The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1910-07-27
BY LA MARaU1sE DE EoNTENoY.

N HAM, who arrived in this coun-
~ try last Thursday by the Adri-
attic from England with Lady
Markham and his little daughter. TO
stay. with Frederick Pearson for some
weeks TO come at Great Darlington.
Mass, came prominently before the
public in England few months ago
In connection with an unsuccessful at
tempt 10 make him victim of a full
iiedged Black Hand outrage. He is an
oincer who. some twenty years ago.
was the subject OF a controversy that
attracted worldwide attention, espe-
cially in naval and military circles.
the issue being to what extent the
obedience 10 superior officers should
be carried. He was second in COM
mand OF the Mediterranean squadron
rammed the Victoria, the flagship of
the commander chief, Admiral Sir
George Tryon, sending her TO the bot
tom of the sea. off the coast of Syria,
carrying with her her crew OF over
500 men and most of her officers, only
twenty seven sailors and oncers es-
Gaping.
The disaster was due TO a faulty
Tryon. Admiral Markham had to
choose between obedience. with al
most inevitable disaster. and disobe-
dience. with the probability of a court
handing officer. Sir George Tryon.
being strict dtsciplinarian.
Markham decided in favor OF the
former alternative. He held that the
every other in the navy; that the re-
sponsibility for what would follow
would. after all, remain with his chief.
He argued that If every officer, on
receiving orders, were 10 hesitate
about complying with them until he
had decided in his own mind whether
they were right or wrong, all disci-
pine would be at an end in the navy.
All this was brought out In the
court martial subsequently held at
Malta, and before which he had to ap-
pear for ramming and sinking the
Victoria. He was acquitted by the
court-martial and all the newspapers.
both in England and abroad, lauded
his Spartan ideas of discipline.
Although Markham was acquitted.
the admiralty is understood to have
censured him in confidential minute,
holding that he ought to have ever
that was not only manifestly errone-
Gus and clearly issued in momentary
alteration by his superior officer, but
also evidently bound to result in
frightful disaster. Yet this censure
later on appointing Markham to the
command of the Nore--ttat Is to say,
one OF the most important OF the
home stations.
Sir Albert Markham achieved fame
as an Arctic explorer, and in 1875, as
the commander of the Alert, succeeded
in planting the English flag in the
highest northern latitude reached up
to then namely. the eighty-third de-
suppression of the "blackbirding'-,,
that is to say. the slave raidins and
trading in the South Sea Islands-and
served with Admiral Sir Edward Sey-
taking part in the expedition which
eliminated in the capture of Peking
and the destruction of the Summer
Palace.
In describing in these letters the
other day the extraordinary marriage
of Queen Natalie of Seryia's nephew,
George Ghika, to, the elderly but stlll
de Pougy, who. unlike most OF her
tribe, has managed to set aside a very
large fortune, | omitted to mention
that she is the original OF sylyiane
titled Paris" also neglected 70
state that at the wedding ceremony
at Paris she carried in her hand, IN
| lieu of the customary flowers an az.
| most priceless Brevary, eXqulsltely
| Illuminated, Which had at one tlme
belonged to Duchess Anne de Breta,gne 8.
| for the new niece of Queen Natalie is
a Breton by birth, and owns a magnl-
| ficent chateau and park In Brittany
| near Roscoff
Curiously enough devotional books
seem to possess a great fasclnatlor
| for ladies Of antecedents such as those
OF the ex-Liane de Pougy; for perhaps
| the most celebrated collection OF MS
| toric Breviaries in modern times was
| that owned by that infinitely more
| celebrated queen of the Partisan half
! world. Leonide Leblanc, u very beautl
| full woman, who played an importan
| role in the life of the royal DUO d Au
! male In fact, she owed many OF hel
treasures and also the luxury by which
| she was surrounded to his generosity
! At the same time, she was receiving
| the attentions OF eX-Premier Clemen
ceau, then very much younger man
and as he was very indiscreet and i'm
prllsive, she experienced considerable
| difficulty in avertng. meeting be
tween her protector. the duke, and this
prmarliamentarian., who. represented, j.
his eyes everything that was politi
raIly Objectionable. Finally, Leonid'
T'ahIanc invoked the assistance OF thu
4 Mmsee Greyin, Which Isl great wa.
work show in the French capital. Sh,
caused It's managers to lnanufactur'
20 fa,, her at q considerable expense
No ~. work figure Of the Duo d'Aumale
seated at the table, as as u pofang oVe !,
q hook or a map. THIS she SET UP y
nns az the smaller boudolrs o. ne
e onn mansion on the Boulevar'
~ sIl,,ssn,anor, and when Clemenceal
called and Laonida LahIans Na No