Evening star., 1907-09-01

ton 10 thelr nOnlOeT5 lHcs SlelN
a far larger percentage of criminals than
are drawn from any other class OF the pop
ulation. Destitute of any vestige of honor
many OF them live by levylng toll on the
wages of sin and infamy.
These statements do not emanate from
some rabid socialist. fired by a fierce and
unreasoning hatred OF hereditary privileges.
They are but a sober paraphrase OF the
statements made by a league formed by
the best OF the aristocrats themselves for
the regeneration of their decadent order.
No such slashing indictment of the nobu-
fly as a whole ever has been published be-
fore
This crusade for the reformation of the
European aristoCraCy has been started by
Princess Marie Maximi,ianoyna of Baden
and other royal personages. assisted by
many prominent members of the aristoc-
racy OF Germany. Austria and other coun-
tries. one OF the most enthusiastic sup
porters Of the new movement is Princess
HaSenberg, the morgantiC Wife of Arch
duke Francis Ferdinand OF Austria, the
heir TO the imperial crown OF the Hapsburg
dynasty so that the new movement en-
Toys the most exalted patronage in Aus
tria In Germany royal patronage ana sup
port have been extended to the crusade by
the Queen OF Wurttemberg, Princess Marie
Antoinette OF MeCklenberg-Schw a
young and very beautiful woman. and by
Prince and Princess Charles OF Thurn and
TaxIs.
Prince Andreas of Greece. dash!ng
young officer OF hussars, has acceptesf the
leadership of the crusade in hts own little
country. which contains some Of the old
est and most exclusive families of the Eu-
ropean aristoCracy. and Countess Alicia
Oldofredi one OF the famous beauties of
Hungarian high society, has accepted the
general seCretaryship of the entire move
nt1yh 10
been in existence for few months. Coun-
tess O!dofredi already has secured letters
and messages Of appreciation from the Ger
man emperor. the Emperor or Austria, the
King OF Italy, the King of Roumania, the
King OF Denmark, the King OF Greece. the
King Of Sweden the King OF Norway and
no less than forty-eight royal princes and
princesses of various reigning dynasties IN
Europe The anti-vice movement among
the upper classes OF the old world thus has
been launched with a most imposing array
OF imperial and royal patronage, which Is
In itself sufhcient to attract many adher-
ents from those classes OF society whose
members yearn for no greater distinction
than to be the satellites OF emperors, kings
and princes.
The new league was founded in the early
days Of this year at a private meeting held
at Frankfort-on-M Main. under the presi-
dency Of Princess Marie Maximilianovna of
Baden, who, in her opening speech. de-
clared that the growing immortality OF the
lrtstocracies of all European countries
made II imperative for those noblemen and
noblewomen who believed In the motto
''noblesse oblige" to bestir themselves on
behalf OF their decaient fellows -aristocrats.
Other speeches OF the same tone and ten
dency were delivered both by men and
women present at the meeting and the
league was duly constituted. with instruc-
tions to begin operations by collecting au-
thentic facts AM figures regarding the
crimes. offenses and immoralities OF the
upper classea
This work Of investigating now has been