, 1889-01-31
AN AMERICAN COU NrEss.

How DR.. Hammond's Daughter Came to
Join the Nobility.
The presence Of the Countess LAMA In
Washington, now hero with her three
young children on visit to her fathar,
the eminent physician, DR.. William A.
Hammond, revives the romantic story OF
her marriage some years ago. Count
Lama left Italy and came to this country
to pursne his career ~ o mining engineer.
himself one fine morning completely
stranded-a stranger in strange land,
without friends or even acquaint'
ances TO whom he could turn
l. the direst emergency Of his
life. Completely pennies, IL chanced
that at this juncture the opportunity Of.
fered OF obtaining . place ~ waiter NJ
Delmonico'S. AZ . drowning man Rrasps
at, . straw, the unfortunsts foreigner
gaiast starvAtioa. When he had been
there some little time . splendid dinner
| party was given BY Mrs. Howard Crosby.
wife Of the eminest divine, of New York,
That the young waiter detained for their
service was . msn Of no ordinary calibre,
and was moreover mas OF refinement,
was at once apparent TO Mrs. Crosby, who
from that time took an active interest In
the young man's welfare. and finally OBJ.
tanned tor him subordinate position In
mercantilo house down town. Here the
mans ability and true worth manifested
itself, and steadily year BY year he rose
from ono position OF trust to another,
until at last he became partner.
In all this time Count LAMA, who
during the period Of poverty and obscurity
had dropped his title and figured as plain
Mr., had eschewed society and kept him
self proudly aleof. When at last the time
arrived that he could 90 into society in his
proper character, the count began to 70
houses in New York. Here as wealthy
bachelor, one Vt the leading partners in Q
rich and influential firm, it may readily be
credited that the count albeit he was still
incognito, was the recipient of much fat
tering attention on the part Of society in
general, and the fair sex In particular.
But the count had met and admired DR..
Hsmmond's handsome daughter, and had
eyes for NO one else. The admiration was
mctual. and before any unnecessary lapse
Of time, after the two had come TO an un.
derstandinR, Count Lanza approached
DR.. Hammond and in due form request.
ed the hand Of HE daughter in marriage.
His request was At first refused by
DR.. Hammond, who in some way had got
ten wind Of the fact that his would-be
son.in.law had ct one time frequentsd
Delmonico's . in the humble capacity Of o
waiter. This fact in spite OF explanations.
initiated against him, until finally, after
. long interview, the count drew himself
up proudly, saying: ''ln my country 1t
would be considered q condensation for
one of my family to seek one of your
family in marriage" This appears to
have had the desired effect, for very short
ly after that the marriage took place.
Count LAMA and his bride spent the
honeymoon abroad, where, having estab-
lished beyond sll doubt his right to his
title, the Count and Countess LAMA re-
turned to New York, where they have
since resided, and where three lovely chill.
dren have been born to them. Countess
LAMA is quite literary, and has written a
number Of books, the best known of which
| is "Mr. Jenkins's Daughter. w ashing-
ton Letter to Baltimore American.