The Washington times., 1920-11-07
IN tAe Countess Floria de MMtimprey
CHAPTER II.
(Confinxed from Last Sunday


cspyf,sht, 1890 international servIes Inc.
= hss been my memorable fate to have lived the
pinnacle Of Cannes society just in the years when
that marvellous centre Of aristocratic delights and
designations reached the climax Of its glory.
Cannes in my opinion, was typical than any place
Of the old life of thoughtless luxury before the life
which fear had something do with bringing about that
calamity and which will return in quite the
FORM It is significant that the town. with its Villas
converted into camp for sick and wounded soldiers
during the The former gayeties were of course
suspended and believe they will be revived in
the old days of royal splendor. ...
To Cannes hocked the most extravagant, the most
reckless and the most sendugent of the European roy
alties men and Here they had their villas
surrounded by beautiful tropical grounds where they
could indulge themselves their hearts content without
any thought about prying public.
Oil the faryike fetes have there the allnight
ance the drinking, the gambling the rivers of cham
payne and wines, the strange entertainments, the
Oriental dancers and magcians, the glitter Of costly
jewes SLIM white bodies the utter selfabandonment
the wanderngs in tropical gardens the quarrss and the
auelsl
wanted it all, enjoyed It all, and would seek it if
could live my life again, but understand why
common people of Europe enraged at the thought
Of all that luxury when they are CONDEMNED to poverty
and cherries labor For even the mouk in Russia has
heard of the doings at Cannes!
must first explain how Cannes came to be such
fashionable centre Everybody knows of course that the
French Riviera, facing the sunny Mediterranean, with
high hills behind it to the north makes most delightful
Winter resort Nice, the Riviera has been noted
resort for perhaps century, and has population Of
about 100000 In 1885 Lord Brougham the famous Lord
Chancellor, being unable to find good accommodation in
Nice wandered along the coast until he to the little
old forgotten fishing port of Cannes
Lord Brougham obtained in an old peasants
cottage and delighted with the situation that he
Immediately bought up large piece Of land. He built
villa there and colony of aristocrats, dissatisfied with
che promiscuity Of Nice, settled there.
IL not, however until thirty years later that
Cannes began to be centre of dissipation The Second
Empire in France was then reaching the tragic climax Of
Cts extravaganza and the young Prince of Wales was
rising to be an arbter of society.
The Prince was indeed Quick to appreciate the de-
lights OF Cannes Russian grand dukes and princes from
all countries, English and American mllionares dropped
in and snapped up the desirable sites.
Cannes was the last word in exclusiveness. Unless
you in society you could not buy foot of land
stranger might have wandered through the town and
been unable to obtain morsel Of lunch in any Of the
fashionable restaurants If he happened drop when
grand duke was lunching he told that every
taken. For the social outsider Nice much more
attractive
The finest villas at Cannes were situated upon the
Crosette site rather remotely like the Cliff Walk at
Newport. IL q long fdiryland adorned with great
beautiful gardens and its villas looked out upon the sea-
My uncle, Baron de Charees place, the Villa Eucalyp-
tus to which have already referred the Crosette
Here, too, was the Villa Kasbeck, the home Of the
Grand Duke Michael Of Russia named after the highest
peak in the Caucasus and by far the most splendid place
a Cannes Its heavily curtained windows always created
On air Of mystery.
Near by my husband, Count de Pourtaless villa
The Villa Marguerite, which occupied nearly every year
after our marriage. Other neghbors the Grand
Duchess Of Meckenburg schwerin, sister Of Grand Duke