Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1911-12-03
MEMOIRS OF A VALET
Story Told by Servant of Late
King Leopold.
MONARCH OF BELGlANS
Baroness Vaughan Summoned to the
Kings Bedside.
CONTROVERSY Is RECALLED
Diluted Milk Subject of Legal In
vestigation-Presents Knotty
Problem.
CONTROVERSY Is RECALLED
BY. GEORGE DuFREsNE.

BY, GEORGE DUFREsNE.
Special Cablegram to The Star.
PARIS. December 2-This is the age
when even Wallets de chambre write their
memoirs. A Paris paper has begun the
publication of series Of articles purport-
Ing to be the diary of a valet of the late
Leopold II. King Of the BeIg1ans He
says he was in the service Of the late
king during the last five years of the mon
arch's life. The first installment treats of
the events that Immediately preceded the
kings death. Three weeks after the
kings last visit to Paris, when he had re-
turned an invalid to Lacken, the kings
illness suddenly became acute.
He sent at once for the Baroness
Vaughan. who was then at her chateau of
Ballaincourt. She arrived at Lacken, &C.
companied by maid and an officer, Tues
day, December z, at 4:44 in the after
noon The king was in a great state to
see her. yet she did not go to the Pavilion
des Painters to see him till at night
She remained till TO- and a carriage was
ordered to be constantly at her service.
The next day she looked over a piece of
property adjoining her own, Of whi the
king had made her present. She then
saw the king, and the following Sunday
her box arrived and she took up her quar-
uers with the king, whom after that, she
never left
Special object Of Favor.
The king rested on reclining chair.
He insisted that she should use his own
bed in an adjoining room. Her meals
were brought to her in the kings study
alongside the bed chamber. Monday, the
king. In the presence Of his notary hand
ed her his watch and chain with q gold
medal, a present from. Pope Leo XIII,
and insisted that she should also receive,
after his death, the gold bracelet which
he was wearing.
Princess Cementine and the Countess
de Flander came, and Princess Clemen
tine saw her father for about seven min
utes. The Countess de Flander was not
admitted. The king positively refused to
receive any other member of the family.
There was great indignation: and Baron
Gofnet at one moment had even to prom
Use that he would have the baroness ex-
PEELED from the palace and escorted across
the frontier. But she remained with two
Sisters of Charity and most devotedly at
tended the king. The nuns were so edd-
fed by her attentions to the monarch
that they took her to be the kings daugh-
ter, and one Of them exclaimed In &C.
stasy. What sanity lady she is, and
how devoted to her father!
Subject Of Legal Dispute.
Both the French, department Of agri-
culture and the department Of justice are
occupied, at present, with q complicated
legal dispute which originated from a
strange cow kept on a Picardy farm. This
cow gave milk which the analysts re-
port shows to be the equivalent of or
binary milk diluted. with 20 per cent OF
water. Was the milk watered or was 1t
only watery? The farmer proclaimed his
honesty; the analyst held for the infai-
libility Of his hydrometer. AS dumb
but certificated scientific instrument can
not lie, and as the agricultural expert swore
that there could be no other explana-
ton, the farmer was convicted or having
watered his milk and was ordered to pay
q fine.
A second analysis a month later led to
a second report, a second protest, Sec.
ond conviction. But the Picards are
noted for their obstinacy. The farmer
was convinced and so, to convince Others
he had his cows MIXED in the presence
Of commissioner of oaths whose evil
dence could not be questioned, and at the
third prosecution. to oppose the analysts
report, he entered this legal certificate.
But the law says that the milk shall be
of a certain density, SO the magistrate
infliced third fine of $50 and also order
ed that notices of the conviction be post
ed In the neignD0r1ng villages
The farmer has now made another APP
peal. The department of agriculture
therefore Is making an inquiry into the
possibility of producing 'watery' milk
without watering 1t after milking, while
the department of justice is examining
the clause in the law to decide whether
an alteration Is not needed to allow for
abnormal cases where the offenders can
prove that the milk has known no addi-
ton of water from the well.
Alsatians Love France.
An interesting story is told by the
Gaulois. showing better than speeches
| that Alsatians have retained in their
hearts affection for France-an affection
which they inoculate in their children.
Recently balloon landed near Stras-
burg It came from the west. from the
blue line Of the Vosges. Gendarmes,
rural policemen and the local authorities
soon arrived on the scene. Since the bal
loon came from France might it not be
an instrument of espionage? But 1t was
nothing OF the sort. 1t was simply a
tourists balloon. The aeronauts pro-
duced their papers which were found
to be in order Nevertheless they had to
| be questioned. During the examination
the children from the neighboring villages
approached the basket, and perceiving
the sacks of ballast thrust their hands
| into them, and brought forth earth. The
sight of the earth-earth carried from
France-brought tears to the youngsters
eyes, and they began to sing In very low
tones the 'Marseiliaise." They then
r,,~hed nff home carving the earth of