New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1904-06-06
hlNG EDWARD AT KEEL.
EUH Eye of Bontour, Who Ruined
Many French MOBILES.

King Edwards visit to KIel this month Will MT
De so entirely devoid Of political significance as the
- not - % 10 coincide with the yacht races and
So" al mat picturesque port might have led
oi7 10 DeHeVe' Tor the King will be accompanied
4lOih England not merely by Sir Frank Iascelles
MS Ambassador at Berlin but also nv Sir F1son
NoIst' the new Assistant Under Secretary Of State
d. the foTelgn Once. 1t has been arranged that
INC o1hCIsi features of the visit-that to say the
ceremonial calls and receptions and the review OF
'ie herman Meet IN honor OF the British monarch
are 10 ce crowded into the first two DAYS so that
reward VII may have the remainder of the week
free Tor the enjoyment OF the yachting and the
hoh-on1cial festivities. But he will be almost
constantly In the company of his nephew. the
Kaiser. throughout his stay. it may be taken for
granted that the way will be prepared for better
understanding between the two countries, espe-
cally as regards their commercial relations.
Inc hins and Queen will give two balls
secuuVe Fridays this month, the one at Bucking-
ham Palace and the other at Windsor Castle In
both instances the Invitations will be out by
the Lord Chamberlain, but in the case of the bali
NJ windsor they will be restricted mainly guests
staying at the Castle and TO friends Of the royal
family living in the neiGhborhood. The large state
balls given in the reign OF Queen Victoria at
buckingham Palace. attended by a miscellaneous
crowd of people, whose claims to invitations were
largely based on their official position
thing Of the past: and the balls at Buckingham
Palace, as at Windsor. much more strictly
limited as to numbers and carefully scruti-
nized as to personnel the possession of office
carrying much less weight in the matter than the
personal acquaintance and good will Of the King
and Queen
In Queen Victoria's time the favor of members
of the royal household was often sufficient not
merely TO secure single invitations to court balls
and 10 state concerts but TO get ones name
placed permanently on the invitation list. Now,
however, all is changed and both the King and
Queen insist retaining in their hands the
jealous control of the choice OF their guests.
Many hundreds OF houses Of the old French arts
tocracy their ruin, from which they have in
some cases recovered by means of rich marriages.
10 Eugene Bontoux. who has just passed away
peacefully, ct the Of eightythree. the sunny
shores OF the Mediterranean, at Cannes. II was he
who some twenty years ago founded that great
financial institution known the Union Generate.
which. organized for the avowed purpose OF pro-
noting the interests OF the Church and of the
Royaist cause IN France. received the support OF
the clergy and the strong commentator OF Leo
XIII and OF the late Comte de Chambord. who
child reigned for a few hours France
King Henry V after the abdicati IN his favor OF
his grandfather. Charles Y. The grandest names
of the French nobility such the Harcourts. the
De Broglies. the De Malles and the Noaes, fig
ured as the board of directors. Dukes, marquesses
and counts Of illusrious lineage interested IN
the management Of the concern. while religious in
situations, ecclesiastical orders and prelates OF
high and low degree FASTENED TO confde the funds
with the administration or which they were
charged to bank which enjoyed in so marked q
degree the good will Of the head Of the Church
Suddenly, in 1857. the whole magnificent fabric
collapsed, its downfall, according TO many, having
been brought about by the Haute BanQue Juive, at
Paris and by the so-called Banque Protestante.
acting in conjunction with the chief financial ad-
herents OF the republican government The ruin.
particularly among the aristocracy. was SO wide
spread and so disastrous that many iustrous fam
Ilies disappeared forever from the social irma-
ment. while others were forced submit 10 an
eclipse of several years until they could recover in
q measure their financial equilibrium.
Bontoux fed 10 Spain, was arrested. tried and
sentenced 10 five years imprisonment, after serv-
ing which he went abroad. made another fortune
and then returned 10 France 10 spend the re-
rnainder OF HIS days. Curiously enough, none OF
the victims OF the Union Generate disaster seem to
have harbored any lasting feelings OF resentment
against him, not when they knew him 10 be
rich once more; but they give him a wide berth
having become aware too late OF tho story accord
ing TO which he afflicted with the evil eye, and
therefore destined 10 bring misfortune upon all
with whom he brought into contact Indeed, IT
IS amazing that the Comte de Chambord. who
OF this, should have In the circumstances
accorded any countenace TO his projects.
The manner IN which lie Ro" (the King.
the Royalsts wont 10 style the Comte de
Chambord had his attention called 90 the fact that
Bontoux was q '-jettatore' was very dramatic
The Pretender had announced at table his inter-
ton OF inviting the fnancier, then engaged in
founding the Union Generate. to one OF his shoot
ing parties at Frohsdorff. when the Comte de la
Ferronnays a boyhood friend. who had just ar
rived from France the chateau TO take up his
term of duty as principal chamberlain 10 the ex-
King protested against the presence Of Bontoux on
the ground that he had heard that the was pos
sessed OF the evil eye, and that 1t was on record
that whenever no had attended shooting party IN
France or Austria a death had always taken place
Immediately afterward in the house where he had
been entertained.
The ex-King scofed at this, made fun OF his
chamberlain. and insisted asking Bontoux The
nnancier came and the shooting party took place
But It came TO a sudden and tragic end even be-
fore noon had been reached for as the ex-King
was driving out into the forest to TIRE shooting
lodge where he had given rendezvous to his guests
the Comte de la Ferronnays while in the act OF
conversing with him. suddenly stopped short in
the middle OF n remark, gave little gasp. and
then fell against his royal master and old friend
.tor. deod The ex-Kine never invited Bontoux
again But that unfortunately. did not prevent
him from giving the strongest kind Of indorsement
10 his Union Generate enterprise, and from secur-
ing for It the oountepance Of the Vatican, on the
ground that II especially destined 10 promote
the Catholic
People in this country have no idea OF the extent
to which the superstition with regard to the evil
eve prevails in Europe. I recall an extraordinary
scene which took place when the Marquis Rug
Yerierro Maurigi one OF the most wealthy md
generous OF the great landed proprietors of Sicily.
ATTEMPTED TO address the Chamber OF Deputies at
Rome in behalf OF the city OF Syracuse, which he
reDresented for time in the national legislature.
Tho marquis who had at one time been In the
automatic service abroad. reputed TO he
iettatore and when he started to speak one ror-
tto, Of the members of the national parliament
solernnly crossed themselves in the most piops
manner and averted their gaze. while others less
devout nut one arm hand over their eyes ana
extouded the other hand forward TO him. the two
hofp inward. while