New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1904-01-03

hours with the princess who few days ago
expressed a desire to see her nephew. Prince
Louis Bonaparte. a general IN the Russian
Army. stationed at Tlh!s. His arrival here is
expected Sunday evening.
Professor Dieulafoy chung to tho faint hope
Of rally, but the princess herself. in taking
leave of the Empress Eugene yesterday after
noon. said with a faint smile: IT feel 80 weak.
don't think can last much longer" 1t is an
interesting coincidence that the only day in the
last six weeks that the princess felt strong
enough TO be drawn in her armchair TO her IA
vorite window overlooking the garden was on
December .. The princess was in excellent
spirits; it a bright. cheerful morning.
and tho niece of the great Emperor Iaughingly
pointed to the sky and said:
"Ah. It is the sun of Auster!itz!"
Since that time Princess Mathnde had been
confined TO her bed. Among those who called
at Princess Mathllde's house. No. 20 Rue de
Berri, on New Years Day, besides the Empress
Eugene and all the members OF the Bonaparte
family in Paris. were the Due de Montmorency,
Henry Houssnye. Vctorien Sardou the Baron
and Baroness Alphonse de RothschiId. the Comte
Louis de Turenne, Colonel Stonel Casmir-
Perier and CASTOR Deschamps, prominent Re-
pubcans well Bonapartists and Royal
lists. for at Princess Mathide's receptions culti-
waited persons. regardless Of political opinions.
met in friendly intercourse. With the Princess
Mathilde passes away the last Partisan salon in
the highest acceptation OF the term, under
stood by Nine. de Stael and by the grandes
danes of the last century c. L &
The Princess Mathildo Bonaparte was the own
niece OF Napoleon I. daughter Of King Jerome,
cousin OF the King OF Rome UAigIon) and of Napo-
leon III. sister OF Prince Napoleon and aunt OF
Prince Victor and Prince Louis and of Charles Bo-
naparte. OF Baltimore. For more than half century
she was OF the most conspicuous figures OF
Partisan life. From the day when. in 1876 she first
established her residence the banks of the
Seine, her hospitabe salons were tho rendezvous
OF all that is most brilliant in art literature and
science, alone In the French capital but In all
Europe. She lived to three generations Of
celebrated families succeed one another as guests
beneath her roof while she still hale and
hearty. full OF life. cheerfuIness, wit and kindly
nature. The elder Dumas habitue of her
receptions; So too was his son. and she was the
godmOther OF the grandchildren Of Alexandra
Dumas the younger. Her salon had become one OF
the landmarks and institutions OF the French me-
tropolis, unique Of its kind.
In the early part OF the Second Empire her salon
really the court club. From 1852 TO 1870 she
exercised decided influence over the Emperor
Napoleon vi, who had at time wished TO
marry her. and who appreciated her merits and
indebted to her for having modified many
artists and writers and prevented their reverting
TO the violent Opposition party. Even after the
downfall in 1870 she maintained the prestige OF
rank. sustained by recollections OF tho past and
by the group Of eminent men whose friendship she
commanded. and who created around her a halo
OF adnlirng gratitude. Her Wednesdays and sun
days at home We're known all Paris and under
the empire she was called "Notre Dame des Arts
and, afterward, THE Good Princess"
Princess Mathllde Bonaparte born at Trieste
the daughter of ex-King Jerome Bonaparte of
Westphalia. and of his second wife, Princess Caro-
line of Wurtemberg. and spent her early years
Trieste. Venice and various towns of Northern
Italy In a state OF financial misery. Her father a
spendthrift and gambler. who had saved nothing
while the throne of Westphala. was dependent
entirely upon the allowance of $1,000 a year. grudg-
ingly granted to him by his father-in-law the King
of Wurtemberg and upon loans that he could ex-
tort from friends and acquaintances. Among those
whose purse he had most frequent recourse was
Anatole Demidor. a Muscovite multi-milllonaire
of the most savage and brutal manners and in
stincts. One day when the ex-King was as usual
engaged in negotiating Loan from Demidor the
latter suddenly turned and asked for the hand of
Princess Mathde. then a singularly beautiful
GIRL with blond hair. dark brown eyes exquisteIy
cut features and q superb figure. Jerome showing
reluctance and hesitation Demidofr not only made
the grant of the loan conditional upon the ex-
Kings consent 10 the match. but likewise offered
10 cancel the total Indebtedness, which amounted
TO very large sum. Jerome accepted this pro-
posal. and thus practically sold his daughter 10
one OF the most rufianly barbarians who ever dis
graced the upper ranks OF European society
There was no question OF love. either on the one
side or the other and Mathide only yielded to the
entreattes OF her father in the after he had
explained to her that 1t the sole means of
saving him from ruin and disgrace. As was to be
expected. the marriage OF Mathilde TO Demidor
unhappy from the very outset. There were
scenes and disputes resulting from the gross mis-
behavior of the husband and from the singing re-
proaches OF the high spirited wife II was after
ono Of these quarrels that Demdofr presented
the princess a peace offering a magnidcent
gold casket in which there were some valuable
Jewels. While they admring it together he
pointed out to her a spring which opened a secret
drawer. In 1t she found the memorandum of her
fathers immense debt to her husband and the
formers letter accepting Demidofrs offer OF mar
riage as a cancellation OF the debt On another
occasion at fancy dress ball at Florence Demi-
dof boxed his wife's ears in the presence OF all
his guests for having yentured to object the
presence OF one Of his fair but fra friends the
entertainment There was indignity or bru-
tally to which he did not subject her. For