New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1912-05-13
DeIafield Union Idea Not New.

Deafield Union Idea Not New.
A new and most henofcent sort Of cor
poration has Just been embodied under the
laws Of the State OF New York which is
we'll worthy Judging by the scope and &C
ton Of somewhat similar associations
abroad. OF being initiated in all parts Of the
Union.
The Delafield Family Association is the
name of this new company. and its object
is 10 provide a permanent body. whose
business II will he TO see that no one In
America Of the name Of Delafed shall ever
suffer from the pangs OF hunger or want
have not read the articles of incorpora-
ton, but judging from my knowledge OF
such things in Europe. presume that the
rich members of the Delafeld family have
contributed a lump sum TO begin with as
sort Of endowment, and that everybody OF
the name will subscribe according to his
means The capital of the association will
also re augmented by testamentary be-
quests. according 10 the confident expecta-
lions Of the founders.
In the words Of John Ross DelaAeld. Of
New York. the attorney of the association,
IF one Of our family should meet mis-
fortune and not be able TO start himself
properly in life, or properly 20 start his
children, the association will, from the
funds that are given or hequeathed 10 It,
appropriate proper amount for him. This
is not charity, and We shall not pauperize
our relatives or descendants. The idea Is
rather that OF a benevolent association.
which shall tide tho needy ones over any
financial Chasns 10 which they may have
been brought
The Delafelds disclaim any intention Of
forming any sort Of aristocracy. or elite
society. and say that they are merely :ol-
lowing up an cd custom, common in Eu-
rope. and brought 70 America by the early
Dutch settlers.
u is, indeed, quite true that such associa-
tons exist IN Europe. There are more than
a hundred family associations in Germany,
principally belonging 10 the aristocracy
and the Grande bourgeoisc, in which all
the male adult members have a seat and
vote The old commercial towns Of
Frankfort and Hamburg offer many exam
pies OF such clan organizations Their OBJ
ieCt Is 30 put on their feet again any mem
hers WHO may have come 20 financial grief.
Furthermore, they endeavor 20 protect the
honor of the family name. by Furnishing
and cxpell!ng from the clan any member
guilty Of a reprehensihle act
The Kaiser has encouraged the growth
Of these family ssociatons-Famiien-
Stift-by authorizing several of them 70
elect one Of their members TO represent it
in the Prussian House ~ Lords. one of
the Oldest Of these associations is that Of
the Konigsmarcks a famous family. whose
connection With the royal house of Saxony
81 Lob ,fA 81 Al
SAKE. the ablest general Of Louis XIV Of
France.
This clan has held regular meetings for
hundreds # years helping IN" unfortunate
and discplining those Of its members who
have incurred its displeasure.
other such families are those Of Donna.
schulenburg. Finck Won Finckenstein. Reiz.
enstcin and ?ulow, the last being very
numerous, numbering upward If three hun
hundred male adults At their annual re-
union a few years ago. Prince Btilow, who
was then the imperial Chancellor and
head Of the family told the hundreds Of
his unclcs. aunts. sisters and cousins there
present, Of what their family had done for
Germany during the last seven hundred
wears. and Of the old proverb. Every SOW
eroign Of the House Of Hohenzollern has
had his Bulow.'
These numerous German family associa
tons enjoy the good will Of the government.
as bent on preventing their members from
becoming dependent on public charity, and
oncoura ging a high standard Of citizenship
and service to the state.
In France. too. they have what they call
the "Conseil de famille.' which is com
posed Of the chief adult members. and its
meetings are invariably attended by the
family lawyer who records the dclibcra-
lions and their conclusions in due legal
phraseoogy. The French family councils
are sometimes | am afraid, rather tyran
nical: especially, as their decisions are usu-
ally confirmed by the tribunals of the
country. After the family lawyer has EN-
bodied the decision in a legal document. he,
accompanied by two members Of the cOun-
Gil submits It to the Judges of the law
courts, who usually ratfy the decision
without any further inquiry; for they take
II for granted that the members Of the
family who haV" the interests Of that fam
fly AT heart, are far better judges Of what
IS best to be done than any outsider how
ever learned in the law, could possibly be.
Although as rule they may he right-in the
last majority Of cases. indced-yet some
times this readiness OF the Judges TO &C
ccpt the findings Of the council has the
effect Of giving legality to rank injustice
and cruelty
For instance the mother Of the late Duo
dc Chaulncs. by birth a Russian Princess
Galltzin. was deprived OF the custody of
her two young children, who were handed
over TO her mothcr-ln-law, who had always
hated her, and turned every innocent action
Of the beautiful girl into crime. The
mother-in-law, the Duchesse de Chevreuse,
happened 70 be power In Partisan society,
and every move that she made against her
unfortunate daughter-l-laW was promptly
Endorsed and confirmed by the judges. Be-
ing a foreigner and not understanding the
French law, the Princess GalltZln de
Chaulnes. in despair at having her children
taken from her. tried To seize them by
force with the result that she was arrest
cd and again deprived Of them While her
pympathizers and helpers were prosecuted
for kidnapping and sentenced to terms OF
hard labor.
The princess afterward died from priva-