Democratic Sentinel, Volume 20, Number 27, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 10 July 1896 — RICHEST HEIRESS ON EARTH. [ARTICLE]

RICHEST HEIRESS ON EARTH.

One hundred nnd thirty million dollars la the colossal fortune which Lucientie I’reinellc lllraeh, granddaughter of the late Baron Maurice de Hiraeb de Oereutb, will eventually Inherit. It Will make her the greatest heiress in the world. The most curious fact about this prospective young multi-million heiress is that the legitimacy of her birth is doubtful. The youug woman's mothei was a governess in Baron Hlrscli’s family, aud her father was the Baron's only sou. By some, it is claimed that no marriage ever took place, while friends of the Baron assert that a. secret church service was performed. But, even if tills were so. it does not constitute a legal marriage, according to French law. Though the Baroness de Hlrseh is named in her late husband's testament ns his sole legatee, It is stated upon unquestionably authority tlint, acting tinder private instructions, which the Baron gave her not tunny months before Ills death, she will hold this vast wealth in trust until Luclenne comes of age, when site will (urn ~it over to her without reserve. The private lives and family affnirs of most men whose wealth nnd high position have brought them much Into public notice are generally well-known. But tills was not the case with Baron de Hirsch. Before his death, few |ample except those most closely connected with him knew of the existence of this child, who, though her father was a Hebrew, is now being reared a strict Catholic. Tills is the first authentic account of the personality and history of the young girl. These facts have been gat lin ed by tlie New York Journal largely from people in tlie metropolis —few In number—who knew tlie late Bnron de llirseh intimately, and therefore have more or less knowledge* of Ills family life. Luclenne Premellc Hirsch is fourteen years old. She lives In Brussels, where she Is being educated. The possessoi of great benuty, she gives promise when Nhe teaches maturity of being ns pre-eminent lu good looks ns in fortune. Of medium height and rather slender, she carries herself so gracefully nnd with such dlgulty ns to appear at the first glance to Ik* taller t flt n she really Is, In her features she resembles her mother, who was a Freneliwoman, not of tlie Hebrew race. In her expression nnd the general coutour of her face the likeness to her father, the lnte Baron de Hirsch’s only son, who died some years ago, Is striking. This is especially noticeable about her eyes nnd mouth. Her eyes are large and dark and rather deeply set. They have all the soft blnokner.s, the patience and gentleness which are the characteristics of the Jewish race. Her mouth Is neither small nor large, and the lips but moderately full. Far from Im*lug swarthy, her cheeks seem even pale, their clear delicacy of tint being accentuated by her dark hair. In religion, ns said, she Is being reared a strict Catholic. In the great mansion where she lives a little private chapel lias been fitted up where she receives spiritual instruction each day from a specially appointed priest. No more carefully could she lie brought up. In fact, lu tills respect if she were a Princess of the blood royal. Mile. Htm-h’s guardian and governess is Mine. Untime Monteflore Levy, nee Bischoffsheim, sister of the Baroness de Hirsch. Mme. Levy is one of the wealthiest women In Europe in her own right, and the owner of half the eastles in Belgium. She is a strict and orthodox Hebrew in ’her religious faith, moreover, and how it has come nbout that Luclenne should be brought up in a religion diametrically opposed to that of Judaism is one of the many Interesting things connected with this girl’s parentage nnd history. Baron de Hirsch. as every one knows, was a man of the utmost liberality and toleration in religious matters. So long as a person was honest It muttered little to him whether he were Jew or Christian. Though he did so much for his co-religiouists, he rarely entered a synagogue for worship. As was said bv one of his eulogists, "he carried his temple within him.” When the question of what Lucienne’s religious belief nnd training came up, it was, therefore, but natural that ho should readily accede to the request of her mother, an ardent Catholic, and allow the daughter to continue in that faith. Indeed, as a matter of fact, before the child could have entered the Jewish Church, she must necessarily have abjured all other religions. And so it is that in deference to her late brother-in-law’s wishes, Mine. Levy, though a stanch upholder of Judaism, allows her ward to become a follower of another faith. According to the provisions of Baron de Hirsch’s will $200,000 has been set apart for the maintenance of Luclenne until she reaches her majority. Half of the income of this will go to her guardian or “gouvernante,” who will not be called upon to render any account of tbe same.