The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1911-03-31
ny LA a1AItoUISE DE; FoNTENOY.
- In @ I .II0I1GI IltS mo r1aor,. &. Mr.. 4

> ING LEOPOLD'S memory is burd-
| K ened with SO many unsavory
IN memories. and his name has been
the subject OF SO many accusa-
| tons of ono sort and another that it is
only fair to relieve him Of one charge
which has hitherto rested upon his
| head. and which during his lifetime re-
cclved the widest sort of circulation
cd the large fortune OF his sister, tho
eE- Empress Charlotte OF Mexico, Of
which he had arbitrarily appointed him
self trustee and custodian.
Indeed. II was even alleged that IL he
prevented any OF her English. French
or Austrian relatives from visiting her.
IT was because he dreaded that they
would discover that she was no long
er insane, and that he was merely keep
ing htr III captivity as a lunatic, to
prevent her from demanding from him
an accounting OF her money. which he
had squandcred in speculation. He him
sell contributed in no small degree to
this belief, by his extraordinary att!-
tude towards the Austrian imperial
family, TO the members Of which he
declined to give the slightest inforInu-
ton obout the ex- Empress's affairs, al.
though she was an Austrian archduch-
ess BY marriage, and sister-in-iaw OF
Emperor Francis Joseph.
After Leopold's death King Albert
gave directions for n careful and
through investigation into all matters
relating to the property of his unfor-
tunate aunt, who has never recovered
her reason since she became bercft
thereof during an eHtre ordinary inter-
view with Pope Plus IN, at the Vati-
can in 1s67 This Investigation. carried
In connection with Baron Gofilnet. ono
OF the most trusted confidants OF Leo
pold, and chief executor Of his tesla
mentary dispositions. shows that her
fortune is not only intact, but has been
carefully administered so that to-day
It amounts to almost s2o,000.000. AS
both. she and her husband, Emperor
Ma Xlmilian, had sacrificed all their
tangible resources In their unfortunate
Mexican adventure, and as 1t was only
the remnant OF the property beQuea tn
ed to. Charlotte by her father, that had
remained in the hands of Leopold at
the time when she became insane, ii
must be admitted that he did his duty
by her.
Her health within the last two
months has become very bad III fact,
1t looks as If her end were approach
ing. and when she dies, this great for
tune Of hers will lie divided up among
SiN heirs, namely; her nieces.. Louise OF
OF Coburg, ex-Crownprincess Stephanie
and Princess Clementine, now the wife
OF Prince Victor Napoleon: King AL
one of them the wife of the French
Orleans prince. known as the Duke Of
Yendome: and the other married to
Prince Charles Of Hohenzollern.
Very lame indeed is the explanation
put forward for the failure Of Queen
Mary to invite the Duchess Of Marl-
borough to be one of her canopy bear
crs on the occasion OF her coronation.
il is alleged that if She has been left
out in the cold by the Queen. 1t is ow-
ing 10 tho fact that She is not of noble
blood, and does not belong by birth
to tho peeragc. But OF the quartet
Of duchesses selected by Queen Mary
for the purpose, (threc Of whom, name-
", tho Duchesses Of Portland. suther-
land and Montrose, acted, together with
the Duchess Of Marlborough, as canopy
bearers at the coronation OF Queen
Alexandra nino years ago. only one
can strictly be described as belonging
by birth to the peerage, namely. the
Duchess of Sutherland, who is the
daughter Of peer, namely, the late
Earl OF Rosslyn. The Duchess of Port
land is the daughter Of a commoner,
namely. of Thomas Dallas Yorke. The
Duchess of Hamilton and OF Brandon
was n Miss Nina Poorc, daughter OF
Major Robert Poorc, also a commoner;
while the Duchess OF Montrose is the
daughter of a baronet, that is to say.
OF Sir Frederick Graham. of Netherby
who is a commoner For baronets and
their families are not considered as
belonging to the peerage.
!, Nor is 1t duo 10 any prejudice against
Americans, that Queen Mary has re-
framed from asking the Duchess of
Marlborough to act rs her canopy
bearer For the Queen has many init
mate American friends, chief and fore