St. Tammany farmer. [volume] (Covington, La.) 1874-current, 1899-09-30

MAD DUKES RErINUE.
NalkoWskl Travels About
Europe.

Peculiar Manner In which Prince
Balkowski Travels About
Europe.
Can anyone recall Shaker communi-
ty at New Bremen, ILL.,. which fiourished
three or four years ago? One of its
leading members was very eccentric
old German nobleman of the name of
Prince Louis Sulkowski. duke of Belitz,
who migrated thither with his second
wife, woman of the name ofGemberle.
lie was one of the wealthiest members
of the European aristocracy. his Hun
garian estates alone yielding him an an
nual revenue of S.. .OeO, COO, and he owned
the entire town of Beilisk. trading
center of eastern Austria. with pop
ulation of about 10000. At least four
of the old dukes children were born
in this country. and are consequently,
although German princes. entitled to
citizenshipIbf the United States. ssstssf-
Prince Sulkowski's eldest SON. the
present head of the family. is just now
figuring in an extraordinary suit
brought against him in the viehnese
courts by woman of the name OF
Charlotte Friedlander. She is suing
him for sum OF $50. 600 us her share
of the reward which he solemnly prom
ised her for helping him toescape just
ten years ago from the great lunatic
asylum Mt Doebling, near Vienna, where
he had been placed under restraint by
his wife and his brothers and sisters.
He is one Of the most extraordinary
characters of the European nobility.
His first wife was his sisters governess,
a woman of the name Of Victoria Leh-
man, whom he persuaded to el0pe with
him and to marry for the avowed pur-
pose of exasperating his father, the ex-
Shaker. His amiable intentions were
crowned with success. The old gem
tleman died of a fit of apoplexy on hear
ing that the wedding had taken place.
Having come into the possession of
his fathers titles and estates. the duke
decided that he had no further use for
the ex-governess. and divorced her,
after settling $4,000 a year upon her.
He then set to work to seek another
partner and commenced travelling from
one end of Europe to the other, as he
still continues to do. attended by the
most extraordinary retinue, compris-
ing secretaries. chamberlains, cooks,
servants, u band of musicians, several
female acrobats. a cage full of monkeys,
two full-grown lions, and several dam
seuses, etc. Of course, this enormous
suite necessitates the use not alone of
one special train. but frequently of two.
while the duke is usually obliged to hire
an entire hotel.
In the course of time he married one
cf his ballerinas naLsrd Ida Jaeger. first
in Switzerland and subsequently at
Bonn. The union resulted in the birth
of little daughter. and then. as the
coming tired of his wife, and there were
indications that he would subject her
10 the same treatment as the ex-g0v-
erness. she had him put in lunatic
asylum at Vienna-not difficult job,
as it is pretty generally acknowledged
in Europe that, to use French express
sion. there is a very big spider at work
spinning cobwebs in his upper story.
In the lnnatic asylum he remained for
three years. during the course of which
time there were law suits by the score
in which his name figured. To begin
with, his brothers and sisters. while
agreeing that he was in every sense of
the word fit for a lunatic asylum, in
sisted that the duchess had no right
to have control of his fortune while
he was under restraint. They took the
ground that she was not really his wife.
owing to alleged invalidity of the di-
vorce from his first consort. This was,
however. decided in her favor. and the
courts declared that she was his law
full wife and as such entitled to the ad-
ministration of his estate while he was
demented.
Eventually he escaped from the
asylum and got away TO Switzerland
and from there to Germany, where he
assumed the seat which was his by in
heritance in the Prussian house Of
lords. and then, on the strength there
of. secured decree from the Prussian
tribunals to the effect that he was sane,
the courts naturally being reluctant to
pronounce mad member of the most
august moiety OF their national legis-
lature. From that time forth until now
there has not been a moment when the
tribunals of Germany. Austria. Russia
and France have not had before them
suits Of one kind and another, either
against the duke or instituted by him.
He is separated from his actress wife.
from whom he has endeavored in vain
TO secure a divorce, while she is doing
her best to have him committed once
more as insane and to force him to pay
her Observation-Disclosures Post.