New-York tribune., 1910-05-09
Two Countesses Tarnorska.

Countess Adam Tarnowska. who figured
80 prominently in the entourase Of the late
King Edward at Biarritz. must not be CON
founded with the countess Of identical1y
the same name whose trial at Venice on
charges Of having instigated the murder
of Count komarowski in that city is at
tracing such worldwide attention and bids
fair TO become the cause celebre of the
year. Only the most distant relationship
II indeed any family connection at alex
lists between Adam Tarnowsh, husband of
King Edwards favorite partner at bridge at
BIarritz. and the much older Count Adam
Tarnowski. who is now leading a particu-
larly gay and festive life at St Peters
burg, dams le monde on ION samuse, .
while his wife is being tried for murder
al Venice
The first mentioned Adam Tarnovslii.
who was formerly attached to the Austrian
Embassy at Washington, where he will be
remembered by many is now connected
with the embassy OF Emperor Francis
Joseph in London, and is married TO a
Princess Marie Czet wertynska, of Russian
Poland, a wonderfully fascinating and
brilliantly clever woman, in whose witty re-
marks and amusing conversation the late
King found a great deal of entertainment
Indeed, throughout his entire stay at Biar-
ritz not single day passed without
the Tarnou skis dining and lunching with
him. either at his hotel and at the rapasts
organized in his honor elsewhere, or with
out his becoming their guest at the lovely
Villa Lointaine. which the count rented at
Biarritz for the sea SON
1t Is understood that the Tarnowskis went
TO Biarritz in difference TO q hint that their
society would be agreeable TO the late King
during his stay there. They are in high
favor in English society, and Countess
Marie in particular seems destined to be-
come one Of the powers at the court OF St.
James's and in London society The Aus
trian-Polish Tarnowskis. who are now back
again in London, claim that the husband of
the fair prisoner at Venice has at any rate
no right to the title of Count Tarnowski
They are, however, wrong in denying the
title Of countess to his wife and in de-
scribing her as an adventures For her
title Of countess comes to her. not by mar
riaTe. but by birth, and she has plenty of
blue blood in her veins. II the Counts and
Countesses TarnoH-ski of Poland can boa ST
with Justice of forming one of the Oldest
and most illustrious houses Of the Polish
aristocracy. who received their title of
~.
secured its recognition by the crown of
Austria toward the close OF the eighteenth
century. the Countess Tarnowska. who is
now attracting so much attention at Ven
ice. can boast she is the daughter OF the
late Count Nicholas O'Rurk. which is a
corruption of the Irish name of O'Rourke
His father was Count Maurice O'Rurk, and
his grandfather was Cornelius O'Rurk who.
having served in Austria with such dis
grade Of major general. was induced to en-
ter the military service Of Russia. where he
died as full general with his Austrian title
confirmed by the Russian crown That is
to say. the defendant in the murder trial
al Venice is not only bona fide Russia n
countess, but also an Austrian countess by
birth and inheritance
OF the role played by the O'Rourkes in
Ireland it is unnecessary to speak 1t is
familiar to every son of Erin. who knows
that they claim descent from the oIden
kings of Connaught.
The Russian Consul General at Vienna,
Priv Councillor Islavine. cousin of the
novelist Count Leo Tolstoy. has ACQUIRED a
worldwide reputation as genealogist and
a student of genealogical research, and his
elaborate investigation of the ancestry of
the Russian Countess Tarnowska nee
O'Rurk. goes to establish not only her de-
but also that she has in her veins some of
the blood of the Stuarts-of Mary Oueen
of Scots. MARQUISE DE FONTENOY.