New-York tribune., 1906-12-03

Anafrs OF the Grand Duchy Of Baden and cham
oerialn or the grand duke. For some reason this
marriage was always enveloped with certain
amount OF secrecy. and /. recorded In
the Almanach de Gotha." Indeed people affected
10 ignore 1t, and to regard the baron as cham
uefIan instead OF the husband of the princess.
many, however. in doubt TO whether any
BONA f1de marriage existed. whether any mar
rage ceremony had been performed. and conse-
quently much color was lent to the stories clrcu-
lated throughout Europe to the effect that the in
tmacy between the Princess of wied and the
naron-th7t is 10 say, her chamberlain-was unlaw
1ul. may add that currency given to these
calumnies by the novel dealing with the court OF
Rumania, entitled Royal Misery" published by
queen Elizabeth's Alsatian secretary, after his
summary dismissal by the King and expulsion from
Rumanfa
1t is difficult understand the object which the
princess and the baron had in view in maintaining
secrecy as TO their rlorganatlc marriage. since
tne oarons political career had already been
oIousht TO close. owing 10 his antaeonsr1 tc
bismarck. before he married Princess WED But
u gave rise to a natural mlsa pprehension, which
cannot but have been deeply distressing to the rel
atlves of the princess. who was one Of the most
sanity and pious Of women, devoting all her ener-
gies and her wealth to religious and phflanhropic
enterprises
There was nothing to be ashamed Of in her mar
riase with the baron for the Roggenbachs are one
or the Oldest houses OF the German nobility be-
longing, indeed, TO the Teuton UradeI that is to
say. 10 the families who formed part of the aris-
tocracy at the dawn OF German history. There are
no children OF this union between the late Princess
OF WED and Baron Roggenbach, and after his
ueath the family have only one surviving represen-
ttuFe namely. Baron Hermann Rogrenbacb who
- coohei OF the l42d Prussian Regiment Of infan-
| uF stationed at MuIha usen, in AIsaco
Another morganatio marriage ignored for some
ieaSoh or another by the Almanach de Cotha is
'nal contracted by the Grand Duke Nicholas Mich
olaeVltch of Russia with the colossaIly rich and
conle!y widow of the great Moscow tea merchant
burlnlne This marriage was celebrated at Moscow
on September 1892, with the sanction of the late
Gar which had been obtained by the present En-
peror Nicholas. who has always been close friend
and chum Of the grand duke. The grand dukes
wife still retains her of Nine. Burinine has
declined the offer OF title. and has never ex-
pressed any desire TO be received at court where
she realizes her position would be a somewhat awlI-
ward one The union has turned out happily. and
| II its existence more widely known we should
be spared the constant reports that being cabed
to this country to the effect that the Grand Duke
| Nicholas is going to be married to this or that
| princess.
! 1t was the same with the late Princess Mathilde
bonaparte, who twice morganaticaIlv married.
after death had released her from the intolerabe
bonds that bound her to the savage and semi
! insane DeInidoh. to whom she had been virtually
sold by her disrcputable old father ex-King Jerome
Bonaparte of Westphaia. in settlement Of debts
OF honor But no mention OF these morganatic
! second and third husbands OF the princess was
ever to be found in the Almanach de Gotha, and
consequently, save 10 the initiated, the husbands of
J the old princess were regarded by the public at
large her lovers, and she herself denounced as
an extremely improper old lady personi1ca ton,
| justly attributed TO the house of Bonaparte.
MARQUISE DE FONTENOY.