The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1890-01-18
NOBLE TITLES FOR CASH.
Aristocrats Willing to Trade
with Eeiresses.
From the NeS YORK. World.

newspapers Of Germany, Austria, Holland,
Hungary, Belgium, and other European
countries contained advertisements last
month to "Gentlemen of position, noble
men, cavaliers, and officers of high stand
ing offering to supply California heiresses
worth so, co., 900. The advertisement was
signed 'The international Bureau for
Private Transactions of San Francisco"
One hundred and twenty-seven letters ad-
dressed to the bureau were taken from the
san Francisco postofiice last week by a man
who gave the name of Ludwig Won Ro-
MAYER. The postoffice clerks asked SO
many questions that the man became
alarmed and did not return for more letters.
He was traced to San Jose, where he has
been found and interviewed. His name is
Romayer, but he has acquired fame and
misery under the alias Of Ludwig Won
Romayer, head of the International Bureau
for Private Transactions. Romayer is a
small, sharp-eyed blonde, with a bristling
mustache, fiorid complexion and pompadour
hair. He appears to be 80 years of age,
dresses well and speaks rapidly, with
strong German accent.
Mr.. Romayer assured the reporter that
his scheme Of swapping dukes for ducats
was all a joke, but he feelingly declared
that the funny aspect of the joke did not
appear with the hilarious distinctness origi-
nally expected.
Not long ago." said Romayer, "when
the papers we're full of the Hatzfeldt-Hunt-
ington affair, | was visiting at the house of
some friends, prominent society ladies of
San Francisco. In a spirit of fun one of
the ladies proposed we should get up some
scheme to furnish ourselves with a little
amusement. There we're seven in the
party, two married ladies and four single.
1.-THE result of the discussion was that we
agreed to share the expense of advertising
in the papers of Austria and Germany for
manageable officers, mill airy or civil, VINO
might care to wed California heiresses. We
rightfully believed that by stating that the
women here were worth up to $50, 900 900 it
would bring out applications from men of
high standing in nobility. We proposed
then, when we should hear from the parties,
to forward them photographs of American
actresses who are recognized for their
beauty. If we received any photographs in
return, we proposed to have a good laugh
over the whole thing, and perhaps would
eventually have given correspondence and
pictures over to one of the daily papers,"
"What are the names of the ladies who
were with you in the schemep asked the
reporter.
mot for $4,000 would 1 divulge their
Names" replied Romayer. "Im in trouble
now, and l propose to shoulder all the re-
sponsbility and protect them; but again, I
swear that we never, as it has been implied,
tried to make money out of this affair.
When | received the first batch Of letters
from Europe, about two weeks ago, went
to the house of one of the ladies that we
might enjoy the circus She sent messages
for the other ladies, who all came around
that evening, but, womau-like, they each
brought from one to half dozen friends.
It's no wonder the thing leaked out.
We opened the letters-nearly one
hundred Of them-from all parts of
Europe. [ must tell you that my
friend there, to whom l sent 81 AZ for adj
vertising purposes, did his work well. There
were three letters from princes and sixteen
from dukes. BarOns and marquises we're
innunerable, and so we're those from physi-
clans and army officers. There were only
three photographs, one from broken-down
marquis, who claimed to be an estate-owner,
but who had lost considerable money on
English race tracks. Here is his picture"
and Mr.. Romayer handed over photograph
of a handsome, dark-complexioned man
with a magnificent mustache and pointed
beard. Tue joker also produced q letter
written by the first applicant for an heiress,
but he carefully persisted in not letting it
go out of his hands and in not letting the
reporter see the signature. A passage or
two, however, were read, as they remained
anu were WIIGU6u pOOT l1uSlISu.
THE races in England have depleted my
estate, and must have necessity for very
rich woman" the ma quis asserted.
Another photograph was that of physi-
clan. The accompanying letter in German,
translated by Mr.. Romayer, assured the
reader that be could not possibly get along
with an American wife unless she had an
income of $4,000 annually.
Hes big physician, well known in Ber-
har him wall y ya coiH
The third photograph was that Of youth
full but bright-looking man."
He's p prince MIR. Romayer said, and,
translating again from a German letter
with the photograph, it was learned that
his highness would be satisfied with some
American woman with $3.50, 900. He would
take less, however if she was pretty.
"How many letters have you got9" asked
the reporter, seeing good-sized bundle on
the table. Romayer smiled, and opening
the package showed some eighty or ninety
envelopes, all addressed in different hand
writings to the International Bureau Tor
Private Transactions. They were of many
and queer shapes, u score of them being
sealed with red wax, on which was stamped
some coat-of-arms. An endeavor was made
to get some of these letters, or at least some
of the more prominent coat-of-arms, but the
mere suggestion blanched MIR. Romayer's
cheeks.
LAS it is" said he, ''I'll not be able to set
my foot ia Germany for years. If give
you letters for publication, Pm sure a dozen
noblenen would commit suicide from their
dis race, and another dozen would pack up
and get right out here to seek personal re-
venge on me. That would be just as bad.
In the old country it is not like it is here
with nobility. There all the counts do not
have the same style of crowns, and each
house can be recognized by its special kind.
1t is the same with the different princes and
other titled gentry | feel that have done
these people an injustice in causing them to
write to me here on this business, and L
don't want to harm them any more if can
help it. Besides, my relatives are in Ger
many now, and don't want this little fun,
that very innocently got into, to hurt
them.n
Romayer then translated several moro
letters, great majority of which were
written in German. One was from gentle
man born in 1888. who assured the bureau
that he was vigorous and in good health. He
did not want to marry young girl, nor
did he care to become the protector Of a
widow.
"Send me, !" he wrote, "a woman So years
OF age, but sine must have plenty of money:
know she will like me, because 1 am OF
even temperament, and having been In the
army have fine physique"
A member of the German court did not
state the figure he believed his title OF prince
should bring. His specifications were; II
~ - rn HVnn