New-York tribune., 1905-12-11

GRANDSON OF CHARLES x STILL LIVING.
Few persons, even in France, aware that there
still survives. at the age o: ninety-eight in the
Austrian town of Graz, 8 venerable Aobleman of
the name of Count Charles Ferdinand de Ia Roche,
who is a natural Of the royal French Duke de
Berry. grandson therefore, of King Charles X
Of France and a grandnephew not only of King
Louis XVIII, but likewise OF the i'll fated King
Louis XVI and of Queen Marie Antoinette. AS a
child he often petted by King Louis XVIII.
and by King Charles x allowed to play and
romp in the halls and salons OF the palaces Of
Versailles and Of the Tuileries, while he
particular pet OF Mime. de Recamier.
His mother was the daughter of old noble
man the name Of Count de la Roche, and had
been intrusted by, her father with presenting Pc
tition to the Cefnte de Provence, who after the
restoration assembled the throne of France Louis
XVIII. but who was then in exile. While waiting
to see the comte she met his nephew, the Duke dc
Berry, who one of the most fascinating princes
of his day. He fell in love with her and ere long
the love was returned.
In 1907 she gave birth to a son, Of whom the
Duke de Berry was the father, and who has been
known throughout his life by the and title OF
his mothers family. The duke made no attempt
to disavow his paternity, had the boy constantly
at the palace after the Restoration. was devoted
to him. and likewise managed to obtain for the
child the kindlest and even affectionate, consid-
Grafton of both his uncle. Louis XVIII, and his
father, Charles x.
Twenty-three years OF age at the time of the ali
dicaton and exile of his grandfather, King Charles
X the count accompanied the latter, first OF all 10
Scotland and then to Austria was for time tho
secretary and chamberlain of his stepmotheF' the
royai Dtichesso de Berry; served in the same ca
pacity his haIf-brother, the late Comte de ChaIn-
bord who reigned for few hours over Franca
in 1890 under the title Of Henry V. and benehted
largely under the will of the Count and countess
de Chambord' when they died. He also served III
the Austrian army. attaining the rank of colonel,
and was for a long time popular figure at the
Austrian court and IN VienDese society
His house at Graz is a perfect museum OF BoUr-
bon relics and OF gifts and bequest5 from the lass
two legitimate kings of France, his most hlGhly
nrized treasure being the jewelied insignia of the
Order of the Holy Ghost and its blood stained rib
hon worn by his father the Duke de Berry, on
the fateful night when he was aSsassinated by
Iouvei at the opera at Paris IL iS20 MS soh. the
Count de la Roche, being at the une Iao o.
thirteen
Tho count has now become very infrm, although
still retaining all his mental faculties and 1t can
not be long before he passes over TO the fnaJoriE'
when a notable ard profoundly interesting INK
with the past will be severed
QUEEN MARGUERITE A PLAYWRIGHT
oueep Marguerite of italy. who has already pun
1fsbed several volumes of poetry and also one or
two novels under a pseudcnyme, is about TO JOIN
the ranks of royal playwrights, and, according to
news received from Rome, is putting the hhlshlhs
touches ,n a drama, at which she has worked
for the iast two years. 1t will be produced carry
in the spring under her nom de plume by one OF.
, ~ foremost dramatic companies of Italy.
There are a far larger number OF royal pay
vrights than the theatregoing public realizes ana
a quantity of the pieces produced in English and
in German on the American stage owe their crea-
,to, to prfnces of blood. One of the most remark
ahle of the latter as dramatist the Kaisers
,,randuncIe the late Prince George of Prussia.
VINO died only a few years ago. HIS dramas. which
aued several volumes. published and pro-
duced under the pen name of j. Conrad One of
,hano ''Phaedra." particularly successful on
the German stage.
But the princes principal feat his writing
comedy in French. entitled Mile. Esther" which
was produced by the Comedie Francois at Paris,
and had long and brilliant
These Frencbmen who were aware of the identity
of the author were astounded by the purity of the
French in which is written, by the extraordinary
,,,o1vle1ee of ali the idioms and 'inesses.'' ;
we'll as of the popular sayings OF the day which
II be+raved and we're even still surprised BY
me IN TO date manner IN which the theme Of tho !
play is treated
For at the time when II written and pre-
vente5 on the stage Of the Theatre Francais at
paris Prince George had not set foot In France
for more than thirty yesrs-that is to say, since
the fall of Napoleon III. Prior to the war OF 1870
prince George frequented by preference French
literary societies and had among his close friends
and associates such witty ParIsiars as Emile dc (
r;irardin Nestor de Roqueplan. Ofenbach etc
,rbils his grand passion the great tragedian
Rachel 10 whose memory ne remained devoted
-o the end OF his days.
OTHER ROYAL DRAAATIsrs
sin moro successful as playwright was the late