New-York tribune., 1901-05-05
"OU L. LADY OF ARTS"
GRAND OLD WOMAN PRINCESS
rrr1rE IN,
MATHILDE BONAPARTE.


and si@l'sister Of his father. who for consider
ably more Than half a century has been one Of
the most conspicuous figures ia Partisan life
Since the day when. in 1876 she first estaiD-
lished her residence on the banks of the Seine
her hOSp!ta bile salons have been the rendezvous
Of al that is most brilliant in art. literature and
science. not alone in the French capital. hut in
all Europe. she has lived TO see three genera
uors Of celebrated families succeed one another
as guests beneath her roof and pass down To
the grave, leaving her still hale and hearty fun
OF life, cheerfulness. Wit and kindly nature. The
elder Dumas was an habitue of her receptions:
too his son, and now she is the god
mother # he grandchildren Of Alexardar Dumas
the younger. The GaUtiers. the Houssayes and
scores more might be mentioned who have sue
cceded one another. the son following his father
ard his grandfather at her t4ble until her salon
has become of the landmarks and institu-
tions Of the French metropolis, unique of its
kind the disappearance of which by her death
viii be an irreparable loss
IL is the visit OF her favorite nephew and
heir. the Russian cavalry general Prince Louis
Bonaparte. her differences Of opinion with her
cousin. Empress Eugene. the subject Of Rus
sia and England, and. lastly. the death of Ernes-
tine DuNcrser that render timely a brief pen
sketch of 'Notre Dame des Arts as the
princess is styled in literary and artistic circles
at Paris 10y who was first presented TO her
as boy of sixteen. and who, like his father be-
fore him, has always been able TO count upon a
kindly welcome from her
1t is strange. indeed. that The death of Ernes-
tine Duyerser should have rtm.ined so entirely
unnoticed by the French and foreign press. The
daughter Of a washerwoman. she achieved fame
At the age of fifteen as the heroine of a most
Duke Of Orleans, eldest son Of King Louis
Philippe and then heir 10 The throne of France.
and not long afterward became the final cause
Of the separation of Princess Mathilde Bona
p2rte from her Russian husband. Anatole Dem
idoff. Prince of San Donate. who. when he died
at Paris in 1870. left untold wealth Ernestine.
The latter subsequently, developed into an eccen-
tric and mserly old woman. whose sole enjoy
ment used To be to empty the contents Of her
many safes on the carpet. and then to plunge
her bare among the jewels of every de-
scrption.
Yet Princess IathilGe felt no grudge against
Ernestne Duverger and perhaps on the whole
was rather grateful 10 her for having furn shed
her with cause of separation from Demidoff.
1t was at the suggestion Of the princess that
Alexander Dumas the younger intrusted the
title role Of La Dame Camelas-' 10 Ernes-
tine DuTerger during of the most successful
runs of the piece, and the only flowers that fig
ured at the funeral of the once celebrated
queen OF lie Monde on Ton s'Amuse"
those sent by the good natured old princess. now
in her eighty second year. That Mathilde Bona
parte had little cause to regret her Muscovite
spouse viii be appreciated when the circum-
stances of her marriage described. Born at
Trieste as the daughter Of ex-kinS Jerome Bona
parte Of Westphalia and Of the latter's second
wife. Princess Caroline Of Wurtemberg. she
spent her early years Trieste. Venice and
various towrs of Northern Italy in a state OF
financial misery that could even be styled
gilded, bat merely silver plated. Her father.
spendthrift and gambler who had saved moth
ing while the throne of Westphalia. was
pendent entirely upon the allowance Of $4,000
year. grudgingly granted to him 10y his fat her
in-law. the King of Wurtemberg. and upon loans
that he could eXtcrt from friends and acquaint-
ances Among those TO whose purse ne had most
frequent recourse Anatole Demidoff.
Muscovite multi-milliOnaire cf the most savage
when the ex-King usual engaged in
negotiating a loan from Demidoff. the latter
suddenly turned and asked for the hand of
Princess Mathilde. then a singularly beautiful
girl, with blond hair. dark brown eyes. ex-
quisiteiy cut features and superb figure.
Jerome showing reluctance and hesitation.
Dem:doff not only made the grant Of the loan