The times., 1898-07-31
A LoW-BoRN PRINCE.
Enterprise of an Italian servant
Who Bought n Title.


The Prince of Caroyigno is the name OF
a man who has been five times rejected
by the Italian Chamber or Deputies The
New York Sun says his title is genuine
one, and the Prince has a legal right to
it, though there Is nothing princely in his
birth or his career, which he has recent
ly made public in a pamphlet. He is thir-
ty-one years of age. a native of Trieste.
where his parents kept a porter's lodge.
and his name is Camille Ventura. He
was trained for a domestic servant and
served several Austrian and Italian no.
BILE families until he became valet to
Count Kufstein, whose name appears as
a medatised prince in the Almanach de
Gotha The Counts wife, by Princess
Odescalchi, belonging tv the finest Ro-
man ariStocracy, with her name, too, IN
the Almanach de Gotha. fell in love with
the valet, who was much younger than
herself. and turned over 10 him, while
still blinded by her passion, 100000 lire
$500. .00O) of her private fortune. When
she came TO her senses she called in the
Odescalchi family TO help her get back
her money. There was a sensational law
suit. which the family lost, and the
Princess is now confined under guard IN
one of the Odescalchi estates in the Abb
ruzzi.
With his late mistresS's money safe in
his possession young Ventura determined
to enjoy himself. He made UP his mind
that he would like TO De prince, and
soon found an old and extremely poor
Neapolitan noble. the Prince of Carovig-
no, who agreed TO adopt him as his son
in return for 80 900 lire CSS,O0D down, and
a pension of 200 lire $40 month. The
Neapolitan nobility was indignant, and
demonstrated with the old Prince, but he
stuck 10 his bargain. saying ne was
/ starving. and at seventy years of age
could have no work bgt that of street
sweeper, for none of his class was likely
to help him The adoption entitled Ven
tura to the rank of prince Immediately,
| though in Italy rank no longer gives any
| privileges
The new Prince then determined to en-
! ter Parliament. He presented himself as
a Socialist candidate 10 the electors OF
! Pietrasanta. on the Tuscany coast, ana
| threw money about lavishly. He was
| elected. but the Chamber of Deputies
| would not admit him, alleging that he
| was under the legal age for a represen-
tative thirty years. He was returned q
second time. and again rejected for the
! same reason. AT the third election he
] had attained the statutory age, but tbs
/ chamber refused to accept him on the
| ground that. being born in Trieste, he
| was not an Italian. Naturalization pa
! pers were prepared for him, while
| Pietrasanta elected him for the fourth
| time. but the Odescaichi family exerted
| its influence to prevent their issuing, and
for the fourth time he was rejected. Ar
| attempt 10 prove that he had bribed al
| the election failed. and the reason giyer
| was again that he was no Italian. ar
unpleasant argument for politicians tc
employ who make capital of the cry ot
italia irredenta." After the fifth cleo
ton the government was able TO prove
bribery. and the Prince of Carovigno was
condemned to a fortnight's imprfson-
rnent and five years loss Of electoral
rights. on which ground the Chambe,
turned him out for the fifth time.
In spite of this he proposes to keep ur
his candidacy. and counts on his Petra
santa electors backing him up until he
succeeds. as they are likely to if his
money holds out.