New-York tribune., 1909-01-27
LEADER OF FRENCH ARIsTocRACT.

Prince Augustus, who is very old friend OF King
Edward and whose eldest son and heir is married
TO 8 daughter Of the ducal house of Gramont ana
his second to 2 daughter OF the cucal tanlA!
OF la Rcchefoucauld- represents the only house OF
the nobility that belongs TO the mediat1zed
or formerly sovereign dynasties Of Europe The
Arenbergs therefore. alone among the French
ars1ocrscy. are entitled TO contract matrimonial
alliances with princes and pr1ncesses OF the now
reisuing houses Of the Old World upon a footing
os perfect equality. Moreover. at all European
courts they enjoy, hy reason OF their mediati1eo
position the pas over ordinary mobiles, such as
rhe Rphaus the Noailles and the Murats. For, al
though the Aursis lay claim 10 mediatiZed pre-
negatives and royal rank by reason OF the fact
that the ex-hostier. Joachim Murat for a time
occupied throne OF Naples. yet their pretensons
are nowhere recognized and lead at Paris TO all
sorts OF odd disputes and awkward contretemps IN
society The Arenbergs represent branch or the
house Of Ligne, and although constituting the
younger line are and away the most Important
the senior branch. who are known as Princes
OF Lgne, are not mediatized and are mere Belgian
nobles The Arenbergs, On the other hand, are
every OF them by birth not merely princes anu
pr7ncesses, but dukes and duchesses OF Arenoers
This being. SO far am aware. the only media
tied house where ell the members have the ducal
tile from their very cradle This ducal title dates
from the beginning Of the seventeenth century,
when il was conferred by the Emperor OF Germany
in tshalf Of the Holy Roman Empire
The grandfather Of the present Prince and Ouke
Augustus Of Arenberg played an important role IN
France az the beginning of the eighteenth century
His son the late Prince Peter. had his foreign tfte
of duke and prince confirmed by King Charles n
who likewise created him peer OF France Au-
gustus OF ArenberR is his son and heir among the
many scores OF famous ancestors OF the newly
created knight Grand Cross Of the Star OF lnolas
who Il one OF the most notable figures OF the
French turf is that Count Robert de la Marck'
whose name is familiar TO all the readers Of the
novels Of Sir Walter Scott and at the close OF the
eighteenth century one of the Arenbergs, who also
bore the title OF CoTnte de la Marck. was the
frien6 OF Mfrabeau and acted as the go-befween
II the relations Of that celebrated statesman ana
Queen Marie Antoinette. Another ancestor OF the
dukes and princes OF Arenberg was that Famous
Flemish patriot Count Egmont whose tragic 1ate
has furnished the theme OF one OF Goethes most
stirring dramas and resulted IN that insurrection
which eliminated in the emancipation or the Meth
ertancs from Spanish thraldom
Egnlonts historic mansion al BRUSSELS Is sun
70 tas day in the possession Of the Belgian branch
OF the Arenberg family and the very trees In the
garden stln exist under the shade OF which the
historic interview between the Prince Of Orange
snd the Count of Ez1nont took plsee The Span
Ssh Duke of Afva was approaching with ms
army The Prince Of Orange had resolved
70 fee. abandoning his possessions Esmont
m spite Of his entreaties. determined TO re-
main. hoping thereby to prevent the connsoa-
con Of his palace and of his art treasures
Adseui Prince sans terre." was the counts 1afe-
vel 70 the Prince os Orange "Aoieu! CoEllte sans
tete," was the only rejofnder OF the prince ana
hh orainous prediction fulfilled, for count
Egnoat los, lis head on the square In front OF
his palaoe as the most fIiustrious of all the VIC
tins OF this cruel Spanish Duke OF AVA