The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1913-07-20
BRITISH PEER HEAD
OF USURY CONCERN


both, Mary Queen Of Scots. Charles l.
and James H.. when visiting Lyme,
sttll form part and parcel of the fur
n!ture o: the mansion. Lord Newton
was for time in the diplomatic ser
vice, and also in the House OF Com
mons, is clever writer, and at pres
ent is engaged in biography Of his
former chief. Lord Lyons. England's
representative at Washington during
the Civil War, and afterwards ambas-
sador at Paris, is popular member
OF the Jockey Club, and has sometimes
been described as the Labouchere OF
the House OF Lords. owing to the
sparkle, the unconventionality. and the
brce2iness OF his clever speeches. 1t
was he who immortalized his friend,
Lord Roscbcry, by describing him as
"a sort of political prima donna"
None of the recent obituaries OF old
Henri Rochefort mention the compare
lively little known fact that until
1870 he was in the pay OF the fourth
aiquis Of HEREFORD as a purchaser
of paintings and art treasures. In
fact. large number of the fine paint
ings and old masterpieces that figure
in tho so-callcd Wallace collection at
the national iiertford House Museum.
in London, were selected and pur-
chased for Lord Hartford. not, rs gen
orally supposed, by Sir Richard Wal
lace. but by Henri Rochefort. And II
is curious that, although the fourth
Marquis OF Hartford was one Of the
closest friends OF Napoleon Ill, he
should have had in his employ for the
last fifteen years of his life the one
man whose lampoons and satirical
writings contributed more than any
thing else to destroy whatever prestige
the Emperor enjoyed, and to bring
about the overthrow of his dynasty.
1t is said that the acquaintance OF
Lord Hartford with Henri Rochefor
began through the latter's preventing
him from concluding the purchase OF n
picture. which, although pronounced
authentic by other experts turned out
To be IA forgery.
Nor has any one drawn attention 10
the fact that the Chateau de Nalen-
cay. now owned by the Comte Bosom
de Tallcyrand- PeriSord (who styles
himself the Due de Valencay. and who
was divorced by Levi T. Morton's
daughter. .Ielen). belonged up TO the
time of :hc great revolution 10 Henri
RochcfortS ancestors, tho MarQuesses
de Roche fort Lucay. Hcnri's grand
father was among the mobiles who cmi-
grated along with TIE Contc de Pro
rence afterwards Louis XVIll), at
, tho beginning of the revolution. and
a.
upon that prince was forced TO raise
money at ruinous rates on his vast
lands in Berri. Partly through fore
closure OF mortgages, and partly
through cortscation. he was diyested
OF all OF them, including the chateau
and park Of Valcncay. which had been
the home of the De Rochefort- Lucays
FOR three centuries. 1t WAS then that
the great Taileyrand purchased IL at
about one-twcnticth OF its real value
The son OF this Marquis de Roche
Tort Lucay was appointed by Charles
y Governor of the lie de Bourbon lie
was the father of Henri Rochcfort and
his sister was the Comtesse de ST
Maur. The Comte de st Maur. uncle
therefore, OF Henri Rochefort. was
with his brother in law, tho Due de
kviere. French ambassador at Con-
stantinople. when the statue OF the
! venus OF Milo Was first uucarthed at
! Milo, The duke and the Comte de st
Maur purchased the statue jointly, for
mere song, and, instead OF retaining
! II themselves. presented il To kinl;
Louis NNIIi. The father OF Henri
Rochefort treated his wife very badly
She was of obscure parentage. and it
was because he was so cmbittered
against his father that Henri adopted
such violent antimonarchical doe
trines.
! 1t is curious that, although ne al
| ways regarded the Talleyrand- Peri
! cords as the despoilers OF his family
| yet that his most intimate friend ana
! crony should I've the Marquis de Talley-
| rard- Perisord Due dc Dino. who en-
JOYS The questionable distinction OF
| having married two American women
! IN turn. and Of having been divorced
by each OF them. One OF these wo-
| men still continues TO use tho titlc
! OF MarQuise de Talleyrand- Perigord
/ His second wife resumed in accord
! ance with the French law Of the pres
| ent day, her maiden name after her
| divorce, and died in Paris as Mrs Adele
| Sampson.
The case OF the Duo de limo and OF
| the late Henri Rochefort was similar
! In many respects. The duke ia quite
as foreign to all domcssicity as was
/ Rochefort. like the latter, In spite OF
1 ms lineage and certain patrician man
nerisms and prejudices, is radical in
! politics. to the extent of socialism,
! Thcy each possessed most oXtraor-
binary knowledge and experience OF
everything relating 10 art and archie
ploey. Many Of the art treasures of
the duke have found their way 10
THIS country. at one time or another
and may be seen In private collections
aud public institutions. notably, in the
-'''NiopplItdn MuScuin OF art. In New
Nork Like Rochctort. the duke help
ed Louise Michel. or Commune insur-
rection celebrity. making an allow
ancc TO her mother OF 100 francs q
month; and when the great strike tool,
place at AnZin, the duke appeared up
on The scene, accompanied by Roche.
Tort. and rendered pecuniary assistance
10 the wretchcd miners.
Like Rochcfort, too. tho duke dis,
10 ut - -
10 he called Citoyen Pcrigord. We
ms hous, is always filled with remind
crs OF his rank. In the Henry II. din
'ng-room. his armorial bearings ar.
/ embroidered on the curtains. carvet
on tho sideboards, painted on the doo
panels. engraved on the silver, an,
| ornaments the beautiful porcelain
made for him by the Ginoris o
| Florence.
| Copyright, 1913. by the Brentwood
u Company.)