New-York tribune., 1908-11-21

nople ridiculous. His real name is wickhsnn
and he is Engiishman.
AT the time of the capture of Constantinople BY
the Turks. in 14SS. the throne of what was then
known the Byzantine Empire occupied by
the Psleologo dynasty. Emperor Constantine him
self killed st the storming OF the city, while
sorne members of his family are runnored to have
escaped and to have found 4 refuge In Western
Europe Historians unanimou. IN declaring
that they became extinct shortly afterward- This
impression prevailed until fifteen or twenty
years ago. when q Mrs. Edmund Wickhsr1, whose
husband was = colonel in the E>ngltsh army, sud
denly put forward claim 10 tbs effect that she
was lineal descendant and principal helress OF
the imperial Psleologo dynasty. She accumulated
an immense amount Of documentary evidence from
the English parish registers, from the British Mu-
scum. from the Royal College OF Heraids and from
the National Library at Paris tending 10 show
that she is descended On the distar side from
certain Theodore Peleoloso. who died in 1885 and
lies buried in the old parish church Of Landulph in
Cornwall This Theodore PaIeoIogo claimed TO be
the ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS of Thomas and al
legged second and younger brother Of Constantins
VIII, the last Greek Emperor Of Constanunople
Concerning Thonas's existence however, historians
silent For q long time Mrs. Wickhanls pre-
tensions were derided, but suddenly, at a moment
when the relations between st. Petersburg and Ath
ems vere exceedingly strained, she was invited 10
submit the documentary evidence which she had
gathered together concerning her lineage 10 the
Holy SJnod al St Petersburg One of its members
the Pan-slav Patriarch ana Metropolitan Of Mos
COW, eventually wrote her letter, which he
recognized her pretensions 10 be descendant in
the female line Of the last but Of the Byzantine
Emperors Of Constantinople, and STYLED her 'lmpe-
rial Highness the Princess Eugene Paleologo,
while her eldest described in the same
n1tssire the future protector Of the glorious
traditions OF the Orthodox Byzantine Empire The
Russian government however had nothing 70 do
with this extraordinary document, and neither Mrs
Wickham nor her offspring is on the visiting list
OF the Russian Embassy in London. while it is
needless add neither their prncely title
their BYZANTINE names are recognized either az the
NuscoTite Embassy in England by any OF the
European In fact, II Is difficult to describe
the extraordinary action the part OF the Metro
poiitan Of Moscow in the matter of addressing the
letter which be did TO Mrs. Wickham to anything
else than desire make the royal house of
Greece feel uncomfortable by showing King
George ana 10 his that the Pan-Slav Society
had q candidate not only for the throne of Greece
but also for that Of the Sultan the of the
Turks being driven of Europe. Everybody Is
aware in Russia of the hope entertained at Athens
that Greece is destined 10 inherit Constantinopie
ana that the reigning house Of Greece should
on the shores Of the Bosporus This would not
suit Russias plans or projects In one word the
Metropolitan. who is imbued with Pan-Slav ideas
or the most pronounced type wished, III recognizing
Mrs. Wlckham as descendant CT the Byzantine
Imperial House of Pa1eoIogo. hold her in
as card 10 play against the Htlenic Crown Prince
Constantine's pretensions TO the Greek throne OF
ConstantinopIe
l
Mrs Wickham were much authentic
descendant from the mythical younger brother of
the last Emperor of Constantinope, the very fact
that her descent is through the female line robs
II of any dynastic value for otherwise there are
as L have shown in these letterg butchers and
grocers who, able trace their descent through
the female line TO the former kings of England.
such as Henry VII, would be entitled style
themselves princes Of Great Britain and Ireland.
No mention viii be found IN the AImanach de
t5Drh O any 9TH efa rd uvorIy Of perer
eoce, either foreign o English, the soi-disant-
Princess Eugene Paleologo. to her four sons.
one Of whom is known Prince Theodore and
another as Prince" Constantine. She lives in a
modest house looking Hyde Park. and pos
sesses an imagination that is the most Oriental
thing about her besides title, since, If
believe her, no fewer than three most dramatic at
tenpts have been made on her life. She in
sinuetes that both she and her sons constitute
peril TO the dynasty ruling over Greece since
the people of that country would naturally prefer
being ruled over by a scion Of the imperial Greek
dynasty of Paleoogo than by an alien house.
such as that OF King George In fsct, she hints
that the latter would be relieved TO hear Of her
death, the inference being that he poor man. may
have instigated the attempts upon her life. con
cerning which nothing is known by the English
police. She styles herself Eugene Cristoforos.
Princess Paeologo Nicphore Conamene Heredi-
tary Princess of Mitylene, OF Enos, OF Leunos and
Of Chios, and declares that her father was one Of
the candidates for the Greek throne IN 1855 This
is rather unfortunate admission for those who
VII take the trouble refer TO the circumstances
Of the election viii find that the Greek people
did not choose foreigner for their ruler until they
had made most exhaustive investigation, and had
absolutely convinced themselves of the npossbility
Of discovering any authentic descendant the last
Christian Eraperors OF Constantinople any bona
hde representative Of the reigning dynasty
Of PaIeologo. MARQUISE DE FONTENCY.