The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1910-02-06
.GO0D COOK LEADS
TO KINGS GAP TURE
Inside Story Of Why a Morgana-
tic Wife Was Raised to
Nobility.
BY MARaUIsE DE cAsTELLANE.

/ BY A1ARQUISE DE CASTELLANE.
Especial Cable to The Times Dispatch
Paris. February 5.-You have reat
how the morganatic wife OF the Arch
duke Francis Ferdinand, heir to TIL,
Austrian throne. mas been raised t
the rank OF duchess de Hohenberg b,
the Emperor Francis Joseph, this sam,
Francis Joseph whose court credo has
been Il believe In anything but a
mesalliance." but perhaps you have
not heard the inside facts as to the
change of attitude of the austere EN-
peror. This Is the story as 1t is told
to me:
The Emperor, despite his age, is ex-
tremely fond OF good things to eat. and
his devoted friend. Katharine Schratt.
knew that, and one of the secrets Of
her influence was the possession of a
cook who held the recipes of the En-
peror's favorte dishes.
The Capture of the Cook.
The Duchess de Hohenberg, who was
Sophie Countess Chotek. knew this
also. and with an inspiration of
diplomacy she succeeded in enticing
away Katherine Schratts cook. The
| Emperor was invited to the duchess's
| table and there he found all the good
! things served that he had missed at
! Frau Schratts. Explanations followed,
I and the Emperor having we'll dined,
! was so impressed by the shrewdness of
! the archduke's wifel that he is said
to have declared then and there that
so clever d woman was eminently
! fitted to assist in ruling the empire.
Emperor In RelcntinE Mood.
! This as 1t may be, there are sew
! eral other instances where the EN-
I perors old-time principles have re-
4 laxed-principles which killed his only
f, son and heir. He permitted his daugh-
! ter-in-law. the Princess Stephanie, TO
J marry the Count de Lonay; he has
/ authorized his granddaughter's mar
I rage (shc is the Princess of Bavaria)
\ with the Baron de Seefried, and he
permitted an Austrian archduke to
change his name to Wolfling to enable
him to marry music hall singer, with
whom he fell violently in love.
Two Novelties by Americans.
, IT remained for an American 10 in
troduce the latest novelty in the
! salons Of Paris. The Americans name
is Francis Viele Griffin. Mr. Griffin is
! a poet. The novelty is Chinese poetry.
Here We have a representative OF one
of the newest nations making known
to Parisians the poetry of one of the
Oldest civilizations of the world. The
first of the reunions took place in
the spacious salons of the poet. Mile,
Z Lucie Wilhelm appeared before a fash
/ ionable French audience and gave the
| first of a series of readings of ancient
/ Chinese poetry Niele Griffin is the
/ son of n brave American soldier, Cen
| eral Viele. and is the chief of the new
symbolists School of Modern Poetry,
The mantle of the late Paul Verlaine
has fallen upon his shoulders, and he
carries it gracefully. 1t certainly Is
exceptional TO find an American poet
at the head of new school of French
poetry. Mr.. Griffin's Chinese trans
lations bid fair to become extremely
popular
Lady Henry Austin Lee, the Amer
ican wife OF the commercial attache
and counselor of the English embassy.
has been teaching our noble danes the
are of holding genuine servants bau.
There is an old English custom of
holding a servants ball at the begin
ming of each year. AT the ball lately
given at the embassy in conformance
with this custom, the ambassador
waltzed with the housekeeper and the
cook vas in great demand.