New-York tribune., 1906-07-08
EX-KTNG STAN[SLAS.
Hosc He LiUed in France after He
WaS Forced to Abdicate Throne.
Paris. June 26.

Paris. June 20
It is difficult to find more vivid and brightly
colored picture of the easy grace and fascinating
freedom Of the eighteenth century than that pre-
sented by NJ CASTOR Maugras in LES Dernieres
Annees du Roi Stanislas," issued this week by
the Iibrairie Plon. and which is a continuation
OF La Cour de I.uneville au XVIIIme Steele
published couple OF years ago, and which con-
tained delightful "reminiscences OF the joviaI,
bountiful King Stanislas, the captivating Mar
quise de Bouffiers the Marquise du Chatelet,
Voltaire, and the gay and witty men and women
who formed the court Of the last regning SOW
ereign Of the duchy of Lorraine
Stanislas Leczinski, who was elected King of
Poland in 1704 by the influence Of his powerful
friend and companion OF arms, Charles XII Of
Sweden, and who was forced by the Elector Of
Saxony to abdicate fourteen years later, was al
most penniless adventurer when in 1925 Louis
XIV married his daughter, Marie LeCzinsx who
thus became Queen of France. This marriage
was merely an Intrigue to secure for France the
dUchy Of Lorraine. A few years after the we'd
ding the treaty Of Vienna proclaimed the re-
nunciation by Stanislas Of the throne Of Poland,
and accorded him in exchange the duchies Of
Lorraine and Of Bar. which. it was formally
stipulated should after the death Of Stanislas
be annexed TO France, on the condition that
Louis XIV should pay to Stanisas an annual
subsidy OF 100000 francs, and that the gov
ernment Of the duchies should be virtually con-
trolled by a French chancellor and keeper Of the
seals. who should reside at the court of Stanis-
las. but who was directly responsible to Louis
XIV. This singular arrangement suited both
Stanisas. who had no ambition beyond that OF
amiable man Of letters, patron of the arts
and philanthropist and also Louis XIV, for he
thereby secured 4bese rich uroIyuCeS FOR. France
Stanislas was permitted to retain the courtesy
title Of King and built palaces at Nancy and
at LuneviIle, which became a miniature Yer
saiiies, and where the pompa adour was the beau
tiful Marquise de BoufT1ers, herself a daughter
OF the charming Princess of -Craon, who
for twenty years had been the delightful
panion Of the preceding ruler Of Lorraine. Duke
Leopold. nephew Of the Emperor of Austria. The
brilliant court of Lunevine was in reality the
court Of the Marquise de Bouffiers. the lifelong
favorite Of Stanislas, who with lavish good ma
ture provided handsomely for the numerous
relatives of the marquise and who made the
Marquis de Bouff1ers. the compl lacent husband Of
his beautiful lady. captain of his body guard.
The good King Stanislas became quite sad
after the death at Luneville Of Voltaire's COM
panion. the A1arquise du Chatelet. and passed
most Of his time with his books. playing his
flute. composing verses and essays. which he
used to send 10 Voltaire ar Ferney in smoking
his pipe, and in company with his three pets
Griffon, his dog; his monkey. and his dwarf
"Bebe" He made occasional visits to his daugh-
ter, Queen Marie Leczinsld, at Versailles. and
received return visits at Luneville from the
French King and Queen. and the Dauphin. The
Marquise de Bouffiers had many admirers be
sides King Stanislas. and the most favored
were the poet Saint-Lambert. the Able Pour
quet- the Visconlte Adhemar and the Comte de
Croix. Count Tressan, a dear friend Of Voltaire,
who had been banished from Versailles by the
Marquise de Pompadour because he had written
couplets that had offended her, paid assiduous
court TO the Marquise de Bouffiers, but in vain
Tressan kept Voltaire fully informed Of all the
phases Of his passion for Nine. de Bouf1ers, and
the philosopher replied, giving ample advice, and
this singular correspondence between the two is
produced in VI. CASTOR Maugras's book, which
bristles with characteristic anecdotes.
King StansIas had the best cook in Europe
the celebrated Gilliers author of LIE Canname-
liste Francais.' and whom he treated more as
friend than as n servitor. The King was more
than a gourmet, indeed, he was almost glutton.
one day he was ar table, and a little six-year-old
lad named Colignano, after watching him de-
YOUR pastry, exclaimed aloud. why, the King
eats lust like pig Marquise de Bouff1ers
laughed merrily, and SO did the King. Following
the example OF Louis XIV. Stanislas often had
his repasts served the terrace before the
public. At one Of these open air state dinners d
young woman, companion Of the Narquisc de
Bouflers noticed a pretty young maiden, who
by chance was seated next a venerable Francis
can monk The court lady stealthily pinned the
Young girls petticoat 10 the monks gown. After
the girl had been watching the royal dinner. she
made a movement, and, finding that she was
annarentIv held fast by the monk bushed
trembIed and exclaimed, "Oh, father, for shame;
let me go," The monk regarded the girl with
amazement. and then, in his turn, arising to
depart. found that he was held fast. He glared
with fury and Indignation at the girl Then
they started to 90 away, and found that they had
feen mined together The public and all the
Kings guests burst out laughing. The King
asking the cause Of this unreasonable mirth, was
highly displeased. and dismissed the noble lady
from his court.
The Marquise de Boufflers had three children
The eldest became the intimate friend Of the
Dauphin and at the death of the marquis as
s1llned the family title. The second child was
daughter. who afterWard married Count de Bos-
gein. and the third, for whom the King stood
as godfather and who received the names Of
S1auislas in homo Of the King. and Of Catherine
IN honor Of his mother, was the famous Che
Waller de Boufiers. who was created an abbe
at twelve and whose volatile nature induced him
IN omit The Church for the army and who be-
can7o one Of the most brilliant. daring and cap
tfyatjng couItiers OF the period.
The death Of King Stanisss was pathetic, On
February /. 1906. he dined as usual at his cha
teau Of LunevilIe with the Marquise de Bout
ners. and his guests were the daughter Of Sir
Robert Walpole Lady Mary Churchill. and her