The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1899-04-30
A KINGS BEAUTIFUL ENEMY.
NARCHEsA TEODOLI, FORMERLY
MISS CONRAD OF NEW YORK.

bIes, the Price They Pay for Hap
Diness and independence as Well
as Money when They Enter Aris-
tocratic Italian CircIes-MOthers -
in-Law Discipline and Direct the
Young Wife. Rule over Their
sons, Household as Long as They
. Live, and Choose Both Friends and
ODinions for the Women who Mar
~ Into Their Families.
Rome, April 2S.-After the first glamour
of her new surroundings has worn off and
her title has ceased to be novelty the
realization of high life is often disillu-
sionment 10 the American girl who marries
an Italian noble. She seldom considers be-
forehand the dowager mother-in-law who
expects to discipline and direct her, as
mother, of course, and who as long as she
lives is always the head of her sons fami-
~. Then there is the life of rigid etiquette
she must lead, where all natural impulses
are curbed by conventiona.ity, and where
friends are chosen. not in accordance with
The dictates of her heart, but according to
the distinctions Of rank!
So it happens that the life of the titled
American woman is as dull-outwardiy, at
lease-as that of the Italian born and in
so far as an outsider can discover, she has
no more influence in public affairs. OF
course, there are ways and ways Of WELD
ing influence and one hears vaguely Of
Instances where the tact of an American
wife has wrought transformations in an
Italian household, but no examples are
cited.
For Instances, several titled Americans
in Rome recently expressed such interest
in the woman question that they held sew
eral meetings in the house of "a friend to
discuss the matter but when it finally
came 10 the point of allyins themselves
openly with the movement, they all, not d
woman excepted, Withdrew
The Princess Erancacci, the Countessa
Gianotti. the Marchesa Teodoli, the Con-
tessa di Braggi, the Princess Pogia-Su
the Contesso REESE and the Marchesa di
Spiuola are all American women, and sew
eral others of lesser prominence could be
mentioned.
The Princess Brancacci is prominent in
the court circle, and bears the title OF
f'Dame d'Honneur'' to her majesty, Queen
Margherita She was a Miss Field OF
New York, and very beautiful as young
girl In middle life she is still handsome
and has the airs and manner OF a princess
born Her interests do not extend OUTSIDE
OF her family and the court circle. She
is happy in having married her daughter
TO Prince Massmo, who bears one of the
inustrious names of Rome, the family in
habiting the feudal palace for many CEN
turtles and claiming to trace their de-
scendants from the praetor, Fabius Maxi
mus.
INV beautiful enemy is what King
Humbert calls the Marchesa Teodoli be-
cause she champions the cause of the Pope
and makes her hostility to the King par
" evident on every possible occasion. she
was Miss Lily Conrad, and was so beautl-
full as young woman that the peasants
called her Madonna" and used to kneel
before her in the road Her beauty IS
stiH noticeable, although it is somewhat
Impaired nv ul-health and anxiety. For
her married life has not been all roses
1t was a love match, and. neither side
having the money their position and ambi-
ton demanded. the result has been con-
slant straining and scheming to make
ends meet sad case, but not Az unus-
ual one in Roman life. She is the author
of two books: Under Pressure and
Grandchildren" both novels of Roman life,
gracefully written. She aspires to be a
female savante,' but attracts rather be-
cause of her social graces and accomplish
ments Many stories are told of extremes
to which she has gone in exhibit
ing her hatred of the Whtes-the govern
ment party. One day she boosted to the
brvr of 81 10 had
fused to rise in the Queens presence.
Madame he replied, ''ce n'etait pas unc
affaire de politique, c'etait une affairs de
politesse."
The Contessa di Brazil is already well
known in America from her connection
with the Worlds Fair and as one of the
ardent promoters of the universal peace
movement Di Brazil is neither an cd
name nor an important one here in Rome,
but the present Contessa, through her in
terest in public affairs and eloquence on
the platforms of various women's CLUBS
in America has made il, at least, a ia
miliar one. She was a Miss Slocumb of
New Orleans, and brought her husband
both wealth and beauty. At her summer
place. Cividale, near Udine, she has re-
vived the handicraft Of lace-making, a
once beautiful and famous production of
that part of Italy.
But the really noteworthy exception
among the American women in Rome is
the Contessa REESE, who was a Miss
Phelps of New York, and is related to that
entire group of Phelps-Stokes of America
Possessing the breadth of interest and
executive ability of the most progressive
American women. there is about her the
delicate aroma which clings TO the gar
ments of the true aristocracy and lends a
fine distinction to his or her presence.
Cruelty and Unjustly ostraclsed from
the Roman circle in which she belongs.
because she dared TO marry a divorced
man, she has filled her life with wider
and more valuable interests. In these
Count REESE, who is a scholar and man
Of unusal breadth of culture, encourages
and assists her, and their home has he
come the meeting place for people Of ideas
An ethical society was started through
her influence, and for several wears
held its meetings under her roof.
Young Womsn's Christian Asso,
citation organized here but recent
ly finds in her an ardent promoter. sb. e
also much interested in the social rofo-,.
work of Father Blxio. which is sornetbi,a
IN the nature Of a peripatetic social se,tia
meut movement. At present the vor,n,- M,
who are promoting the soup kitchen da'