Page:Once a Week, Series 1, Volume II Dec 1859 to June 1860.pdf/318

31, 1860.] this lady ascended into the pen, and took her place, after delivering herself of a stately scoop to the Judges and the Court, like a Grande Dame of the reign of Louis XIV. She did not give their Lordships any trouble about taking her seat—not she! When her attention was called to the various acts of cruelty, both of speech and act, with which Mr. Barber was charged on account of Mrs. Barber’s alleged extravagance in dress, she clasped her hands in an emphatic way, and exclaimed, “Ah! ''Mon Dieu! c'est infâme—le barbare!” She then explained to the Court that the usual Parisian calculation for a lady’s dress varied proportionately with the family income, and that the amount of the dot'' brought by the wife was invariably taken largely into account. Upon an income of 25,000 francs she would positively affirm—assuming two children—that a lady was economical who only expended 10,000 francs on dress. Mrs. Barber, in her opinion, was entitled to expend, at the least, 400l. per annum on this object. The sum of 200l. per annum was a misère—it was mesquin—déplorable! Was 25l. too much for that evening-robe of white satin? Assuredly not! The Court must take into account that there were bouillonnés of the same under the skirt, which was necessarily of tulle, which was again adorned with bouillonnés and a frill of silver lace. She saw no mention of the berthe, which was de rigueur. And then their Lordships would readily see that there must be a bow to match at the front of the body. For a terry-velvet bonnet, trimmed across the front with a scarf of the same, five guineas were a bagatelle. No! there would be no blonde inside. ''fi donc! quel genre! The outer dress—petticoats, sleeves, collars, cuffs, gloves apart—she could not set a lady’s little corner comforts down at less than 60l''. per annum. In answer to Dr. Lobb, in cross-examination, she intimated to him, that she had been speaking hitherto of ladies,—but she was quite prepared to admit that the wife of a small lawyer—a petit avocat like him (Dr. L.)—might dress herself for 40l. per annum. But then she must be aux expédiens, and devote her whole attention to turning, dyeing, and making shift. Would Dr. Lobb like to ask her any more questions? or any other gentleman? No? Then, ''Ma foi! Bonjour!''

Ann Iron, Mrs. Barber’s maid, was next called, and confirmed—nay, more than confirmed—her mistress’s statements in all particulars. This witness had a leading idea, which no efforts of Dr. Lobb in cross-examination could shake, that Mr. Barber was always thumping and swearing at the “wife of his boozum.” It did not clearly appear what additional aggravation this qualification conveyed to her mind, but so it was. What was most important was, that she fully confirmed Mrs. Barber’s statements as to the extent of the injury inflicted on her, “the wife of his boozum,” by Mr. B. at Cheltenham. She was not actually present when that ferocious man set fire to the nose of the “wife of his boozum” at Folkestone, but she saw the poor scorched face, and she knew that immediately afterwards Mrs. Barber had exclaimed: “Oh! Augustus, Augustus, how could you go for to do it!” She considered Mr. Barber a most violent and dangerous man, and her poor mistress something “better than the shiny angels.”

The Court now rose, with the full understanding that the Respondent’s case would be brought to a termination in another, and a short sitting. Mr. Lamb conducted Mrs. Barber out of Court with the air of a General who has just won a general action. Mrs. Barber’s manner was a little subdued—her face was flushed—but she was lovely as ever. What had not that poor soul endured!

early history of the Château of Ehrenhausen, like that of many others, is lost in antiquity. In 1400, however, we find that the Countess Tugga repaired the outer defences of the castle; at a later period it came into the possession of the princely family of Eggenberg, which played a conspicuous part in the glories of their country, two of the last princes, one Wolfgang, a general, and the other Rupricht, Ban of Croatia, and an admiral, are buried in a beautiful mausoleum on the west-side of the castle-hill, as shown in the sketch. The admiral was buried there in 1662. The interior of this building forms an interesting little chapel, in the Italian style, of the 17th century; on each side of the altar on the walls of the chapel are two very good full-length portraits of the above named princes in the costume of their several periods. The entrance to the mausoleum is guarded by two colossal figures in armour, each cut out of a single block of stone eighteen feet in height, raised upon pedestals, upon which are sculptured bas reliefs in white marble, representing the principal actions—by land and sea—of the two princes.

When the family of Eggenberg became extinct, Ehrenhausen passed into the family of Leslie, by a marriage of a co-heiress of the last prince with Anton, Count Leslie. The family of Leslie, which had become very powerful and illustrious in Austria, is descended from the noble family of Leslie—Barons of Balquhain, in Scotland—and had risen by their military talents, and other services, to the highest ranks of command in the Austrian service, and were created counts of the empire. By a similar marriage, as that we have recorded above, Ehrenhausen was transferred by dot to the family of Attems, counts of the empire, one of whom, Count Francis Constant Attems, married Marie-Anne Rosalia, daughter of Charles Cajetan, Count Leslie. The family of Attems is descended from, and connected with, some of the first princely houses, and noble families in the empire—namely, Eggenberg, Dittrichstein, Liechtenstein, Stabenberg and Trautmansdorf; and, through the Leslies, with a great number of the first nobility in Scotland, some of whom are descended by marriage from the royal family of Stuart. Trees of these descents drawn out for the Counts Leslie by the Lyon Office, in Scotland, are now in the possession of Count William Attems of Spielfeld, the head of this branch of the family of Attems.

The château itself is very interesting: it is