The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1910-11-17

BY LA MARQUISE DE FONTENOY.
- RINCE FRANCIS HATZFELDT'S
death Will prevent his American
widow Clara Huntington, adopt
ed daughter OF the late Coils p.
Huntington, from ever becoming en-
titled to be addressed as Serene High
ness which would have been the case
But, save for this, his loss must be TO
her a source OF considerable relief; for
despite her husbands historic name
and princely title, her marriage to him
was a social drawback rather than an
advantage. The princes antecedents
were to say the least, of the stormiest
character. and of such nature as to
exclude him from the courts of Ber-
lin and Vienna, to bar him from the
great world in those two capitals. and
to virtually compel him TO establish
his residence in England. where, now
ever, he did not ever manage to secure
election to any of the leading London
clubs, nor admission TO court.
Among the shortcomings of the
prince was an almost insane mania
for gambling. which landed him in all
sorts of unsavory difficulties prior to
his marriage, and which cost enormous
sums Of money to the late Coils p.
Huntington, and after the latters
0edtn, to PRINCESS III ldNl,
the prince had difficulties of every kind
in connection with his debts OF honor:
among them lawsuits with the Prince
of Pless, who is a popular figure In
London society. one of the richest
mobiles of Germany. and married 10
Miss Daisy CORVALLIS West, sister of
the Duchess of Westminster: and also
with Count nberg-Herdringen.
All his life long Franz Hatzfeldt was
barassed by creditors, whose ,perse-
cutions did not seem to deter him In
any way from INDUCING in the most ri
diculous extrsya gances: so much so that
his name wgt for ever appearing in
the courts OF Germany, of France and
of England in connection with none
tary difficulties. His progresses at the
card and roulette tables at Saratoga,
and also In New York, furnished much
material for gossip on this side OF the
Atlantic eighteen or twenty years ago.
II his wife was received In England,
and has made a position for herself In
society. it has been entirely as clever
and handsome American woman, and
not as the Wife of thoroughly de-
classe and discredited Prussian prince.
Those who recall pretty Emile Leisset,
the most popular. and In mat
ter of conduct the very straightest
Haute Ecole circus rider who has ever
entered the ring, have always been
tempted to feel relieved that she should
have dled on very eve e.,s Of the date .he
prince, succumbing to injuries re.
ceived by her horse falling upon her,
the pommel of the saddle being crushed
into her side. HatZfeldt was heart
broken, and shot the horse That he
was in love with Emile need not be
denied for no one could help loving
her. But since he was not only PEN
niless, but overwhelmed with debts.
while she had no money beyond what
she earned in the ring, and would have
Il rEJ 10 .t1yA h I'M ar 1N.lf.
riage between them must have turned
out unhappily, since she could not have
afforded to perpetually pay his debts
of honor, and at the same ytime~Would
have felt under the obligation to do
SO. The American born Princess HAITI
feldt was frequently invited during
the reign of King Edward to meet him
at dinner by his direction, but has
not, so far as i am aware, ever been
present at the court Of St James, at
any rate as Princess HatZfeldt; this
being wholly due to her husband.
Her father and n.other-in-law, Prince.
and Princess Alfred Hatzfeldt Widen
berg. are still living, Princess. Alfred
being the only surviving daughter OF
the late Prince Joseph Dietrichstein,
aunt, therefore. of Count Mensdorff-
Poully, Austrian minister in London.
1t was the letters addressed to Prin-
cess Alfred tIatzfeldt at Berlin, by her
sister, the late Countess Edward Clam
Gallas, one of the principal command
ers of the Austrian army in the War
of 1866, which enabled the Prussian
headquarters staff to learn of the pro-
time to clrcumvent and defeat them
After the defeat of Koeniggratz, GEN
eral Count Clam-Gallas was sent back
under arrest to Vienna, and brought
before al court of inquiry. But the
court was adjourned sine die. by order
m JVra nciS 1ncanh hin1Sa1f
who realized that while General Clam.
Gallas had been guilty OF indiscretion
in writing freely to his wife at Vienna,,
and that the countess had. erred still
letters to her sister, Princess HATE
feldt, at Berlin, neither the count nor
the countess could be held guilty of
any Intentional treason, The general
placed even momentarily upon his
honor, went into retirement was rarely
seen at Vienna again, and died q
broken and we'll nigh forgotten man.
8. The person most blamed IN the en-
feldt, who had taken advantage Of
the condolences made to his wife. In
intimate letters by her sister at Vienna,
to communicate Austrian military Sc
crets TO the headquarters staff Ct the
war Alfred Won hatfield was merely
a count, and II was only two or three
years later that he received his re,,
ward, by promotion to the rank OF
Prussian prince.
He Is an elder brother OF the late
Count Paul Hatzfeldt. who died as
German ambassador In London, ana
who; was married to Miss Helen Mnul-
ton, of Albany and New York Miss
Moulton's mother, 1t may be remem-
,hered, was theGlovely Miss Metz, daugh-
ter of old Caesar Metz, the most ia
Gus Q New Works. dancing masters N
the early portion OF the nineteenth
century Count Paul Hatzfeldt left
three children, two of whom. survived
IA r1.l LIN iZfnlli