The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1911-06-27

" L.
4 ured so conspicuously in the recent
Travellers Club scandal AT Berlin
VIII not be found anywhere in any OF
the standard works of reference such
| as the AImanach dc Gotha, etc The
individual in question Ia In reality u
Swiss citizen of the name OF Theodore
| Spreng, the son OF a lawyer OF Basic.
and claims to have received the Title
| oil Duo de La Chatrc through the tesla
lncntary dispositions OF the eighth
duke OF that mime. who is alleged
to have died about a quarter OF a
| century ago. - t
Now. although there have been I,ar-
ons and Counts dc La Chatrc In the
history of France. notably a field mar.
shal OF the reign OF Henry ~. ana a
Count de La Chatre who was killed at
the battle OF Nordingucn. in 1915. and
who is the author OF some very curious
memoirs dealing With the minority Of
Sing Louis NV. the Dc La Chatre
family is now wholly extinct. Its last
Bona tide member was Count de La
Ghatre. who was created a duke by
Louis XVIII. on the Restoration. He
DIED In 1921; without issue. and then.
became extinct; for his dukcdon. az
we'll as the title OF count, which had
come TO him by birth, were only hertz
able in the male line direct.
4 nephew OF his wife, however. as
sumed both the name and the title
or Duo de La Chatre. without any
to his own son. Raoui. The latter, II
necr-do well. married woman Of
stormy antecedents and peculiar his
d iors' s VINO nad c rs her oes, friend Theo
her husband 10 adopt Spreng and tc
ainX his signature to Will, by which
e. bequeathed TO his friend. Theodore
Ireng; his name and his title. Al
vast that Is what the will shows, al
though II has been repeatedly alleged
that the DOCUMENTS left by Rnoul dc
| ton
On the strength OF those documents.
SSowever such as they were, Theodore
snrens Ih % G0rn on 1850
tonal government of Basic n decision
dated June |. 1887. authorizing him to
add to his name Of Spreng the name,
cantonal government holding that
neither 1t nor any other governmental
BODY In the Swiss republic was com
assumption OF nobliary title.
1t Will be seen from this that Spreng
has no possible right or authority for
ealing himself Duo de La chatra, and
OF the Duke de La Chatre. who died In
1924 without issue. really adopteJ MIN
e 9n bequea thed to him the namo OF Lo
Chatre. II is very serious question
as to whether the grandnephew in
question had himself the right to the
rame Of La Chatre. since MS own faith.
q the duke and had assumed the
dukes name and title In 1924. without
royal warrant.
During the twenty odd years tha,
Paris as Duo de La Chatre. he has
never, succeeded in obtaining admis.
sion to any reputable club. or even to
any decent French society,"; while
list. and other experts whose name
counts for something in such matters
have publicly ridiculed his pretensions
Even the ordinary Paris directories
pages under the title that he has as.
sumed. and the only people among
whom he Is able to masquerade more
or less successfully as Due de La Cha
tire are the visitors from North and
South America. and from tho Levant,
whose ignorance leads them to be-
come dupes of such men S Theodore
Spreng. and of the other professional
gamblers. adorned with equally bogus
titles. who have been associated with
him In the Travellers Club scandal
club that is now extinct. They un-
Travellers Club because 1t is that OF
the most exclusive club in London, and
OF club In Paris, on the Champs Ely
| sees. which started under very favor
able auspices. for the puEpose OF bring
ing members OF hrst-class American
clubs. and OF equally smart American
stubs who happened TO be in Paris.
into contact with leading French club
| men. 1t has long since. however. de-
generated into gambling establish
ment. which has been subjected to
frequent visitations by the police, main
iy for the purpose OF arresting on tho
promises card sharpers and undesir-
| able foreigners. whom it was deemed
wise to aXpel from French territory.
AS for Spreng, though he Is strang-
| er to decent French society, he is very
| familiar to the Parisian police.
.setats l.llifs. ------ IH
During the war between Japan and
Russia, six years age, the young
daughters Of the Cznr were associated
! In the Organization Of a splendidly
equipped ambulance. train. which with
| Its contents. and above all with Its
luxuries. provisions and comforts for
| the sick and wounded at the front
4 ranresentcd a. :yalno of $500, Qoos::- The