The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1913-06-13
AS HEAD OF
SUEZ CANAL COMPANY

private theatre. lie is i great -sra nd
son &c tho Claude Regnier who was
Minister OF Justice and also Chief Jus-
tice OF France in the reign OF the
First Napoleon. who bestowed upon
him. first Of all, the title of Count
Gronau, and after that OF Duke OF
Massa. These honors were confirmed
on the restoration OF King Louis
AVlll.. and II was arranged then that
the title of Comte de Gronau should
always be borne by the eldest son OF
the duke. 30 that II Will now go to
the new dukes eight-year- son
Andre On the distaT side OF the
house he Is great grandson of Field
Marshal Macdonald. Duo de Tarcntc
ono OF the most brilliant OF the gen
erals OF the First Napoleon
Duke Jeans father, the late Marquis
de Massa, who died about three years
ago. was one Of the most picturesque
figures of the French capital, and
president OF that smart and amusing
club known as the Epatant. With his
carefully curled hair. his white mus
tache and imperial he looked what he
was. an ola cavalry officer. recalling
one OF Alexander Dumas's Three
Musketeers" To such an extent was
this the case that he was popularity
known among his numerous friends as
Aramis. As = young man. ho had
enlisted In the Spahis and after soc
ing good deal OF active service In
Algeria, was transferred to Paris, as
an officer of the crack regiment or
Guides. He took part in the Crimcan
War. was present at tho battle or
Solfcrino In 1865. was aide de camp OF
Marshal Bazafne In the Mexican War
was with Napoleon III. at Sedan. and
managed 10 get away to join Bour
baki, and remained with him until the
end of his disastrous campaign.
During the last eight years of the
reign OF Napoleon Ill, while acting as
his eQuerry. he was intrusted by the
Empress with the composition Of ali
those charades and theatrical skits
which We're performed by amateurs.
such as Princess Pauline Mcttcrnich.
the Duchess de Persigny, the Comtc ssc
de MalarAt and others, at st. Cloud, at
Compiegnc, and at RambouiNet Yet
this man. who played SO conspicuous
role at the court of Napoleon I'LL
where hts name was on every lip, sur
viycd until three years ago, having
Just n few months before his death
composed. produced and stage man
aged. on the occasion of the jubilee
anniversary OF the Epatan,, theatri-
cal skit. just bubbling over with bril-
liant wit.
In Paris. rs in many other European
capitals, pawnbroktng is monopoly
of the state. and pawnshops govern
ment institutions. In France, as in
Italy, they are known as monts de
piete. All the profits realized are
turned in each year TO the national
treasury. for devotion To charitable
uses. The Paris mont de picte having.
l.,
for the purpose, has just been com
PEELED to apply TO the government for
the funds necessary To build an enor-
nous garage capable or storing no
less than 1900 automobiles, which
have been left in pawn. Everybody
seems TO own an automobile nowadays.
but not every one seems to have the
money to lseep them going. Accord
Ing to the reports or the mont dc
piete at Paris, they are being uscu
with ever growing frequency as col
lateral for loans ana men aud women
who are seen riding one day In costly
motors. are often Obliged twenty four
hours later to admit that they have
coptided them TO Ma Tante,' that be-
ing the popular name for the pawn
shop. Perhaps some of my readers
may be willing TO explain why on this
side OF the Atlantic pawnbrokers
should be described as My Uncle.
and In France as "My Aunt"
Copyright, 1919 by the Brentwood
Company