oiS-
match was intercepted by the Princess, disdain-
IN, o,rotated and then sent on its way. Louis
could NOT brook an insolence like this The
prircees was recalled But she played her cards
with consummate skill. She left In her place
n woman whom she knew could easily be re-
moved; she employed trustworthy lady OF the
Court N keep her informed Of all that went on
IN her absence: she played deity upon 'he
sympathies Of the Spanish King and queen anu
when she reached France she was not long IN
obtaining an interview with the outraged LOUIS.
Her restoration was now only question Oh
time. Louis had expected to find in the eX-
Camerera-Mayor says Ste. Beuve, an IN
triguing woman OF the Fronde type IN
stead Of this he found person endowed IN
decd nv nature with a capacity TO command.
hut who also shone brilliantly In society. NINE
des Ursns achieved an intellectual triumph.
She was often with the King. and. or course
with Nine de Maintenon. Describing their In
tercourse, Ste. Beuve continues: "Of these three
81 may dare 10 say so, the Princess des Urshs
had the most complete mastery Of the situation
Her quick intelligence had seized upon every
point at issue and. being least bound TO play
part she played hers the best"
She went back to Spain in triumph and was
installed in her old position. Steadily her pow
or increased. The country was torn with strife
The question OF the Spanish succession had beer
only temporarily settled. Again and again wa
shook the nation TO its base; twice the Cour
was obliged TO fee from Madrid and more thar
twice the vigorous lady behind the throne Nigh
have been excused for entertaining the graves
apprehensions. But her courage never wavered
and she fostered what little there was in Philip
She had this advantage too. in her policy o
encouragement. she determined but sh
could be gracious: she strove hard TO win he
points. but the striving tactful. Her fort
unes were threatened constantly by the IN
trigues of her enemies. and Louis Away
vacillating in his support OF her as. indeed h
was in his support Of Spain Itself But sh
. emerged from all her difficulties still smiling
4 still invincible until the death Of the youn
Queen paved the way for her downfall Eliza
beth Farnese was not like Marie Louise Of Sa
vOy. She made It a condition OF her marriag
with Philip that the Camerera Mayor was to b
dismissed and he pusillanimously submitted
After having helped the King 10 weather $
many storms this energetic stateswoman wa
insultingly sent about her business She die,
In Italy In liz, at the age OF eighty, Tranquil
in mind, her faculties still vigorous. dignifeC
and even imposing figure
81. Simon. being incarnation Of etiquette
of precedent, was naturally indisposed to Civ,
the Princess des Ursins her full need Of appre
citation He was her friend and liked her. h,
paid warm tribute TO her high abilities: but
Kings man as he was he could not quite recon
cie himself 10 her splendidly audacious treat
ment Of constituted authority. To him she wal
an excessively ambitious woman. To the mod
ern reader her ambition certainly seems Of ,
rather unusual and tenacious character; bu
Miss Hill shows conclusiveiy that there is n,
reason for doubling the good faith in which he
heroine labOred. The Princess may have love,
power. she may have intrigued profoundly il
order to get 1t and to keep IT, but at the bottom
Of all her conduct was the saving quality Of
really liberal mind. She was full OF natura
gayety. OF wholesome energy, and she brough
a much needed tonic into the gloomy. morbi
Court She would not allow Louis 10 interfer
with the finances OF the country In any sniste
manner. When he calmly proposed the conns
cation OF certain private property for the us
Of the State. she pointed out the danger OF sue