Daily Kennebec journal., 1904-03-18
The House of Bourbon and the
Dreyfus Scandal.
The Crown Prince Of Japan as an
Automobilist.
Royal Affairs Of the Heart-Franee
and Russia.

and royal house OF BOURBON mas nO'
been directly or indirectly implicated
The extraordinary letter which has
just been published in the Gil Bias al
Paris, over the signature of the Mar
quis de VacorlOs, serves to call atten
tion to the fact that this nephew OF
Queen Isabella of Spain. played very
unsavory role in the Dreyfus affair
which Is now once more engaging the
attention of the French courts and Of
the French people.
In 1899 the marquis who at the time
held the post Of military attache to the
Spanish Embassy at Paris, with thi
rank of lieutenant colonel, was suddenly
released Of his diplomatic function and
placed on the retired list Of the army,
disabled. 1t was asserted at the time
that the Spanish government had dis
covered that he had accepted money
from the French war department and
that some of the evidence used against
Dreyfus had been furnished by HIM.
Nothing definite was known by the gen
eral public until a few days ago, when
the marquis. in denying a statement by
the Gil Bias to the effect that he had
for two years Urom 1893 to 1880 re-
ceived a regular allowance of $100 I
month from the secret service fund of
the French war department. besides
many additional sums for special SER
vices. admitted that he received num-
Der of payments from the French war
department, but for the use of third
person, whose name ne withhOlds. The
very fact that he should have accepted
money and been intrusted with the task
OF securing by means mostly foul AMI
rarely fair the military secrets of fo"-
eign powers, speaks volumes. while the
circumstance that in spite of the i'm
mense influence which he could COM
mand as a nephew of Queen Isabella
and first cousin of King Alfonso XIII.
and Of the 1nfanta Eulalie. the Spanish
government deprived him of the post
and placed him on the retired list, DEM
onstrates that it found his explanations
unsatisfactory and believed him to be
guilty of the charges imputed to him.
Married to the daughter of old AL
berti partner Of the well-known banker
Oppenheim. the marquis is a son oe
that royal Spanish princess. the Infanta
Joseph (sister of King Francis, the hus-
band of Queen Isabella), who in the
fifties of the last century eloped with
the Cuban poet and journalist, Guel v
Rente. and married him at Paris.
Guel Rente had commenced life as
an errand boy in Havana, and after be-
coming a reporter had, with the cheer
full courage of that particular branch Of
the journalistic profession. asked the
wealthiest planter in the island for the
hand of his only daughter. He was
shown the door, whereupon he rounded
on the planter and informed him that he
could keep his daughter, as he had
changed is mind about her and was go
ing to Madrid to wed a royal princess.
Guel put his threat into execution,
went to Madrid. attracted the attention
of the Infanta by the pretty sonnets
addressed to her apd printed over his
signature in the newspaper with which
he was connected. induced her to elop.
with him. married he:. and finally died
as a Senator of the kingdom and ac-
cepted as Il kinsman by all the royal
family. which. on account of his Sterl-
ing qualities. had become reconciled to
the romantic match. He himself dis
dained to accept any title. but his sis
ter-in-law, Queen Isabella, while still
on the throne. insisted on granting mar
quisates to his two sons. Raymundo
Marquis of Valcarlos.
LORD Plunket, who has just been ap-
pointed by King Edward to be COVER
nor and commander-in chief of the col.
Ony of New Zealand, with a salary of
$4,000 a year and allowances enjoys
an altogether unmerited reputation for
mendacity. He is the eldest son Of the
late Archbishop of Dublin, who was
primate of Ireland. 1t is related that
the prelate was one day found plunged
in deep distress.
My son Willie has told lie! He is
liar! What shall 1 do with him?"
Then an inspiration seemed to dawn
upon the holy man.
willie shall be diplomat" he ex.
claimed.
And as soon as Willie" grew up, af-
ter due preparation at Harrow and at
Dublin University, an appointment was
secured for him in the diplomatic SER
vice, and he was attached to the en-
bassy at Rome under Lord Dufferin.
whom he followed to Paris when the
,'',-' fNio was SVlit ~ ICPi CSCuL HIS COuH.
try on the banks of the Seine.
While serving with Lord Dufferin he
fell in love with the daughter of his
chief. Lady Victoria Blackwo0d. a god
daughter of the late Queen, and after
nis marriage resigned from the SER
vice, shortly afterward succeeding,
through the death of his father. to the
latter's honors as fifth Lord Plunket.
In 1900 he became private secretary to
Lord CadOgan. the then viceroy Of Ire
land. and has held that position also
under the Earl of Dudley until now.
Lord Plunket is very rich, his mother
having been a daughter of the late Sir
Benjamin Guinness, of Dublin stout
fame. and he is a nephew therefore Of
Lord Ardilaun and of Lord Iveagh.
Through his wife he is a brother-in-
law OF the American-born Marchioness
of Dufferin. formerly Miss Flora Davis.
OF New York. He is stockily built, with
a broad forehead. brown hair, and blue
eyes. He distinguished himself Will.
at Dublin University as captain of the
senior eight of his Alma Mater. and
now divides his leisure time between