The Washington herald. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1906-1939, 1912-12-07
FOREIGN GOSSIP

Frlnce ludwig EsternaIy Oh oeAohenA'
the Hungarian magnate, whose recent
death is announced, was grandson OF
George Child, fifth Earl Of Jersey. Wis
count hartford and Baron Vtlliers In
England and VIscount Grandson in the
Irish peerage. whose wife. Sarah Sophia,
eldest daughter of the tenth Earl OF
Westmoreland Knight OF the CARTER,
inherited the immense fortune OF her
maternal grandfather. Robert Child, of
osterley Park, in Middlesex. Part OF
these vast riches has found It's way to the
Esterhazys
There was an Esterhazy. who brought
the great name into discredit before the
whole world. member Of one OF the
cadet houses. He was accused OF having
forged or stolen the famous Dossier
in the notorious Dreyfus case, while liv-
Ing In Paris, and TO have placed the
guilt upon that Inflated captain, who
mainly through Esterhazy's instrument
tally. was publicly degraded, cashiered
and deported TO Devils Island, In French
Guiana.
How his nemesis finally overlook him.
how his anti-semitic intrigues were laid
bare and that he committed suicide in
an obscure London lodging house, fug-
tive from justice-all that is recent his
tory.
The late prince was related to two of
the most powerful families of Britain,
the Jerseys who claim descent from
Yilllers. Seigneur of L'Isle Adams, in
Normandy, who crossed the channel with
the Norman conquerors. Henry III
knighted John Villiers CKnight OF Brokes-
by) and centuries later Charles ii. for
bravery during the civil war in 1889, ap-
pointed Edward Villiers knight marshal
Of his Richmond household and governor
OF Tynemouth Castle. Advancing further
in royal favor he was, in 1880. elevated
to the British peerage as Baron Villiers
OF Hoo. Seven years later, on his being
sent as ambassador extraordinary to the
states general Of the Netherlands, he
was created Earl of the Island Of Jersey.
Through his wife. Lady Frances Howard.
the Nilliers family became related to the
second Earl of Suffolk Whose daughter
she was) and who Is inferred in West
minister Abbey.
The westmorelands. from whom the
late Prince Esterhazy's grandmother de-
scended. trace their pedigree to Howell
Ap Nane. OF Monmouthshire: but the
earliest historical data reach to 1926,
when the family was settled in Kent,
and to Henry aV-ane. Of Tonbridge.
This patronymic. as time went on, was
changed to Fame. Thomas. OF that
name. in 1873 was knighted at the Castle
VI IpNtT ny hODeTl. Earl VI I-tlNtSlti.
in the presence OF Queen Elizabeth. His
first wife was a COIepepper, of Bedgbury.
but had no issue. His second wife was
the daughter and heiress of Henry, Lord
Abergavenny the lineal descendant Of
Edward Neville, younger son Of Ralph
Neville. first Earl Of Westmoreland.
Through her son, the earldom. in 1904.
was bequeathed to and remained in the
Fame family.
pr1nra 7 AHarfo.
teen years in London as the military at
tache to the Austro- Hungarian Embassy,
and, being so closely related to the Brit
ish nobility. naturally became very pop
uar While stationed there he married
a daughter OF the Hungarian magnate,
Count Andrsssy, the noted diplomat and
foreign minister of Austria during the
BismarCkian reconstruction period Of Ger
many. Upon his return to Budapest he
was given the command OF the Hun |
garian Royal BOdyguard. a position |
which his father. Prince Nicholas, had |
held before him.
The Esterhazys are quite the leaders |
Of the ancient untra-feudal Magyar
houses OF Hungary There are several
branches, not only in Austria and Hun |
gary, but also in Bavaria. The estates |
Of the Hungarian line are extremely val !
liable. especially those at the Carpathian |
near TOkay. where are situated |
the Esterhazy vineyards, supplying the
excellent imperial Tokay wine, famous
especially for medicinal purposes) the
world over II may be stated with safe
", that the real, the genuine Tokay is
A great rarity, extremely expensive and
rot often to be had outside of royal
court or the cellars of wealthy nobility.
Stafford House. the town residence Of
the Duke OF Sutherland. has been puV-
chased by Sir William II. Lever. who
will devote the building to some public
or national purpose
Queen Victoria once said to the then
Duchess OF Sutherland when visiting her
at Stafford House. Il have come from
my house to your palace" Palace"
Is in fact. the only adequate description
that can be applied to Stafford House.
OF square. masslveS design. set in an
obscure opening of St. James Palace,
with Clarence House as neighbOr. Stat
ford House is unpretentious architecture
ally, except for its enormous proportions.
The stones with which II is built are
stained with smoke: it Expresses by its
very size: but behind that ugly exterior
there is a veritabe heaping OF riches,
" hich have earned for Stafford House
the reputation Of being the most gOr-
geous as it is believed to he the largest |
Of the private mansions in London.
Originally ii was named York House
and in lS25 was planned by the Duke of
York. who, so tradition asserted, had II
borrowed E6O.ONO to execute his purpose /
from the Duke Of Sutherland. On the II
death Of the Duke Of York. which oc-
CURED before the building was COM
Dleted. the government purchased it for
$50 OO0. and disposed of the lease in 1871 |
for G72OOO to the Marquis of Stafford.
who finished Stafford House as it now
stands. From the proceeds of the ground /
rent il may he noted. Victoria Park. in |
The East End was opened as recrea- |
ton ground. and it should be recorded |
that the doors Of Stafford House always |
have been open to movements which
have for their object the cause of char
ty.
The interior appointments and decOra-
ions Of the mansion are on a scale
which the average man scarcely can Il
There is tn glitter of gold.
here are painted ceilings; the walls
loId priceless pictures by Murillo. by Ru-
pens, by GainshorouGh. by Correggio, by
almost every artist that has achieved l
anne. and there are pieces of furniture, /
lot to mention apartments. which have
historical associations. On the staircase
the great hall Gladstone once Il
yazed upon a scene of fair women which
Tiled him with admiration; and a witty
,ompanion. to, the great statesman's
rank amusement. expressed surprise that
lie should be pleased with such a bare
ma jority" So wide. so grand is that
staircase that a play has been enacted
lpon its broad landings and steps.