The morning call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1878-1895, 1893-11-29
THE COLONNA MISFIT.

The separation of the Princess Colonna
from her husband will surprise no one
who has been au fait with current social
history. Years ago it was an open secret
that the marriage was a failure, and. that
sweet Eva Bryant had become the wife of
a worthless Italian scamp, who happened
to bear an ancient title. 1t was the opinion
Of Mr.. and Mrs. Mackay that the Princess
should bear with her husband. She had
married him against their wishes and in
defiance of their advice. They thought
she should. at least for a time, lie on the
bed she had made for herself But her
husbands brutality became more and
more un bearable; and now. following the
example of fashionable Philadelphia
girl who married a German Baron three or
four years ago, the Princess has deserted
the conjugal domicil and taken her three
children to the shelter of her mothers
roof. A divorce will probably follow. The
Prince may. if he chooses, sue for resti-
tuition of conjugal rights instead Of sub
hitting to separation, but his hands are
probably not clean enough 10 be shown in
court The chances are the unhappy
union will end, and that John Mackay
will make his Italian son-in-law small
allowance for the sake of peace and quiet
ness.
A few days ago The CALL published a
list Of American girls who have married
titled Europeans. lis length was surpris-
ing. 1t almost justified the saying of the
cynic who observed that any American
girl with money and some show of breed
ing could marry an English Lord or a
Erapab Counf hop
she could find a suitable mate at home
Europe is full Of young men of title who
are on the lookout for heiresses. Some of
them are not exactly impecunious. They
have just income enough to wish for more
A young Lord who has $4,000 year can
not be said 10 be pauper. yet he cannot
marry on that income and keep up his sta
lion In society. To such men an American
with half a million well invested is an
ideal treasure. And quite often the young
nobleman is not personally Objectionable.
He is frequently good looking we'll bred,
well educated and manly.
The trouble comes in cases where the
young man has acquired a taste for the
designations of the day. Young Ameri-
cans generally have some occupation
which keeps them for at least half the
time out of mischief. Lordlings and
sprouting marQuises have no calling.
Their graveSt occupations are hunting,
horseracng. card-playing, billiards and
golf. Their own income has not enabled
them to engage largely in these pursuits
When they get a fortune with their wife
they can figure as plungers. They do so
the more willingly because the European
hushaO6 md thu mil a1r-
become thoroughly one in spirit. The
Englishman's relations neglect no oppor-
tunity of reminding him that he has thrown
himself away on fair barbarian. The
fact that be has made a masalliance is ever
present to his mind, and he takes ii in
hard part that the TRANSATLANTIC plebeian
whom he has raised to the honor of his
couch should object 10 bis spending his
evenings at the gambling table OIL else
where. A prudent girl will mate with her
own kind-with one whose philosophy of
life is hers, and who will take the same
view Of duties, responsibilities and matri-
monial Obligations that she does.
So far as rank was concerned no Ameri-
can girl ever made more brilliant match
than Eva Bryant The Colonnas were
mighty Princes when the Earls of Eng
land went barefoot and slept on rushes.
They traced their descent not only to the
middle ages. but to the days of ancient
Rome. They have furnished Italy with
soldiers, statesmen. Popes. Cardinals and
poets. From the days of Chsrlem 4gne
there has never been period when some
Colonna was not famous and puissant.
The young Colonna who figures in this
case was younger brother of the Stigliano
branch; a pleasant, well-behaved. finely
hammered lad. He was an utter pauper.
To enable him to live with his wife in the
Colonna castle near Naples. John Mackay
gave him, not $4,000 year as the papers
say, but $1,000 a month, which is great
deal of money in Italy. On this he man.
aged so well that the parents of his wife
had to pay million francs to keep him
out Of jail.