New-York tribune., 1905-07-07

'srxA GRANDE DUCHESSE ROBBGD.
The announcement from Paris that the mansion
OF Nine de Bionns. in the Avenns do Versailles,
has Just been the scene OF q burglary Will serve
to call attention to the fact that the countess. who
is no other than the once celebraxed opera ooune
priua donna. Hortense Schneider, is stih In the
land Of the living II Hortense who practically
gave the vogue 10 all the works OF Onenbach
especially his popular OPERA La Grande
Duchesse," and her fame during the last tan years
OF the Napoeonio empire was so great that mon
srchs visiting Paris IN those days did not hesitate
10 slight the French ruler and especially the EN-
press Bugenie for her sale as, for instance. when
Car Alexander II, while on his way to Paris in
1881 telegraphed ahead TO have box reserved for
him at Hcrtense Schneders theatre on the night
OF his arrival, coupled with invitation that she
would sup with him al the Cats Anglais after the
performance. He reached Paris in the evening at
o'clock. received with great state by Napoeon
III at the railroad station. drove or with n to the
TuileTfes, where after most perfunctory greeting
70 Empress Eugenie, he pleaded the fatigue OF his
Journey for absence from the banquet which they
had organized IN his honor at the palace and, after
a hasty meal IN his apartments, drove off TO the
theatre. where from box decorated with flowers
and with the Russian colors he witnessed the per-
formance OF ia Grande Duchesse." Nor he
BY any means the only visiting sovereign who ac-
corded a greater degree OF homage and of ad-
miraton to the queen Of the opera bouffe than to
the then Empress OF the French.
Schneider in those days used to go everywhere
by the name Of the "Grande Duchesse~-that Is to
say, OF tho role which she had created the opera
bouffe stage One day, in 1867. the guards at the
main entrance OF the great international Exhibi-
ton then in progress in the French capital a
beautiful eGuipage with four horses and positions
driving UP TO the gates II anxious to enter.
The com7nissary OF police duty hastened 70 the
carriage and not recognizing the occupants,
claimed Madame. it is only royal parsoE1ages who
permitted drive in
DO you not know me?' haughtily inquired
Hortense. who had by her side the famous English
demi-mondaine. Cora Pearl. Il am the Duchess OF
GeroIsten.' The police official convinced that he
was in the presence Of one OF the Emperor and
Empress's royal guests. with whom Paris then
thronged. bowed low ordered the gates 10 be opened
and permitted the queen of the Partisan burlesque
stage to drive n and through the grounds OF the
exhibition. The astonishment OF those Of her
friends who recognized her within the precincts OF
the Champ de Mars more easy TO imagine than
70 describe, and she remains record having
been the only person not OF royal rank VINO was
permitted enjoy the privilege OF driving through
the exhibition grounds during that most brilliant
year Of the Napoecnic empire.
Hortense Schneider was overwhelmed IN the
days Of her vogue with offers OF marriage OF the
most brilliant description, many royal personages
and great mobiles being among her suitors For
some reason or another she declined them ALL and
IT only long after her retirement from the
stage that she accorded her hand Cornte de
Bionne. The union not a fortunate in
any respect. Hortense claimed that the count
bent sQuandering the very large fortune which
she had amassed Moreover there was some
question, never satisfactorily solved. about the
validity Of his title Anyhow, the III assorted
pie separated, and. overwhelmed with disappoint-
rnent and annoyance. Hortense withdrew for a
time to a convent But It did not take very long
TO convince hsr that her temperament not
precisely htted for the existence OF a nun. and
she returned the world. and has been living
very quietly ever since at her house, in the Ave
nue de Versailles which, as stated above, has Just
been visited by burglars
MARQUIsE DE FoNTENoY.