New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1909-12-26

had insisted on placing Il in the conn
"A token of hearted sorrow which
the dead in the east OF Europe are won't
sometimes 20 receive ftom their beresved
wives or hancses-he az once gave or
ders Tor the removal % her tresses
from Mss fathers coffin es ssvoring OF
desecrstion. and for her immediate ex-
pulsion from Russia before even the
funeral had taken place. She was
conducted 20 The frontier under 20
lice escort. and from that day 20 this
has never been permitted 20 set her foot
on Muscovite sol. Her property would
IN all probability have been conhscated
had not Alexander III, like Leopold II
taken The precaution OF placing an
enormous fortune in her name in banks
abroad. beyond the reach OF his sue
cessor. Indeed. Il is known that he gave
20 Princess Youriefsks sums amount
ing 10 more than 100000. in spite OF
which great wealth she has developed
in her old age into & miser OF the most
eccentric type. Indeed. her avarice en-
3oys. one might almost say. q European
reputation
There is. however. this difference be-
tween the fortunes eXtorted by the Bar
oness Vaughan and the Princess Youri-
effsks from their elderly captiyes. name
~. that the wealth Of the reigning house
OF Russia is so colossal. incalculsble and
almost inexhaustible that even the alien
alton OF So large a sum as So ,00O. 900 20
Princess YOurieffska 10 spend abroad
could not be regarded as constituting
any very serious loss. either 10 the crown
or 20 the people OF Russia. whereas the
withdrawal OF s50.Oo0.O0O from the fam
fly OF the late King Leopold and from so
relatively small a country as Belgium
is nothing less than Gripping. In fact.
the idea that the royal palaces should
have been denuded OF their contents. that
all the wonderful art treasures. includ-
ing almost priceless examples Of Flemish
old masters. should have been suctioned
OF abroad and thus lost 70 the nation in
order 20 swell the money bags Of the
baroness IS OF nature 20 sxasperate 20
the boiling point even the most phleg-
matte OF the lieges Of the new King.
Albert
Y remains 20 be seen whether the
Belgian royal family. which alone pos
sesses any right 10 move IN the case. will
take any legal steps 20 compel the
woman 20 disgorge her I'll gotten gains.
Leopold vas so singularly astute and
crafty a man OF business that he may
be relied upon 20 have taken every pre-
caution IN order 20 protect the baroness
a
only by his infatuation Tor the woman
but also by his bitter hatred OF his two
elder daughters and his dislike % al
the members Of his family. even OF hts
nephew and heir.
Then. too, any legal proceedings would
entail no end OF scandal OF nature 70
damage still further the prestige Of the
royal house OF Belgium. which has SUI
fered so grievously in public estimation
in recent years. The baroness has no
reputation 20 lose. But q further barring
OF the LIE OF Leopold. Of his relations
with his royal consort. his daughters and
his crazy sister. the widowed Empress
Carlotta Of Mexico. who stin survives.
and whose once large fortune vanished in
his hands like that az the late Queen
Henriette, might inture Belgian royalty
70 such an extent as 20 cost II the throne.
Thai is why - is possible that Baroness
Vaughan. ike Princess Yourienska, will
De left IN enjoyment OF what may Justly
be described as the price OF her shame.
These last words may sound strong. but
Il lie difhcuit 70 describe the wealth &C
auired by these Two women n any other
fashion.