Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1922-01-14
ROYALTY IN EXILE
The Days When Dukes and Kings
Lived In Philadelphia In Poverty,
Roekefeller's Ancient Kin Was
Among Them
BY GEORGE NOX MCCAIN

his misuse of English just about put ones
teeth on edge.
! They uscn't to do them there sort OF
things when 1 was boy" was one of his
| characteristic expressions when dcclaiming
against the practices Of the rising genera
ton.
| Charles Sinclair knew moro about old
| Philadelphia, it's legends, its odd characters,
its historic buildings and crimes than any
| other man | ever met
| Possessed of keen apprcciation OF news
values, he would, had he possessed the
necessary education and training, have made
city or managing editor Of discrimination
and ability.
| SINCLAIR'S sobriquet among the goddess
~ and irrcvcrent young newspaper blades
| OF the old Press was ''Mr. Buggins.''
James o.. q. Duffy thus christencd the
kindly old chap MS I recall.
lt was my rare good fortune TO make many
interesting pedestrian tours of the city in
company with Mr.. Sinclair.
Every street and byway held some memory
lor MIN OF historic association, crime or
political episode
His ancestors for 100 years. he once told
me- mad been Philadelphians-of the humber
class. I fancy.
Love Of the city, and above all his intol-
.rance OF anything that was not thoroughly
american, we're perhaps his most outstand-
ing characteristics.
The recent spectaculor visit Of Marshal
Foch to Philadelphia, with all its pagcantry
phohc demonstration and evidences Of hero
Morshlp' recalled TO my mind n remark once
made by Sinclair. long since dead about
another distinguished Frenchman
nNCE on one of our pedestrian tours along
~ North Second street in the vicinity Of
Vino. Sinclair said:
lhcy was Il lot of Trenches use TO live
around here in Revolutionary times.
Ihey say that Mr.. Tallyrun kept shoe
shop on one Of the corners here
lie was afterwards King of France or
something like that. | dsremcmbcr which" 4"
Later discovered that Sincairs refer
cncc was to the famous Prince Tnlcyrund,
VINO inquired largely in the history of France.
Pl WHAT means Charles Sinclair became
- possessed of this knowledge as | run
back over the incident, is something of a
mystery.
| fancy II was through n combination of
local tradition and possibly some glimpse ut
forgotten history. for he was an onnivorous
reader of newspapers.
IalIcyrand otherwise Charles Maurice
lalleyrHnd -Pcrigord, Bishop of Antun was
about forty years old when he came to Phil
adelphia
;, lie was conspicuous because of his pccu-
liar appearance.
lie had large body, while his legs were
small and his feet dcformcd. which caused
n lamcncss ms he walked
lie had very light hair. worn long and
parted in the middle.
Iallcyrand came to America TO get as far
away as possible from France
HIS FIRST home, as pointed out 100 years
- aftcrward. was IN n house at the south.
east corner of Drinkers alley, on Second
street between Race and Vine
In nj toI f,u
hHeE; which docs not now exist but Is sup
posed to have been continuation of Wood
street
1t is fact attcstcd by historians thot
Whilc living here Tallcyrand was very poor.
All his income from France was shut off
and he was compelled to support himself MS
best he could.
This doubtless gave rise to the story that
he once kept shop for the sale of buttons.
Inc tradition might have been founded on
inc TACT that his rooms at the corner of Sec
ond street and Drinkers alley were over n
store where buttons were sold
T,All.ENRAND'S last home while in Phil.
u adclphin was at Oclcr's Hotel
1t was attcrward known rs Jones' Hotel
located on Chestnut street between Sixth and
Seventh streets, adjoining the present pUB-
Lie LEDGER Building
lt was well known hOStcry and was
ircqurntcd great deal by the French who
visited philadelphia
The first demonstration in this city fol-
lowing the declaration of the French re-
public was at Ocllcrs Hotel by n number of
Frcnchmcn and Americans
Inc hotcl itself was n two and a half
story building with a single entrance off
Chestnut street
Shortly after his arrival Talcyrand be-
came naturalizCd as n citizen of this country
Ills purpose doubtless was in the event of
further trouble in France to claim American
citizenship
Sinclair got his idea about Tallcvrand
being king Of France or something like
that from, ] think, an entirely different
course Of events.
TliERE was large French colony in
1898. '''''' ""''''' ''''
- There were French refugees from San
domingo, and in the ncighborhood of Second
and Vine there were cxi'cs from Acndia.
n distinguished addition TO those cm-
grants about 1906 was Louis philinnc
dOrleanS, aftcrwnrd King Of France
lir; too, like Talleyrand, was very poor
and lived on tho generosity of some friends
SON" OF these enabled him. by financial
assistance, to rent the house, now long since
torn down. which stood at the northwest
corner Of Fourth and Locust streets. for
which he paid 90 Spanish silver dollars
annually.
One Of the best stories Of American pride
ana sell respect had the future King of
France for its principal figure.
7 OLlS PHILIPPE became intimate with
IL the family Of Mr.. bingham. then second
! only TO Robert Morris rs a fnanccr
Tradition says that the impoverished
! FrcnChman offered himself as husband TO
one Of Mr.. Bnghams daughters
| Ordinarily. today even. such thing would
| be regarded rs Il transcendent honor
But the offer was declined by the father
| with the remark:
SHOULD YOU ever br restored 10 your
hereditary position in France You will be-
| too great match for my daughter: If not
she is too great match for you"
fact in connection with the French
colony ut that time has been overlooked by
| ChrOniclCrs.
1t is because the details on this side were
unknown until within the last dozen ypars,
| distinguished member Of the French
| rnlnnN in nhilndnlnhia in 1INl u.Lu L. r.