New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1913-08-03
.DUKEDOM WEDDING GIFT
King Intends to Bestow 1t on
His Cousin, Prince Arthur.

NHiS iiitN'iNS w SSSeS" - wv
His Cousin, Prince Arthur.
Copyright. 1913. by the Brentwood Company
King George has the intention OF be-
slowing a dukedom upon his cousin, Prince
Arthur Of Connaught, either just before
his marriage or on the occasion OF his
wedding, and In this way the dukedom OF
his bride, Princess Alexandra, Duchess OF
Fife will become merged in that which
the prince will receive from the crown.
II Is believed that George V will revive
in his cousins favor the dukedom OF Kent
last borne by Queen Victorias father.
II may be hoped that some similar
match may he found for the Duchess or
Flies younger sister, Maud. for when Ed
ward VII bestowed the title Of princess.
with the Predicate OF highness. upon the
two children Of his eldest daughter. no"
the Dowager Duchess of Fife. he omitted
10 state Of what they were princesses.
They are certainly not princesses or Great
Britain and Ireland, nor are they Prln-
cesses OF Duff. the patronymic OF their late
father. Until the King bestowed upon
them the title OF princess they were mere
commoners In the eyes OF the law, and
were known as Lady Alexandra and Lady
Maud Duff. their title Of lady" being
merely one Of courtesy. invariably accord
ed to the daughters OF dukes, marquesses
and earls.
While Princess Maud is well provided
for under the will of her father. the bulk
OF his fortune will go. after the death or
his wife. to his elder daughter, the bride
Of Prince Arthur. Indeed her inheritance
will amount to some si.000,O0O.
Prince Arthur has no fortune OF his
own. but he is the only son Of the Duke
and Duchess OF Connaught, who are both
exceedingly well off The Duke OF Con-
naught has a civil list as n prince OF the
blood OF s125, 900 a year, in addition to
London palace, known as Clarence House,
and a country seat In Bushey Park, both
Of which, being crown property. cost him
nothing In the way OF maintenance and
repair Besides this he has at present his
salary Of $4,000 year and allowances
as Governor General Of Canada. More
over he was one Of the principal bene-
flciaries under the will by which Queen
Victoria disposed OF her large private
fortune.
Add TO this that the late Prince Fred
erick Charles Of Prussia, father or the
Duchess Of Connaught, was one OF the
richest members Of his house, and that
the duchess. in addition 10 her dowry, in
herited a large amount Of property from
her father and II will be realized that
Prince Arthur's parents are in a position
10 make very handsome allowance and
e. leave him particularly well of when
they die
Incidentally, may mentioned that
Vivian Carmichael, who was locked UP IN
the Tombs here the other day on charge
OF defraudng the Fire Insurance COM
pany OF North America by fling false
proof OF loss. so far as I have been able
to discover has no ground whatever for
his claim 10 be related 10 the young
Duchess Of Fife or to be descended from
"the Earl OF Fife" I have before me
genealogy Of the Duff family, OF when
the late Duke Of Fife was the chief. and
there is no Carmichael among the de-
scendants OF any Of the five earls.
As have pointed out before. men OF
good birth in England when en'meshed IN
criminal law invariably try 10 conceal the
name Of their family 10 avert the dis
grace Of even a mere charge OF crime
brought against one OF its members. Con-
secuentlv when a foreigner who is locked
up in this country claims 10 be noble
his pretentions may nearly always be re-
earded with derision
Thus. last month nearly every news
paper printed the story told by a con-
vlct on the completion OF his three-year-
term in the federal prison at Leaven-
worth Kan The convict said he was
Sir Frederick Grey. and asserted he was
the son and heir OF Lord Grey de Ruthyn
and brother OF 'the Hon. Lady Editn
Grey Of Ruthyn, Lancashire" Incident
ally he admitted having done time In
England before crossing the Atlantic
Now. the most cursory reference TO any
of the English "Peerages' is sufficient
10 show that the patronymic or LORD
Grey de Ruthyn is not Grey. but Clit-
ton Also that the late Lord Grey de
Ruthyn. who succeeded TO his peerage
some thirty years ago. died last year
without leaving any children. The pres
ent Lord Grey de Ruthyn Is an elderly
bachelor. who passed through New York
the other day from England on his way
20 his ranch. near Round Up, Mont
where he has made his home for the
last quarter of a century. He has two
sisters one of whom is a seXagendrian
widow. known as Mrs. Lancelot Butler
Bowdon. Of Balbro House, Chesterfield,
England, while the other sister. Florence
now near fifty years Of age, married Sir
Alan Bellingham. Consequently there Is
no such person as Lady Edith Grey or
Ruthyn" Finally, Ruthyn, or Ruthin. Is
not in Lancashire. but in Denbighshire.
Wales.
II go TO the trouble to explain this. II
is 10 relieve Lord Grey de Ruthyn and
his famly-one Of the most historic and
honored houses OF the old English aris-
tocracy-of the imputation under which
they have been placed by the Leaven-
worth prisoners widely published tales.
MARQUISE DE FONTENOY.