The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1904-06-09
Another international Romance
Brought to a Close.
Daughter of Levi P. Morton
Sues for Separation.
HUSBAND TOOK LEAD.
His Mother Asked the Pope to
AnnuI the Marriage.
Lack of Issue Is Set Up as the
Cause.

Paris, June 9-Because of differences
between the Duke and Duchess of
Valencay, better known in America as
the Count and Countess Bosom of Tai
lyrand-Perigord, steps have been taken
to dissolve their marriage.
The Duchess of Valencay is a daugh-
ter of Levi P. Morton, of New York,
formerly the American ambassador at
Paris and vice president of the United
States.
The Duke of valencay is a descend
ant of the princely Roman Catholic
House of TaIeyrand and Sagan, which
dates its origin back to the year 1889.
1t is learned authoritativeIy that the
Duke of Valencays mother. the Ouch
ess of TaIleyrand, who prefers her IT,
tie of the Princess of Sagan, asked the
pope to sanction an annulment of her
sons marriage, piously reciting that his
union has been without issue. There
upon the Duchess of Valencay, who be-
came q Roman Catholic that she nigh
take her husband applied to the civil
courts for a legal dissolution of the
marriage. The grounds on which she
made this application are withheld
from public knowledge for the present
Close friends of the duke and
duchess have realized for some time
that the ducal couple have been es-
tranged, for the duke stayed continual
ly at his splendid castle of Valencay on
the Loire, while the duchess remained
in Paris. He is on his demesne now;
the duchess is at the family residence
near the Boulevard St. German.
Morton Is Near His Daughter.
The duchess is in constant commune
cation with her father, who has been
in Paris some time and who is devoted
to her.
Thus far only members of the two
families and their intimate friends
know positively the steps that have
been taken toward a dissolution of the
marriage. Those closest to the duchess
and Mr.. Morton express deep Sympa-
thy for them.
Thus begins the end of another in
ternational romance.
Helen Morton was regarded as the
most beautiful of Levi P. Mortons
daughters and has always been one of
the most popular of the Morton girls"
Accomplished, a thorough must
clan, a linguist, she is fond of out
door sports. She has travelled extern
sively and figured in the fashionable
worlds of London and Paris. There
she met Paul Louis Marie Archan-
BAUD Bosom, count of Perigord the
and she thought she fell in love with
him.
Married Less Than -Four Years.
They were married in st. Mary's
church, London, on October 5, 1901.
not four years ago. A distinguished
company graced the occasion. Mr.
Choate was present with the entire
staff of the American embassy.
The Duchess of Marlborough, in a
splendid costume of purple and furs,
was there.
The bridegroom's father, the Duke
of TaIleyrand was not present for
the old duke, a dandy in his young
days, was a paretic in his old age.
But the bridegroom's mother was
radiantly happy. The Count of Peri
CORD is her faVOrite son, so great a
fa re- hi
that rumor had it the Princess of Sa-
gan tried to break the law of pri-
mogeniture in BOson's favor.
But Helie, gilded youth, has fought
duels and got into trouble with the
French courts because he obligingly
discounted notes for Max Lebaudy
the Little Sugar Bowl"
Coveted Chateau of VaIencay.
Before this brilliant marriage, that
arbiter of Paris fashion, the Princess
of Sagan, had found it necessary to
sell the famous Chateau de Valencay
which was bought by Prince Talley-
rand by order of Napoleon, who wish
ed his representative to receive for
eign ENJOYS in truly princely style.
The wife of Count Jean de Castel-
lane herself Talleyrand, bought the
chateau from the Princess of Sagan.
Now whoever of the TalleyrandS owns
the chateau claims to be entitled to
call himself Duke of Valencay.
The Princess of Sagan was aroused
to learn that Count Jean de Castellane
would claim this title. Luckily there
happened to be a clause in the law
permitting a Talleyrand to buy back
within a year, at a price greater by
one-sixes any property he had sold
at forced sale. So after the brilliant
marriage the estate of Valencay, com
prising the chateau, stables, outbuild-
ings, park, kitche gardens, orchards.
the lands. woods rivers, brooks and
hills, forest of Gatines meadows. till
able, were bought back by Count Bo-
son for $543, 665.