The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1901-08-01
MADE HERSELF A BARONESS.
Mrs. Frank Leslie Has Assumed q
Title of Nobility.
New York Herald.

New York Herald.
Passengers who arrived in New York on
the White Star liner Oceanic yesterday
were on tiptoe with curiosity when the YES
sci reached her pier TO learn the Identity
of "A mysterious voyager who appeared on
the passenger list under the title OF the
Baroness de Bazus. Persons skilled I'm the
family histories of the continental nobility
had tried in vain TO guess the nationality
of this family.
IL has been noticed that the baroness.
who seemed an unassuming woman OF
rather more than middle age. wore many
costly rings and that a crest appeared on
most OF her possessions. She had a small.
l~ong-haired dog, OF which she seemed very
fond.
All the other passengers were on the alert
at the dock TO see what friends met the
baroness. They were surprised and mysti-
fed when the baggage was distributed ac-
cording TO the initials OF its owners. TO see
the baroness go 10 the letter L instead
of to b" Some OF the curious ones stood
near enough TO overhear q waiting friend
say, Why. how do you do. Mrs. Lesliey'
and the mystery was solved. The baroness
was Mrs. Frank Leslie.
Mrs. Leslie willingly explained the origin
of her title. She had taken IL, she said. be-
cause she did not approve OF the policy OF
the publications which bear the Leslie
name and did not wish longer To be identi-
fed with them.
This title dates back TO the time OF Saint
Louis. King of France said the baroness.
Saint Louis conferred IN upon PHILIPPE
Picot. the head OF a family in southern
France. He had. besides the title of Baron
de Bazus, that OF Count de Lateyroche.
This last title is now I'm the family. I
have just come from visiting them, and I
have had a delightful time.
Ancestors OF mine came 10 Louisiana
from France on account of the Huguenot
prosecutions. About ten or fifteen years
ago my aunt established her right by birth
and marriage TO the title OF Baroness de
Bazus. and she decided TO claim IL for the
benefit OF her son. This son died seven OF
Ugh years ago, and as my aunt. too, il
dead, the title passes TO me. The family I'm
France received me with open arms and
were glad that / had the title. As they
have the title OF Count de Lateyroche they
could spare the other one.
by an act OF the French Parliament in
l14I the Barons de Bazus are mentioned
and their rights Of procedure and the like
confirmed"
Upon the accession Of the baroness TO the
title. which took place In Paris. the Baron
ess Salvador gave a soiree for her.
This is the fifth name that the Baroness
de Bazus has acknowledged as her own.
Originally she was Miss Marion Florence
Foliin. She married =. G.. Squier, after
ward United States minister 20 Peru, and
after she separated from him married
Frank Leslie. After Mr.. Leslie's death she
married In 1891. William e. X. Wilde. from
whom she obtained a divorce. Among her
ardent admirers before her marriage TO M.
Wilde was the Marquis de LeuVille. who
freely offered his title. IL was not ac-
cepted. ana IL was shown later that the
marquis" was not a Frenchman at all, but
n London tailOr's son.