The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1913-05-13
Frau Otto Brucks Does Well Not
to Publish Book on
Continent.

TRAU OTTO BRICKS. who under
the name and title OF Countess
Larisch. that is to say. OF that
first husband who was compelled to
divorce her. has Just brought out her
much heralded book, My Past" has
been prudent. in publishing In London
her shameful calumnies of her benefac-
trees. tho murdered Empress Eliza
beth. instead of anywhere on tho Con-
tinent OF Europe. For England Is the
only country OF Europe where libcls
on the dead ar. tolerated by law
that is to say, arc not actionablo
Everywhere else on the other eide or
the ocean ISLANDERS of this nature are
severely punished, and tho memory OF
the deceased is protected b. the law
Thus, two years ago, woman at
vienna was sentenced TO three months
Imprisonment for casting aspcrsions
on Empress Maria Theresa. although
the latter has been dead for near 100
years.
Alexandre Dumas the elder had no
end of trouble in connection with his
historical novels, and was mulcted in
heavy damages. lucky. indeed. to es-
cape Imprisonment In the lawsuits In
stitutcd against him by the Marquis
de Prefontaine. The latter took ex-
ception to tho fact that Dumas in LA
Route de Varennes' had asserted that
his grandfather and namcsakc had re-
FUSED 20 shelter Louis XVI. and Queen
Marie Antoinette on the occasion OF
their Night from Paris The court.
besides mulcting Dumas in very heavy
damages. ordered all unsold copies OF
the book TO be confiscated. and q fresh
edition to be published within n month.
with special note 10 the effect that
the Marquis de Prefontaine who -four
| ished at the end OF tho eighteenth
! century, far from refusing shelter,
had harbored the royal fugitives.
Dumas was more fortunate in tho
suit brought against him by the Mar
quis dEpinay St. Luc, for some dcrog-
atory references Ito Francis de ST.
Iuc. In his novel la Dame do Mon
soreau. In this case it decided
that inasmuch as 2o0 years had elaps-
ed since tho death OF Francois de ST.
Luc. there was not sufficient evidence
available to clear his reputation from
tho aspersions 10 which it had been
subjected in the novel.
The children OF the late Baron do
Renzls, who achieved so much popular
ity as Italian ambassador In London.
sued, with success, the playwright
Ferruggia, IN the Italian courts, for
a
Theatre, In Milan. HIS play entitled
"Amnta Desclee" on the ground that
ii portrayed certain painful episodes
of their fathers life. Indeed, he was
compelled to withdraw II. The play
represented the late Baron de Renzis,
while y. y. c. to the Re Gallant 'Como.
as the object Of the one serious affec-
tion in the life of Mile. DescIce. the
most famous French actress Of the
MY 1, 4, G. hnx
Alexandra Dumas the younger won her
away from the baron. induced her TO
return to Paris. where she became
once more the idol OF the public. ShI
is sad and discouraged however, as
her Fan Fan" as she nicknamed her
beloved baron is far away in Italy
and DOES not write.
In the rehearsal OF the "Viste de
Noces." Dumas is not satisfied with
the effect of sccne In which the ac-
tress was TO portray sense OF indig-
nation at the breaking off of q love
affair. At this particular moment
letter arrives and is handed to Des-
clee. announcing the marriage OF
Baron de Ron2is and in her first mo-
inent OF bitter resentment the actress
triumphantly carries out the idea or
the author of the "Visite de Noces."
Dumas is radiant. 1T means my lifei"
exclaims Desclee. in despair. Where
upon Dumas sclnshly replies, What
matters it, an long as tho play is Il
SUGGEST"
The baron. whose memoirs are or
the most interesting character be-
came, in course OF time. as distin-
guished in literature as he had beer
successful as soldier. in his early
years He also dabbled in iourna iisn.
founding the +anfulla. now one of the
most populnr and influential news
papers In italy. Tho carly files there
of, when he was in immediate charge
and did most nj the writings are most
brilliant and witty.
Not so long ago VI. dc Bcrtier de
Sauvisny successfully sued Armand
payot. in thc brench courts, FOR an
alleged libel on his grandfather. Der
tier de Sauvigny, chamberlain OF the
city of Paris ut the outbreak Of the
FIRST revolution Dayot, who is n we'll
known author and an expert on art
matters, brought out a series Of IL
Illustrated albums. French history
entitled les Albums Illustres." I'M
dor the pictures representing Touion.
Comptroller General OF the Treasury
and Bcrticr de Sauvigny. both OF whom
were hanged TO lampposts by ,he mon
shortly after the taking of the Rastille,
the letterpress contained few re-
marks to the effect that tile two men
richly deserved hanging. de s;auvigny
in particular being described as a
villain" Dayot I'm his defense quot
cd text from other historians. notably.
Mohelet, in justification of his re-
marks, But the plaintiff persisted In
his suit for the libel of his grand
father, and won the day.
Lord Francis Hopes decision to sell
tho famous estate Of Deepdene, his