New-York tribune., 1907-01-13
THE NEW "GOTHA."
Cemetery Of Dethror,ed Monarchs
Its Mann Features.

Gotha," which has just made its appearance.
II is described a constitutional monarchy
under autocratic Gear" This designation
sounds paradoxical and contradictory. Yet, all
things considered. it expresses pretty correctly
the present complicated condition Of affairs IN
the dominions OF Nicholas II.
The "Alraanach de Gotha'' enters upon
the 144th year OF its existence. While thorough
II I'D TO date, II is nevertheless sometimes de-
scribed as a cemetery OF dethroned monarchs."
the reason for this name being that II Is the
only place where crownless kings and queens
continue TO figure after having been deprived
OF their sovereignty 1t is necessary to refer to
fts pages IN order find out that there are still
In existence a Queen of Naples. a Grand Duke
Of Tuscany, a Duke OF Parma and Duchess
Of AIodena. four states that have been absorbed
by the Kingdom OF Italy and that disappeared
from the map OF Europe nearly half a century
ago. It is also IN perusing the volume that ones
attention is called TO the fact that there is a
Queen Of Servia who is no longer recognized az
such In her former dominions-nanely. the now
phenomenally stout Natalie-and that there is a
sovereign Duke of Brunswick. who has never
been permitted TO set foot in his dominions
much less TO occupy his throne. Moreover. the
"Alranach de Gotha' places record the
deaths which have taken place among the reign
ing houses in the preceding twelve months. and
the list for the last year Is long enough to i'm
part an additional element of the cemetery TO
the volume.
Briefly speaking, the "Almanach de Gotha" is
the wade necurn of every member of Old World
royal sztstocraoy and officialdom and is a sort
Of "Peerage" or Golden Book" with this differ
ence that instead of being restricted TO the
families OF the nobility OF any one particula;
country, st enuInerates the living members (f
the principal houses OF the great nobility of
Germany, France. England, Belgium. Austria
and Italy. the scions OF the now reig1ling dy-
nRsties Of Germany, Austria and England.
well Of Italy. France and Spain. and
also the so-called mediatized formerly sover-
eign families. While II cannot boast of being
either perfectly correct absolutely complete.
since many illustrious names of Spain and Rus
sia- of Portugal and of Italy. OF Scandinavia and
Of the Netherlands missing from its pages
yet the whole it IS the most trustworthy
work OF tho kind IN existence and its editors
have at all times displayed remarkable degree
Of independence IN resisting the pressure not
only Of those whose CLAIMS figure therein are
unfounded. but even from powerful rulers de-
sirous of notifications and changes which have
not commended themselves TO the publishers.
The ruler who most distinguished himself In
this respect the first Napoleon. When at
the beginning Of the last century he wiped out
Of existence scores OF petty sovereignties the
editors Of the "Ainnanach de Gotha" declined to
take into sccount these high handed proceedings
and continued to publish the names Of the de-
posed rulers II they were still IN possession
OF their thrones Napoleon regarded this as a
gross insult TO himself. but was obliged to i'm
prison of the publishers Of the Altman
sch " and to have almost the entire issue seized
by his pol.ce before he could bring about the
printing of a new edition in conformity with
his views. and with his rearrangement OF the
frontiers Of Europe This is the only case on
record when the publishers have been obliged
by superior force to Issue second edition. al
tered IN conformity with the wishes of an Old
World sovereign.
a large number OF American names figure
IN the "AIrnanach De Gotha" nearly all Of
thszns OF course, in Part 8. which is devoted
to what Is known the High Nobility" There
10 only one transatlantic name that IS to bs
found IN Part i, restricted to the enumeration
Of the regning and recently dethroned SOW
eraEa houses Of Europe. namely that of the
now 3ucictaliy separated consort Of the present
Prince of Monaco. She is a native of New Or
leans. a daughter of the late Michael Heine a
banker formerly established there and shs en-
Joys the distinction Of being the only girl Of
American origin TO have for herself seat
on one Of the ancient thrones Of Europe
There only few Americans TO be found
In Part Of the "Almanach," which is devoted
20 the rnediatized formerly reigning houses
of Germany, whose petty sovereignties We're
sTept out OF existence by the first Napoleon.
but to which the Congress of Vienna conceded
the social and honorary rank and privileges of
royal dypasties by way of compensation. They
are. OF course, extremely Jealous of their rights
and in the rare cases where scions thereof have
married daughters Of Uncle SAM as. for in
stance. Prince Francis Auersperg, whose wife
a Miss Hazard, OF New Jersey and Prince
Charles Isernburg- -Birstefn, whose bride was
Miss Bertha Lewis, OF New Orleans they have
been obliged by their families to resign all their
prerogatives members of mediatized families
end TO descend TO the rank of the ordinary no
bility before they could wed. In fact. strictly
speaking. they do not belong 10 Part 2, but to
Part 8. OF the "Almanach."
A perusal OF the pages of the new "Almanach"
invites attention to the requirements established
By the late Car. and confirmed by Nicholas II,
to prevent the too large increase Of those hav-
ing rights 20 the Etatus Of full nedged princes
and princesses Of the blood in Russia Thus.
although the children of the Grand Duke Vladi-
mir, brother OF the late Car, are all grand
dukes and grand duchesses. with the predicate
Of imperial highnesses the children Of Grand
Duke Constantine Constantinovttch. Of Grand
Duke Peter Nicholaiovitch and of Grand Duke
Alexander Nicholaiovttch. who is married to
ths eldest sister Of Emperor Nicholas. do not
bear the title OF grand duke or grand duchess, or
have the prefix of imperial highness. but merely
that OF highness. while they are styled princes
and princesses OF Russia This is owing TO the
fact that their parents grandchildren Of
Car Nicholas I and that they themselves
therefore. are the fourth generation IN the de-
scent from the hrona Now. according to the
rules In question. the imperial and grand ducal
status lapses with tho third generation in de-