New-York tribune., 1909-07-07

Comte de Chambord without issue the chief
tainshp of the French branch Of the House of
Bourbon and his hereditary rights to the French
crown passed first 10 the late Comte de Paris
the chateau of Chambord should have been be-
queathed to them, instead OF being left to
foreign prince in the person Of the italian, Rob
ert de Bourbon. ex-Duke of Parma.
The latter colossally rich, and did not
need Chambord. Moreover, he seldom If
made any use thereof in his lifetime; would not
even, indeed give the necessary money to keep
il up In proper state of repair When he died.
a little than a year ago he failed TO make
any special provision concerning 1t. and the re-
suit is that to-day it Is owned in equal shares
by his eighteen children and grandchildren. who
include the children of the present Car OF Bull
garia. Not OF them is French. The flag
flown from the flagstaff of the chateau OF
Chambord on the rare occasions when any MEM
bers of the family in residence is not that
of France or even the white and gold lilies OF. the
French Bourbons, but the flag Of the defunct Duchy
of Parma. The domain of Chambord is quite extern
sve. 1t embraces the village or commune or Cham-
bord and as the inhabitants all tenants of the
chateau. and many of them employed In one ca
pacitv or another on the property, they COM
pletely subservient to the land agent and steward
of the alien 1t is this land agent who nomi-
mates and directs the election of the Mayor and
appoints the municipal councillors of Chamoord;
and it is h. toe. who pays such taxes as
the French government claim from the com
mune. exacting their repayment from the popula-
ton in the measure that he sees fit. Chambord, be-
longing TO a foreign royal house, which by interna-
tional usage and what is called the comfy OF ma
tions. is accorded the status OF foreign sovereign
house enjoys certain extra-erritorial privileges, and
the people of Chambord therefore exempt from
some of the obligations which fall upon ordinary
French citizens. On the other hand. they have no
redress in the French courts against the owners OF
the chateau and of the domain
This situation would be incongruous enough in
all conscience were 1t be prolonged indefinitely.
But the heirs OF the late Duke of Parma are clam
oring for q division of his property, and demand.
among other things the disposal of Chambord TO
the highest bidder There have been several offers.
Some wish buy the place with the object of con-
verting the estate into great hotel, and after
obtaining considerable from the destruction
of the park and forests and the sale of the timber
to establish there colony OF summer villas Two
other proposals are from people who contemplate
converting the chateau into manufactory- Still
another offer OF purchase comes from Individual
who intends to rae the chateau and TO deve for
the mineral wealth which he is co9vinced lies be-
meath the surface Of the soil.
In fact. Chambord is in danger. piece of news
which will prove OF interest every American who
has ever travelled in Touraine. Under the crcum-
stances II is TO be hoped that the Touring Club OF
France, which has already saved several historic
monuments from destruction, will prove successful
in raising by popular subscription the funds need
ed for the purchase OF Chambord and thus protect
from the destruction with which II is now threat
ened Chambord in that event Will be indebted for
its safety TO the automobile.
MARQUISE DE FONTENOY.