The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1914-03-07
Duo de Broglie Elected Presi-
dent in Succession to Late
Due de Rohan.
ny IA MARoUIsIs DE roNrENoY.

|NF all French clubs tho Oldest is
~ the Union In Paris. on the Boule-
vard de Madeleine which has
just elected the Due de Broglie as
president. In succession to the late
Due de Rohan. who died few weeks
ago.
Tho Union is now In its eighty-eighth
year, having been founded In 1926 by
the DUO dc Gramont. and by several
other royalist mobiles, who during their
twenty years OF exile In England had
learned to appreciate tho value of the
leading clubs In London. King Charles
" then on the throne. and who had
also resided In England during tho
years which interviewed between the
outbreak OF tho Revolution and the
iinal downfall Of Napoleon, only gave
with reluctance his consent TO the
Due de Gramont to found the Union In
Paris. declaring that while clubs were
not contrary TO law. got that they
would be the death OF good society"
In France.
Associated with the Due do Gramont
In the foundation of the Union was the
great Prince Tallcyrand and tho Due
de Mouchy, while It's first president
was the Due de Montmorency, who re-
manned Mt Its head until 1866. 1t has
always been the favorite club OF the
foreign ambassadors though the minor
Iry or the diplomatic corps have ex-
perienced difficulty In obtaining admis-
| sion, while even mere ministers plent-
potentiary were looked upon askance
| Tho Due do Montmorency was follow
| ed By tho Due do Hauzan. chief OF the
Chastellux family and on his death
the Prince dc Montmorency -LuxemburK
became president. followed In turn by
the Duo dc RIVERS, the Due dc Noa,lles
and finally tho late Due de Rohan
The new president. tho Due do
| Broglie. Is comparatively young
| man. being barely thirty-eight years
OF age. He is BY taste and profession
sailor. having served In tho navy In
which he attained the rank of com
mander, until he retired on half pay. on
! the occasion of his marriage to the
daughter OF the Baron de Rochctaillee
The name OF De Broglie possesses
n special interest on this side OF the
Atlantic by reason of the fact that
| ono OF Its distinguished bearers, Prince
Victor de BroGlie. served throughout
the American War OF Independence as
! principal lieutenant OF General the
! Marquis de Lafayette lie was gull
lotined by kobcspicrre In 1854. Ills
son married tho daughter of tho cele-
brated Nine de Stacl who played 70
notable a role In the early part of the
nineteenth century. Their son in turn
the fourth duke. was Prime Minister
or France during the presidency OF
Marshal Macmahon, and. while q man
OF extraordinary culture, vast intel.
lcct and wit. owing hls seat in the
Academy. not TO his rank. but TO the
brilliancy OF his attainments, was dis
tinGuished for his amazing absences
OF mind. which involved him in all
sorts OF amusing contrctctnpa
- regularly credited with having en-
dehVorcd To commit the government OF
| Aiarshai Macnahon TO restoration OF
the monarchy, yet IL WAS this duke. ;
vote that determined the constitution
OF the present republic. Ii may be n.
called lnat tho latter, enacted in 1915
| was passed by Il majority OF one vote.
That vote WAS cast. not. as is general.
| iy supposed. by Henri WALTON, but b.
the then Due de BroSiic. the authoilt.
Tor my statement being Ernest Dau,ci
the historian, whose avowed royahs.
! sy,npathies relieve him of any sus-
| picion or prejudice against the duke
| while another authority is his kins.
| man. the second Que Dccazes. Whether
tho Duke de Broglie cast his vote an
fit of absence OF mind. or inten-
| tionally. has never been made clear
The ducal house OF DE Broglie Is OF
Piedmontese origin. traces back IT.
descent In an unbroken line to the
twelfth century, and owes its French
dukeoom TO the splendid military ser
vices or the celebrated commander and
field marshal OF France. Francis dc
BroElc. the date OF the patent beinI
August 20. l7i2. A little later he re-
ceived from the Emperor OF German,
,he dignity OF a prince OF tho Ho.
roman Empire and it is thanks to this
that all the Junior members OF tn,
family bear the title OF prince
Few houses OF the French nobilit,
have played more important role in
the military annals of their country.