The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1893-12-01
Princess Colonna Tires Of Her Brutal
Husband.
STORY OF AN UNHAPPY ALLIANCE
Has the sympathy of Everybody-woman
of Rare Cracs-The Prince "a spend
thrif,-Boasted lie Would Take AmerA
lea 4 Independence Out of His Wife.

NEW YORK, Dec. 1.-The ennounce-
ment by cable that the Princess Colonna,
daughter of Mrs. John w. Mackay and
stepdaughter of Mr. Mackay. is seeking a
legal separation from her italian husband,
Prince Ferdinand Gallatro Colonna, is
the cause of no little talk among society
people on this side of the water.
The princess, while but little known
here, has the sympathy of everybody, for
she is an American woman Of rare grace
and has been devoted wife 20 her hus-
band, copdoning his faults, forgiving his
shortcomings, insults, abuse and vulglrity
for years, until further endurance has be-
come no longer question of tolerance,
but OF possibility
The fact that the princess has been i'll
treated by her Italian husband almost be-
yond the bounds of belief and that they
have been estranged for some time has
been known In this city to few persons
who have kept the matter quiet. 1t had
been hoped that he would change his
course and that he would redeem himself
That he has not done SO. but
Has Gone From Bad tn Worse,
from neglccting a beautiful woman and
his children to the abcse Of them, has at
last been made public.
When Primes Colonna sought the hand
of Miss Bryant in marriage 10 years ago in
Paris his suit was opposed by Mrs. John
w. Mackay. The prince met Miss Bryant
in Italy. Mrs. Mackay told him, with all
the frankness OF an American woman,
that she did not care TO have her daughter
enter into a matrimonial alliance with
IL. ~. s,th Il ic
naught. Then, too, she warned him that
Miss Bryant was not the daughter OF John
w. Mackay, the millionaire She was his
stepdaughter and not an heir to the bo-
nanza king.
The prince pleaded for her hand. Money
was not his object. lie had plenty. His
was the love OF man for woman. These
were his pleasinGs. and Mis-. Mackay gave
a reluctant consent. The marriage OF the
prince TO the young American woman is
we'll re membcred. II took place in Paris
in 1888 and Mgr. Di.Rindr, Papal nuncio to
France. performed the religious ceremony
which made them man and wife
After the ceremony the prince took his
fair American bride TO Naples, where they
decided to live OF the first few months
OF their married life little is known. He
was net model husband at any time but
he did not at once show bis true natnre,
and it was not until fully six months after
their marriage that he appeared in his
true colors as spendthriit, a gambler and
q heartless man with ha bits that were un-
congenial, to cay the least, and
A Decided Prediction For n Fast Life.
The princess was allowed by her mother
an income Of $4,000 a year. This the
prince from time to time demanded. 1t
was insufficient to pay his gambling debts,
and he aid more; he took from her her
wedding presents, her jewels and forced
her TO appeal to her mother in his behalf
for money. To cover the princes disgrace
John w. Maokay Is said TO have advanced
him 1 ,0oo, 600 francs and over in addition to
what Colonna had alrc,dy squandered.
Years went by. four children were born
to the prince and the princess Their COM
ing made no difference in his shameless
conduct He grew worse until in October
Inst, when all hope of n change had de-
parted, the princess, after consulting with
Mr.. Macksy ami her mother, decided that
loyalty to such man as the prince and
encouraging further abuse and greater ex-
travagance were impossible. Mr.. John
w. Mackay wrote to the princess: II am
glad you have taken this step. People will
talk, OF course. but you do not live to
please other people. and need not care
what any one says as long as you are hap
by and free"
Then the princess sought final separa-
ton from the prince. His boast. II will
take your American independence out of
you,"
Was His Last Bullying Act.
Since the suit for the separation the
princess has been living with her mother
in adjoining apartments Mt the Hotel
Brighton, Paris. They have not mingled
in society save in their most intimate cir
Gle of friends
Mr.. John w. Mackay did not care TO dis
cuss the troubles OF his wfe's daughter
when called upon by a reporter. He ap
parently prefers to remain quiet in regard
to a matter over which he is justly indig-
iant There were Others who are ac-
auainted with Mrs Mackay and her
laughter on whom the necessity TO re-
main quiet is not so imperative and they
Expressed their views without reserve.
Mrs. Paran Stevens, who has long known
Mrs. Mnckay, the Princess Colonna and
the prince, voiced the opinion Of all when
she said II have .known the princess for
years. She is good, true woman. lovely
aud bright She has had TO bear much
from her husband. He was vulgar,a spend
thrift aud made her life miserable. Ii has
been a marvel TO her friends how she has
stood the ordeal through which she pass ed
so unflnchinqly until further tolerance
was beyond her power All her friends
sympathize with the princess, and know
hat she will have no difficulty in securing
from the courts her freedom from the nun
,he had the misfortune 10 wed
The princess Is also suing for the custody
" her three children. Andrea, Blanca aud
Marco, aged b, o and years.