New-York tribune., 1912-02-28
The Grand Duchess Reappears.

The famous Grand Duchess of Gerol-
stein" otherwise Hortense Schneider, mas
reappeared at the age Of seventy-nVe' 10
assist in the organization of charltaoie
festival at Montmartre, at which Baroe
Eleue." one OF her own early creations. Is
about TO be produced by young persons
She is coaching for the purpose
Having gone on the stage at seventeen
between fifty and sixty years ago. and
spendinc the eventide OF her existence in
the strictest retirement in her pretty villa
and grounds in the Auteuil suburb of Paris
for several decades past, most persons I'M
agined that the once famous prima donna
was no longer alive
II was Hortense who practically gave
the vogue to all the works of Ofenbach'
especially TO his popular opera, La Grande
Duchesse de Cerolstein," and her fame
during the last decade Of tho Napoleonc
empire was so great than monarchs visit
ing Paris in those days did not hesitate
b, 10 slight the French ruler. and especially
-Fmpress Fugenie. for her sake. Thus, for
instance when Car Alexander IL was on his
way TO Paris in 1867 he telegraphed ahead
TO have a box reserved for him at Hortense
schneider's theatre on the night OF ms
arrival. coupled with an invitation that
she would sup with him at the care
Anglais after the performance He reached
Paris in the evening at o'clock, was re-
ceiyed in great state by Napoleon III at
the railroad station, drove Off with him 10
the Tuileries where, after a most per-
functory greeting 10 Empress Eugenie, he
pleaded the fatigue Of his journey for alb
,ence from the banquet which they had
planned in his honor at the palace, ana
after a hasty meal in his apartment, drove
off TO the theatre. where from box deco
rated with flowers and with Russian coiors
he witnessed the performance OF La
Grande Duchesse."
Hortense Schneider in those days used
to 20 everywhere by the name OF La
C,rande Duchesse." that is to say Of the
part which she had created on the bur-
lesoue stage. One day in 1861 the guards
at the main entrance of the great interna-
tional exhibition then in progress in the
French capital saw beautiful equlpaBe
with four horses and postillions. driving up
10 the gates and anxious 10 enter. The
commissary of police on duty hastened TO
the carriage, and. not recognizing the oc-
ciipants exclaimed. Madame, 1t Is only
royal personages who are permitted to
drive in!''
.'Do YOU not know me?" haughtily in-
outred Hortense, who had by her side the
famous English derni-mondaine. Cora Pearl.
81 am the Grand Duchess de Gerolstein!
The police comrnissary. convinced that ne
was IA the presence Of one Of the Emperor
and Empresss royal guests, with whom
Paris was then thronged, bowed low. or
dered the gates TO be opened and per-
mitted the queen of the Partisan opera
boufe stage 20 drive in and through the
grounds of the exhibition. The astonish-
ment Of those of her friends who recos-
nized her within the precincts or the
Champs de Mars was more easy 10 I'M
agine than describe, ard she remains on
record as having been the only person not
Of royal rank who was permitted TO drive
through the exhibition grounds during that
most brilliant year of the Napoleonic EN-
pire.
Hortense Schneider was overwhelmed In
the days Of her vogue with offers OF mar
Rage of the most brilliant description,
many royal personages and great MOBILES
Icing among her suitors. For some reason
or other she declined them all. ana 1t was
only long after her retirement from the
stage that she gave her hand TO Comte
de Bionne. The union was not fortunate
one in any respect Hortense claimed that
lhe count was bent on squandering the
very large fortune which she had amassed.
Moreover there was some question. never
satisfactorily settled. as to the validity OF
his title. Anyhow. the Ill assorted couple
Z separated; and, overwhelmed with disap'
pointp1ent and annoyance, Hortense with
drew for time 10 a convent
But II did not take very long 10 convince
her that her temperament was not pre-
III fitted for the existence OF nun.
anQ 90 she returned 10 the world. and has
been living quietly ever sinee-hrst at ner
house IN the Avenue de Versailles. ana
since then ~ the Villa which she purchased
at Alteufl
NARouIsE DE EoNTENoY.