The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1915-07-25

was found dead IN his bed. while a
third OF his ministerial colleagues was
stricken with apoplexy In the mids;
Of a stormy parliamentary session.
In his frs, and most brief admins
tration no less than four members
thereof died in rapid succession while
IN Office.
Others 10 whom the evil eye has
been ascribed have been the great
Sicilian landowner and territorial mag
nate Gerolamo Mendi. the ground
landlord Of a considerable portion OF
the city of Messina. There are few
Sicilians who are not firmly convinced
that the terrible earthquake OF Mes
sina. in which Mendi was among the
frs, to perish, was not caused by his
evil eye. ,
Empress Eugene was accredited
with this affection even prior to her
marriage to Napoleon III, and 1t was
cited as one Of the many objections 10
the union. Her adversaries naturally
ascrlbe Frances unfortunate invasion
Of Mexico. the German invasion OF
France in 1870, the downfall of the
monarchy, the misfortunes OF her hus-
band and the tragic fate Of her only
son to this curse Of which II Is claimed
that she Is a victim.
Similar i%mputations rested upon the
famous composer OHenbach, upon that
incompatible master OF the violin
Pablo Sarasate and upon the late
Count Rudolf Won Khevenhuller. who
wound up his diplomatic career as
Ambassador in Paris. where among his
colleagues his powers as a jettatore
enjoyed such widespread belief that II
used TO he said hat whenever the en-
. voy of one country feared hat a rival
plenipotentiary was about to obtain
some advantage over him he en-
deavored to induce Count "Rudi'
Khevenhuller to call upon him in
order to bring him Ill luck and to in
sure his defeat.
An intimate friend OF the late Baron
Hirsch. his various missions were sig
nalized not merely by misfortune but
even tragedy at the courts at which
he was called upon to represent his
sovereign. On several occasions he
was placed on half pay, but each time
was able to command sufficiently strong
influence to secure his reappointment
to a better post, until finally recalled
from Paris, and shelved. at the quie;
instance of Theophile Delcasse. then,
a. now. Minister OF Foreign Affairs in
France. who 10 about the very last
statesman living to whom ono would
ascribe superstition.
One of the most curious cases Of
the evil eye that ever came under
my personal notice was that of old
Eugene Bontoux, founder OF that grea'
financial institution known as the
Union Generate. Organized for tn,
avowed purpose Of promoting the in
terests Of the Church and of the
Royalist cause in France, the grandest
names Of the French nobility. such
as the Harcourts, the De Noailles. the
De Mailles and the De Broglies, figured
on the board OF directors. In 1882 the
whole magnificent fabric collapsed. its
downfall having been brought about
by the Haute Banque Juive at Paris
and by the so-called BanQue Protes-
tante, acting in conjunction with the
chief financial adherents Of the Gov
eminent of the republic.
The ruin, particularly among the
aristocracy. was widespread. But
c~uriously enough none Of the victims
Oh IUc ulbdOtVi SWIM w - "NA
any lasting feelings OF resentment
against him, not even when they
learned OF his recovery Of a fortune In
after years. But they rave him a wide
berth, having become aware too late
Of the story according to which he was
afflicted with the evil eye, n there
fore destined to bring misfortune upon
those with whom he wa brought into
contact.
The ann in which the late Comte
dc Chambord. who as a child reigned
for a few hours over France as King
Henry ", after the ~abdication in his
favor Of his grandfather. Charles X,
war prevented from entrusting his
great fortune to Bontoux for invest
ment was very dramatic. The Comtc
de Chambord had announced his In
tent!on Of inviting the %fnancier. then
engaged in founding the Union Gen
erale, to one Of his shooting parties at
F~rohsdorf. preparatory to turning over
to him the greater part Of his wealth
for investment. when the Marquis de
Ia Ferronnays. q boyhood friend. who
49,