The Houston daily post. [volume] (Houston, Tex.) 1886-1903, 1899-06-04
ROYAL FAMILIES IN WANT.

families One sees so much OF Il IN Italy
that the mere exterior OF paiace calls M
visions OF decayed grandeur and suffering
pride. and almost the FIRST question asked
when noble family is mentioned e. Have
they any money! In four cascs out OF every
hVe the answer is In the negative
The large majority OF them are lend noor.
having invested their money ir the great
building association Of the '7os which fol-
loved the event NJ Rome becoming the capi.
tai Of the government Tremendous apart
ment houses. hotels ard public buildings OF
one sort and another were IN process OF
construction when the enterprise collapsed
through bad management and sudden lack of
funds,
Others are the victims OF the borrdless am
bitton and extravagsnce Of their ancestors, I
who have bequeathed to them enormous pal. !
aces and villas without means for their main /
tenance The family residence Of the Italian /
nobility were built on scale in accord with (
the Roman empire, or the splendor OF middle I
sge eccesiasticlsm. than with tho modest civ
ilization Of modern Rome. The Dorla Palace. (
for instance. IS almost two-thirds the size Of
st. Peters and the Coliseum could stand
within its ground plan. 1t used to be said
roof. outside Of the private apartments and
the huge galleries.
! 1t Is not to be wondered al then that the
heirs are obliged to let four ifths Of their
family mansions. Aside from the fact that
they need the rent money, 1t is quite i'm
possible for them to occupy more than one
fifth Of the rooms at time.
ut.
dowry, in some cases. are all that an Italian
noble has to live on; for what money may
come in from the estate must 20 for taxes.
OF course there are few families. such as
the Borghese. the Massimo and the Branacci.
whose fortunes have either not suffered vi
cssitudes, or have been mended by American
marriages. but here IS nauEht TO do with
them.
1t Is no exaggeration to say that the large
majority live on credit, There is law in
Italy which allows that creditors may be kept
waiting twenty wears. after that time the
personal property OF the debtor may be
seized Some families have already suffered
the humiliation of being sold out" and are
: now living from hand to mouth, but in other
cases the nobility Of the name owes the credt-
tors, and indulgence is extended indefinitely.
But they must endure the insolence OF trades
men which the situation incurs.
I Only the other day an American woman
i witnessed m example of 1t. This time it was
d the impertnence of a dressmaker An aris-
C tocratc looking woman was complaining be-
y cause her gown was not finished You al
Y ways nut us Italians off for the English and
c Americans" she saio.
50 Countess" replied the iressmaker "hoW
T 40 you suppose | could live without my for
f eigE customers? | must have the American
Il and English money in ordar to shoulder the
e Italians bills
5 'How dare YOU reply to her IN that man
= ner?" said the American woman after thu
= Italian had gone out without attempting Il
S resent the speech.
. zone can sfrord to be impertinent to
1t person who owes 1000 francs replied tn
e dressmaker. Then sho went or to reIat
= tales of the pitltul existence dragged out b
/. many OF the nobility
: do YOU moan to say" exclaimed the Amer
.. iran customer. that some Of them reall
Ia live off the pantry shelf?
"Why, madame, In many cases NOUS
= rant live off their pantry shelves
n And II is actually so. One hears patheti
Ii .,oriss or every side. Last week ooun
20 ,r,iied for the position Of porter at con
Is ven, here in Rome and was found to haV
Is heo, two whole days without food outsld
+ tre porta del Popolo. on the road that lead
D. % the Artist Vnegas' Moorish villa ther
DO s,ts an old hegrar differing In nowise tro'
TO 4bs hundreds whose wretched presence u
Of tracts from the tourists pleasure save Uni
es bis tace has notable refinement OF feature
in This moor human bears the title OF eou'
IN "a &c the only survivor Of a once Tespectao
be ana noble family
of ~ ,. .
~ Arotber case where the actual needs a
- ,,n,ost as urgent, but the evidenc' careful
ys gnucealtd. is that Of young count reeeiN
q, ,bo hest circles whose friends suppiy III
with all his little luxurios' sueA as gov
.es calling cards, etc. and oiteA iesl ooils
- invite him to dine. Not that he ever '7
~ ~ hints in any way that he is huns
IN - .be contrary, his pride woulc olu u
~ s,a,ve 6rst-but that his palli1 coohtsu'n
"a - hollow cheeks proclaim uhmislaAat
rIy vi. srrofiugs. He is an ACCOMPLISHED GYM
80 a. and occasionally earns few ooilalS
so ,rcrslat,nr articles into French ard EnEn
IL sor ,he maEazines, But this comes 'h'
0ar ,r,srd and is kept very quiet lest tns
ION ,,ace Of his earring an honest penny euo'
err - known. Besides he SAYS pu
nor .rsu,,ly. what would be the use OF my wo VOL
or 80 The family debts are SO tremenuO
$ a ,hst Il would be quite impossible LOT on' IL
md ~ r,are any Impression on them
OF Americans have little patience OF eour
lan IA, ,l't me aversion the European noble sh0
or ,oyard earning his own living but they III
rosI,ze how few doors are open to him II
= is business way. or how quickly he wouia
han casto should he enter any of them
al ~
mic II ia no rare occurrence in society to m
emit r,tn faded splendor in the person OF
lde, ,orr,ess ar marchesa often the COSTUME
cci' ,eIvet gown made in the fashion Of .
risk sacsde. whose shabbness is but poor
lent sa,ed nv priceless old lace and family Jew
uch ia forlorn combination Of costly
e to rusty silk gown. The carriage and hor
10 80 re,ained until the last moment for
S as .oranee sake when my lady may really n
Q OF 'o,,os for herself. One well known fan
the 80 ives nv toadying to rich and amb.ti
,,criraps. Remunerauye returns are m
the ~ Americans for the social favors proau
sion w. the acquaintance aud. occasionally
ould w, ailoWed TO purchase valuable pain
edg- or an old family jewel
all when it comes to the point as 1t has
nent - 80 an entertainment being given