New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1907-02-06
THE BANANA KING"

American press On the subject of the charges made
against Sir Alfred Jones' Of having displayed lack
Of friendlness and even downright inhumRnity, in
refusing 10 relieve Americans on board his liner
the Port Kingston. at the time of the Jamaica
earthquake fortnight three weeks ago-charges
which he has both denied and disproved-it NAV
be mentioned that he entertans so great an ad-
mration for this country that he has spent large
sums IN sending parties OF working men, of me-
anies and OF labor delegates, America TO travel
here, with the object of picking up ideas OF ac-
quainting themselves with the conditions here and
OF establishing friendly relations with their Amer
team fellow craftsmen. Sir Alfred is popularity
known as THE Banana King" by reason OF the
that he virtually controls the import trade OF
bananas far the United Kingdom is con-
oerned, and his knighthood comes TO him as a
recognition by the Crown of the time and money
which he has devoted to medical researches
into the tropical naladies that scourge the west
coast Of Africa and its hinterland For several OF
these alades. formerly considered incurable rem
edies have been discovered by tho scientists en-
ployed by him. who have been able to pursue their
researches through his munIfcence Under the
circumstances. the handle furnished by the Crown
his name may be considered singularly well
deserved
Sir Alfred is an entirely self-nlade man He be-
gan life as an cfhce boy in a Liverpool shipping
office, where the sweeping OF the floor was among
his duties. and he had attained the age of twenty
before be could boast of a many shillings a week
salary as HIS years. To-day he controls half a
dozen great ocean shipping lines plying between
England and the West Indies, England and South
America and England and Africa Ship owning is
however. only side of HIS multitudinous inter-
ests' ana he Is also a banker and merchant IN
many commodities. He divides his time between
Liverpool and London. where he has a house on
sratton street just OF Piccadilly close to that OF
the late Lady Burdett-Coutts. However as have
stated, his principal service to humanity is his
creation, endowment and active direction ~ tho
now world famed School OF Tropical Medicine at
Liverpool. which for him the warm friendship
OF Joseph Chamberlain. Indeed, It was the latter
who. while Secretary OF State for the Colonies oh
famed Tor him from the King the star OF knight
hood of the Order OF ST. Michael ana St George
sly Alrred Is not only level headed business
man. but has been most pronounced in his adyo-
cscy OF tie policy OF promoting the close friend
snip between England and America He Is also a
practical philanthropist and the kindest hearted oF
men Under the circumstances, the interview with
MN eanleo 20 this country last Saturday in which
ne Indignantly denies and disproves the charges
brought against him In connection with the ia
naica earthquake, deserves friendly consideration.
THE DUO DE LA SALE RoCHEMAURE.
The Duo de la Sale Rochemaure, whose frantic
endeavors to secure the annulment Of tho
riage OF his eldest son. Count Marc de la Sale
are engaging the attention Of the press both
sides Of the Atlantic is OF those French
mobiles OF ancient lineage who have been foolish
enough TO merge their historic names in modern
Pepal honors The house OF de la Sale figures
extensively in the annals of France of the tenth,
eleventh. twelfth and fourteenth centuries Hall
ing originally from Crgel, Il settled in the twelfth
century in Bearn, and in the eighteenth century
the head OF the house, Count Francis de Ia Sale.
added 20 the possessions OF his family by his
marriage with the only surviving child and heir
of the ducal house OF RoGhemaure
About eight years ago the Comte Felix de la
Sale, who chamberlain OF the cape and
sword to Leo XIII. obtained from the latter the
title Of Duo de la Sale Rochemaure. The French
Ila
nowadays with Papal honors. refused to recog-
nze It 10 register #, and the consequence is
that although the Count de Ia Sale style
himself duke in society he is debarred from
making any whatever of the title on legal OF
official documents such as, for instance certih-
Gates Of births and marriages. Much Disconnected
by this refusal the count bethought himself that
his family had sprung from Urgel, which IS IN
the Spanish province OF Catalonia, and tho
strength Of this applied King Alfonso of Spain
and obtained from him recognition OF his Papal
title Of duke in Spain
The duke, who has taken a very active part in
chsmponing the If the Church in its
troubles with the French government, and who is
an extremely clever and graceful writer. includes
among the members of his family ST. Francis de
Sales founder of the order of the Visitation. The
duke is about nifty years of age. has fine chateau
Clavieres, in the Cantal, and a stately mansion
in the Faubourg st. Germain at Paris. is married
a daughter of the ancient house Of de Forcevile.
and has three sons, the eldest OF whom, Count
Marc de Ia Sale. twenty-four years of age
is giving so much trouble in connection with his
marriage 10 a young girl OF the name of Merka
Karusos at Athens. The young count married the
girl in the Greek capital, according the rites OF
the Greek and Of the Roman Catholic churches.
without the consent OF his parents. This neg
iect. Of course. sufficient inYalidate the
union in the eyes Of French law. and no mention
thereof Will be found in the "Almanach de Gotha- "
But the ceremony OF marriage contracted at Athens
is nevertheless binding in the eyes OF the Roman
Catholic Church. and IT is owing 70 this that the
duke is endeavoring 10 obtain from the Vatican a
decree Of annulment of the marriage. putting for
ward the plea that his did not possess his
entire reason when he ipveigled into the mar
rage and that he is still mentally unbalanced.
The count after MS marriage foolish enough
10 visit France with his bride and shortly after his
arrival there mysterousy vanished. the bride being
left to make her way back to her people at athens
as best she could Her husband has been concealed
ever since in a private lunatic asylum, and II
reputable physicians furnish affidavits that the
young count is really demented there is no doubt
but that the duke will succeed IN securing from
the Vatican the ecclesiastical annument Of his
boys marriage. So far is known, there Is
nothing particularly wrong about the bride, eX-
eptinR that she Of humble birth. that her father
Is an Athens shopkeeper that she has no money
ana that she belongs the Orthodox instead OF to
the Roman Catholic Church.
DUKE OF NEWCASTLE'S NIECE HERE.
Inasmuch as there is good deal OF confusion
as 10 the identity OF the Miss Adeline Lister Kaye