The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1913-05-25


against whom he obtained a decree
prior to his accession to the title,
makes her home In the United States
, IN the neighborhood of New York, UNI
I. der the wholly unwarranted title and
haine OF Princess Montglyon." being
married to John Ferdinand Gentner,
better known as Jack Bonavita. the
lion tanner and exhibitor of wild ami
mais. she had for time large ken
neis near EnSlewood, in Bergen Coun-
", n. j., and made a business of
breeding and exhibiting dogs: a ven
/. financial difficulties. Moreover. she
has had all sorts of lawsuits over
here with the various American ken
mel clubs and dog exhibitions. some
Of them arising from charges Of dye
ing the coats of her dogs. When last
heard of her she was reported in the
newspapers to have instituted d.
vorce suit against her lion-tamer hus-
band, but whether or not she obtained
decree, / am unable to state
The Due d'Avaray, whose divorce
from her took place In 1892. has never
remarked, being n dcvout Catholic.
who was absolutely driven to secure
a dissolution Of his marriage by rea-
son OF her eXtravagances OF purse and
or behavior: eXtravagances for which
he could no longer accept the respon-
sibility. The only son OF the union.
the Marquis Antoine d'Avaray, now
iwenty-siX years Of age. has remained
with his father. The son was the OBJ
ject Of all sorts of legal proceedings
as child ard, on one occasion the
dukes eX-wife managed to get him
into her possession, but was compelled
TO surrendec him. on the ground that
his own mother was not desirable
guardian for any minor.
The dukedom of Avaray Is the first
oil the dtRnitieS this DDrticulnr
rank that was created on the restora-
ton of the Bourbons, after the over
throw of Napoleon. Count Antoine
d'Avaray. a scion OF that ancient
house of Besiade which played SO no
table a role In the personal encourage
of Henry w. by its loyalty and de
votion to the crown, was MASTER of
the robes and chief OF the household
Of the Comte de Provence, brother of
Louis XVI
When the Revolution broke out, and
the lives Of the royal princes were
In danger, 1t was Antoine d'Avaray
who enabled the Comte de Provence to
escape from tho Terrorists ut Paris,
and to reach Italy in safety. He re-
mained with the Due de provence
throughout all the long. weary years
of exile. and on the prince learning
OF the death Of his nephew, the young
Dauphin. In the Temple Prison Mt
Paris. and on his assumption OF the
style of Louis XVIII. of France. he III.
sisted upon styling d'Avaray duke.
declaring that he owed TO him both
life and liberty
Antoine d'Avnray died on th> eve
OF tho downfall OF Napoleon But |
Louis Xviii. Immediately on ascend
ing the throne, honorco the memory /
Of his so faithful retainer by pestow
ing upon the latter's father tile title /
of Duke of Avaray at the same time |
ordering that the royal lilies of France /
should thenceforth figure on the escut- |
cheons Of the d'Avarays. along with /
the eloquent motto "Vicit tier durum !
pietas." Fortunately, the old duke had |
younger son. who succeeded to the /
title. The present and fourth duke is
his grandson.
1t is only fair to the soi-disant (
princess de Montglyon." that Is to
say, to the divorced wife OF the pres
cnt Duke d'Avaray, to state that she /
is of excellent family. She is the I
daughter of the late Count Eugene I
Mercy d'Argcnteau. who. for Ions
time was member of the Belgian !
legation at Paris, where his father, as (
Belgian plenipotentiary, carried on all /
the negotiations for the marriage of (
Leopold |. OF Belgium, and of his sec
ond consort. daughter of King Louis |
Philippe or France
owing To this, quantity of valuable |
papers OF the utmost Importance to !
the court OF Belgium remained in the |
hands Of tho Mercy d.\rgenteau fam |
lily. and when not long before the late /
Coun. Eugene de Mercy d'Arsenteat,'s /
daughter came to America, her Bel |
;;'an chateau of Argcnteau. near the I
Franco Bel gian border. was sold over |
her head for the benefit OF her cred !
itors, Belgian government rfflcials +
made descent upon tho place and |
seized all this confidential corrcspon-
dcnce relating to the royal family, To |
prevent its being sold 20 the highest {
bidder, along with the other effects OF
the lady who chooses to call herself (
Princess Montglyon.
The eyMarquise d'Avaray has as
suned the latter name and title on
the strength OF n claim that they w+re /!
owned several hundred years ago by
one of her paternal or maternal an
ccstors But. of course, the dignity Is I
not recognized by any foreign court +
or government Nor can 1t be found
in the contemporary standard works /
OF reference devoted to the European /
nobility. such as, for instance. tho |
Almanach de Gotha. the Annuaire de I
la Noblesse Franchise, the Spanish !
Goya. etc.