The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1912-06-11
Endeavors to Secure Legislation
Similar to That Existing
in France.
BY La MAnaUIsE DE FoNrENoY.

BY LA MARaUIsE DE FoNTENoY.
~ MPEROR WILLIAM is endeavor-
II Ing to secure legislation similar
H. to that existing in France. by
which divorced women forfeit
the name. and above all the titles.
| OF their former husbands
| The reason for this is that his at
| tention has been called to the extra
| ordinary number OF marriages which
have taken place of late between PEN
whose wealth is derived from qucs-
| tionable sources. Such marriages,
popularity known "Samensheira-
| then" tname marriages), are rarely of
purely commercial one.
Some of tho most historic and IL
iustrious names, obtaincd In this fash
OF the most unfortunate character,
| which certainly does not enhance tho
prestige of the German aristocracy.
The murder not long ago of Countess
Frieda Won Strachwitz, who once be-
ionged to the Berlin half-world. served
| to recall that she had procured tho
grand old name and title in very much
the same fashion. The Strachwitz
! family. of Silesian origin. dates from
the end of the twelfth century. and de-
rives its tito from the Holy Roman
Empire. which may well explain their
wrath when this extraordinarily hu
initiating union took place.
According to French law. Il divorced
woman. even when she is the Petitioner.
and the innocent party. loses the right
! to use her former husbands name. In
| tine case of an American girl. who
/ secured divorce from her French
| husband and the custody of the child
zen. she resumed her maiden name,
prefxed, however, with Mrs" instead
of Miss"
One Of the favorite topics of con-
versation in this country of recent
! years is the question Of exchange Of
visits between the President and
foreign rulers. Visits such as these
! constitute "A sort of obligation upon
Hr"penr monarch. after mis- aces
| sion to the throne. and among his
, complimentary visits OF this kind. he
| invariably includes ono TO the Presi-
dent Of the French republic. who re-
! ,urns the courtesy in due course
| The Chief Magistrate of tho Argen-
| ne Republic. SacnZ pena. determined
to follow European exemple. and in
| in",e4 recently his intention of maxi
ing friendly descent upon each of
| his brother potentates of the Old
World He had. in fact, completed all
| arrangements for the transatlantic
trip aboard a man of-war, escorted
by squadron of cruisers. when he re-
ceived official notice from the Kings
ct Spain ltsly and Belgium that II
| would be impossible for them TO re-
while the other sovereigns. including
the Kaiser King George and the Car
| offered no hopes OF any return visit
at all. This seems to set a precedent
the question OF any interchange Of
visits between the President of the
| Ted states and European rulers.
! Every student of modern history is
aware that on the eve Of the lombard
ment of Alexandria. the English Gov
eminent invited France to join In the
attack. and in the subsequent military
feet lay at anchor with that of Great
Britian off the port. VI. Gambetta
was warmly in favor of accepting the
| England would have sole control of
! the country and of the Suez Canal.
But Premier dc Freycinet. afraid of
| offending Germany, declined to do SO.
| the French vessels retiring before the
| bomba rdment began.
Until the appearance. however. of
the last volume of eN-Premier Crispi's
Memoirs the other day. the public"
stone, the English Prime Minister. had
addresses 4 similar invitation to Italy.
Crispi was not then in office. but visit
! ing London, and wrote and telegra pin cd
from there to Mancini. the Italian Min
i lister of Foreign Affairs. and to Pre-
mier Depretis. urging compliance with
! Great Brita'ns eequest.
/ In London. the Italian Amba ador,
Menabrea, in conversation with the late
Lord Granville. Secretary of State for
! Foreign Affairs. had actually consented
and had received the congratulations
;; OF the Prince OF Wales for having dono
SO. But Marcini absolutely refused;
! chiefly. 1t is said. because the British
I Government stipulated that the army
] OF occupation should be under the SUI
I preme command of an English general:
I and when Crispi not long afterwards
I met the Prince of Wales at a garden
a-tN ar II hnr u Al u
expressed TO him the opinion that
Italy, by refusing to join in the oc-
cupation of Egypt had let slip val
! liable opportunity. Both France and
Y! Italy bitterly regretted the pusillani-
/ nifty OF their respective governments
in 1882: but for which they would
be sharing to-day in the possession
Nile
;! Queen Wilhelm!nc. who last week
paid her first state visit to Paris since
her marriage, thus returning the call
made upon her by President Fallieres
proud OF her French ancestry. Among
the Populations which she received dur
ing her stay--the one to which she
accorded most attention. was that
from the French town of Orange, in
the Department of the Valcluse, and
which consisted OF vhe Mayor. the
some Of the leading citizens.
The former principally of Orange
passed in 1880 to the House OF Mas
+, sau. through the marriage of Count
! Chalons. sister and heiress of the las,
/ French Prince of Orange. This Count
Henry is the direct ancestor of Queen
Wiiheimn re-. The principality and
France in 1860: but by the treaty of
Utrecht. in lI13, the empty title was
| conceded by France to the House of
Nassau, now rcigning in the Neither
n6G N. a hn IL