The Ketchum keystone. [volume] (Ketchum, Idaho) 1885-1899, 1895-09-28
Prince Coloana i Bought e.

St10OO Colo004 - 0ONX H -.
A dispatch from Naples states that the
Princess Colonna has cot possession Of
her children BY agreeing to pay IN AZ
nuitv of $4,000 10 her husband. Such
traosaotioes, have not been Wholly nm
known in this country, though they are
rare. But Colonna i to the manner born.
He comes of q race which has always
realized the value Of ducats.
For many generations the Colonnas
were soldiers of fortune who fought In
the wars for the side which paid them
best. They gathered round them bands
of free hooters, who fought under their
orders. The custom was that after bat
tie the mercenary leaders were granted
leave to raid the country round the bat
tlefield, and carry off what they pleased
thus they laid in stock of fat beeves,
sheep, arms and supplies which they car
ried of to their castles, and immured
there, in company with the comedy young
girls who formed part of the booty. In
those days we'll built castle, fairly gar
rlsoned, and adequately provisioned, was
practically impregnable; the Colonnas
had several such, scattered over Italy;
and thus, after several generations OF
free bootlng they became very powerful
family indeed. and dealt as from equal to
equal, with Popes, Dukes and potentates.
But they never got over their felonioua
instincts nor their savage ways. One OF
them caught party of Orsinis, with
which clan he had feud, and massacred
them all in the courtyard of his castle by
way of dessert to an early dinner. It is
fearful to contemplate what might have
been the fate of Mr.. Mackay and bis
daughte if they had allied themselves to
the Colonns family few centuries ago.
AS matters stand there is much to be
thankful for. The Colonna children will
now be brought up by an American lady,
and will probably be taught the sixth
commandment. It will probably be ex-
planned to them that the indulgence OF
the predatory instincts of the fifteenth
and sixteenth centuries has now fallen
into disuse, and thus they may grow up
like other peoples children. On the
other hand, Colonna will get an income
of $1,000 mouth, which will enable him
to buy the candy and cigarettes which
he loves, and occasionally to pay visit
to his favorite gambling table. His ac-
cessicn of wealth will be good news to
the tailors and bootmakers of Naples.
They will all get a payment on acccout
of long standing bills. Indeed, with
$4,000 year the Prince will become
one OF the rich men of Italy. In that
country little money goes long way
Italians have plenty of land and magnif-
cent work of art and nature, but they
generally rely on foreign visitors for spot
cash. If Americans were forbidden to
visit sunny Italy few members of the
middle class would have money enough
| to 90 to market with. There is noble
who boasts that he can tide from Flor
ence to Rome without going off his own
land, but when be visits the club he has
to beg pocket money from his wife. who
is English and has her own in come.
That Colonna made q good bargain
with Mrs. Mackay goes without saying.
No one else would have given him any
such sum for his children, even if he had
thrown his own person into the bargain.
Nor can any scheme be imagined by
which he could have earned SO much
money. There are in the north Of Italy
intelligent, eDterprising citizens who
make money aud lead the lives of mer-
chant princes; but at Naples, where
Colonna lives, a young man who has 5000
year clear is regarded as a catch by the
girls, though it can seldom be expected
that with such aff1uence be will work
much. The Prince will cut fine figure
in society and will be welcome at clubs
though, perhaps, he should beware when
he plays ecarte of the popular habit Of
carrying four kings in his hat.-San Fran
cisco Bulletin.
Tha Tan Cnu,,u an DIN ante