THE TRAGIC HISTORY OF A LACE VEIL

Hawke's Bay Herald-Tribune, Issue 187, 25 August 1937, Page 11

THE TRAGIC HISTORY OF A LACE VEIL

The lace veil which King Louia XV. prcsented to his future Quecn, Marie Antoinettej when she first stepped on Erench sdil has been offered to the National Museum of New York by an unknown person, states the Cape Times. H1 luck seems to befall every ono o'f its possessors. Marie 'Anto'iiette, wlio died under the guillotine, gave the veil to her friend, PrinCess de Eamballe. The Princess was to be one of tho iirst vintims of the Eevolution, her head being carried through tho streets of Paris on top of a pike. Aboat 30. years later, King Louis XVIII. bought tho veil from a ioreigner and offered it to the Diichesso de Borri — her husband was murderod soon afterwards. Nappleo laid it v/ith a crowu at Ihe feet of Eugenic de Montijo, but aftor the crash of the E.mpire she sold it to an„ English. manufaeturer. Sir Perey Trovellyan. Slr Porcy gave the veil to his wife as a wedding Jjresent — a fortnight later she died from poisoning. In 1001 the veil Vas in South America when the American inulti-miUion-aire,->Astor, bought- it— a few -months later he-was diowned in-the Titanic. AfterHhe war- Miss Muriel - Vanderbilt,- who then owned the -veil, decided to wcar it on- her wedding day, bat her friends, who know -of its tragic history, aissuaded her. '• - . The veil- • was-'' offered- -to -Colonol Eindbergh, -prior to his marriage, .but he refused it. . Yet, tbree years- late'r, •his child was kidnapped. ■ Sehator ' Morrow, -his f-ather-in-law,; in whose house the- veil -had-remained.a few" days/ died 6uddenly. Only a. person witli no "su- , ]iers.tition - wovild wear the veil now" oi; even care to possess it.. Th'e- questioa man-y people- are asking. is:- will- its ex:hibition. '' in - a glass caire - of t a museum renfer-it •harmleis's? • ■ •'?' .