The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1910-05-26
STORY OF TWO AMERICAN
WOMEN IN CAY PAREE
Some of the Latest Happenings From
the Capital of France.
Once again "the feminine" al

Once again "the feminine" al
ways "eternal." Two American
women who have had the center
of the stage for some days still re-
tain it, and, what is more. will
probably continue to do so for
some time. They are the talk of
Paris, and to such an extent that,
together with the husband of one
ofthem, they and their experiences
are being portrayed and carica-
tured on the vaudeville stage of
the French capital.
The case is that of Mrs. Charles
Hamilton Payne, of Boston, and
the Comte CD and Comtesse CD
d'Aulby de CATCHY, the Com
tesse" being also a Bostonian be-
fore she graduated into the ranks
of the (near) aristocracy. Talk of
cause for gossip and scandal.
The now celebrated picture
fraud" affair in which Mrs. Payne
is the victim is the talk of Paris,
and promises to be 50 for some
time
Mrs. Payne, who is very wealthy,
continues to occupy the magnif-
cent former residence of the Stan
islas- Castellanes, in the Avenue
de Bots, has brought suit for
$500, 900 against the so-called
Comte and Comtesse d Aulby de
CATCHY (who lay claim to even
more imposing and high-sounding
titles charging that a number of
paintings sold to her as genuine
old masters are really nothing but
clever modern reproductions.
There are those, however, who
say that the painting incident it
self is not the entire cause Of this
beautiful scandal and court pro-
ceedings against those who, until
a very short time ago, were init
mate friends of the plaintiff.
There are hints that the pseudo
count cherished a strong feeling of
admiration for the widow of the
late Boston copper king whose
chief aim, when in the flesh,
seemed to be to provide the neces-
sary financial sinews of war to
carry on the storming OF the doors
of the social castle occupied by
the Paris -Four Hundred. "
The pseudo countess, like her
former friend, is also from Boston
where, it is said, she belongs to a
plain minded and simple family,
who never entirely approved of
her marriage. The possessor Of a
remarkably fine contralto voice,
Frances Luut had visions, before
meeting the count, of an operate
career, she at that time being
member of the choir of a fashion
able Boston church.
After the marriage, and bent on
social success. the "Comte" and
"Comtesse" went to England, but
after an unprogressive stay in
London they journeyed to Tours,
France, and endeavOred to acquire
the accent il the ancient French
city which is said to be the purest
in all France. From modest
boarding house they made their
debut by means of stony" front
in the select circle of the most ex-
elusive French society of old
Touraine. This former dwelling
section of the old kings Of France
remains conservative to a degree,
but the city of Tours proper is
rather more progressive. Many of
its residents love good dinner,
with equally good wine. Hence
with this fact in view and the
prestige OF alleged American
wealth Through the wlfe) the
couple made considerable head
way. All was not smooth sailing,
however, for many of the doors of
the most desirable houses re-
NAMED closed to the strangers,
whom none knew an d who,
although bearing a French name,
spoke French with a delightful
Cockney accent.