New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1904-07-11
DIVORCES NOT BARRED.
More Liberal Treatment accorded
Them By old World Courts.


the GA weird a large num5er Of them have been
presented during the present season at the Court
OF St J"11ess. and at least half dozen. If not
Iio-' iade their courtcsles to she King and Queen
at The court held at Buckingham Palace Just before
TIE King went to Kiei. Three of them were
Americans Thus Countess George Erdoedy pre-
scented by the wife OF the United States Ambassa-
Ger was Miss julia Scott Of New York, who
was divorced from her first husband a Major John
SeH' OF the English army. by the English
courts but by those Of South Dakota.
There was q romance In connection with the
marriage OF the Erdoedys. who are frequent visit
ors TO his country. They first at Wiesbaden
many years ego. and became engaged With the full
consent OF Miss SCOTS parents When however
the counts father, Old Count Louis Erdoedy, heard
OF the projected match, he put his veto it for
various reasons, social political and religious and
threatened his son with disinheritauce The en-
Gagement was accordingly broken off, and year
later Miss Scott, having apparently renowned all
hopes Of wedding her Hungarian sutton. married
Major Johnson of the English army, TO whom she
bore three children who are now grown UP.
Subsequent TO her marriage, the count led 70 the
altar Levantine woman. Charlotte Baltazzi rela-
tive OF the former Turkish Consul General at New
York, and a sister of that Baroness Vetzerag
whose daughter persisted under such terribly dra-
matte circumstances at Meyerirg. at the time OF
Crown Prince Rudolphs death. Two years later
the count found himself a widower with a little
girl and. making a trip to England, he fell into
the path OF Mrs. Johnson. his former fancee, put
happiness
The next thing that happened was that Mrs
johnson sailed with her children for the United
States where in due course. she obtained decree
OF divorce IL South Dakota AS this was
secured. Count George Erdoedy came this
country and married Mrs Johnson in New-York.
their family consisting of the counts daughter by
his first marriage. the countesss three children by
her first marriage and now of the offspring of their
present union Major Johnson died some years af-
-gw7 aud Nfa Gggr7Ta TfHrn n
went through second ceremony of marriage at
Paris. as 10 remove question TO the validity
OF the first ceremony. which had taken place in
NewYerk on the strength Of the South Dakota
divorce
The Erae~dys are enc of the grandest houses OF
the hungarian aristocrscy. to which they have be-
onged since the thirteenth century having received
the title OF baron in 1914 and that u count fifty
years late. Old Count Stephen Erdoedy uncle Of
Count George and head Of his branch Of the family,
was Grand Master of the Horse TO the Grown OF
Hungary, a Privy Councillor and a Knight of the
Golden Fleece. while Count George himself IS
member OF the so-cailed Table Of Maguates'
is 10 say. of the Hungarian House Of Lords
The count may add was about five years ago
the plaintiff in a lawsuit arising from attempt
TO extort money from him 10y who said
she vas his natural daughter. the offspring of
Italian actress Of the name OF Ravcsi, whom the
count had learned 70 know Cairo in 1870. As the
count declined TO satisfy the pecuniary demands OF
MS alleged daughter she sent him a typewriter
pamphlet containing two Of the most scurrlous
chapters OF d book entitled Memoirs Of "A Natural
Daughter OF Count George Erdoedy,' which she
nounced her intention Of publishing unless he at
once paid her $4,000 The count placed the matter
in the hands of the police. and brought suit for
blackmail. the consequences Of which that the
escaped by making Z hurried departure
from the Austro-H Hungarian Empire.
Another diveTeee who presented at the same
time Countess George Erdoedy the widowed
Mrs. Harry McCaImont A daughter Of old Cen
al q E9,,h Fr f,-,-
fore. of Mrs. Lang.ry de Battle, she was married
zen premieres noces" 10 Atmar Tanning. by whom
she had q daughter Her marriage with him
dissolved by the divorce couEa and thereuPon she
Harry McCalmont, who died so suddenly from heart
disease last year, leaving very large fortune
his stepdaughter, that IS TO say. the child OF his
wife By her first husband.
II may be remembers that toward the close OF
the reign OF Queen Victoria the latter adopted =
more liberal policy with regard TO Divorces than
during the first fifty years OF her occupancy OF the
throne. Thus. she admitted Lady Pirbright the
honor of presentation at Buckingham Palace. and
even went far as 10 accord the rare honor OF
a private presentation TO the late Lady MiIlals,
who had been the wife of John Ruskin before
decree OF the courts enabled her TO wed the well
known painter and Royal Academician Sir John
Millais.
The late Queen had reluctantly TO the
conclusion that II was difficult for her chief
OF state, continue 10 discnnntenance DEGREES
OF divorce that had been granted IN her name
for all DEGREES Of courts in monarchlcal coun-
tries are rendered in the name of the sovereign.
King Edward takes the same view as his Nus-
trious mother, and. providing that there Iare no
scanGaIous circumstances in connection With d.
vorceg will no longer continue regard the latter
es necessarily a bar 70 presentation at hts court
Most of the foreign courts, including those OF
Berlin and even OF Vienna. have adopted a sim
liar course. the Conrt OF Vienna merely supulat- .
ing that IN the case Of Roman Catholics the d.
ra lied by
church annullng the marriage.
Although Queen Victoria has been dead Tor sew
Ell years yet. astonishing though It may appear
her Great Seal still continues 10 be used for the
scaling all official documents. This IS IN accoru-
with precedent. and has led TO GOOD deaI oil
confusion among historians, since ancient docu-
raents are often found bearing the seal OF soVer-
egns who have died many as ten and hfteen
years prior TO the date recorded therein
The new Great Seal Of King Edward viii not be
ready until the end Of this year, and instead or
being made of silver. has always been the case
he