The Savannah morning news. (Savannah, Ga.) 1900-current, 1903-06-19
AN HEIRESS WANTED.
A Duke willing to Accept $75O,OOO
for His Title
From the New York Press.

IOiH LHe new OIh EItSS.
Is any ambitious American girl will
ling to pay $750,OO for the privilege
of shining at the Imperial Court in
st. Petersburg, and incidentally of
being the wife of a Russian prince?
If so, there is a bona fide, simon
pure, genuine prince, distantly related
to the Car, who will share his title
with her. All he stipulates is that she
pay him outright on the day of the
wedding three quarters of million.
This sum shall belong to "princey"
and the subsequent expenses must be
borne by the wifes father or whom
ever may be buying the royal hus-
band for her. This is a chance of
lifetime.
The man who represents the prince
is M. Melville Walker, a lawyer in
I No. GO Wall street. Mr.. Walkers prin-
cipal business is to withhold the name
of the prospective husband until he
is assured the inquirers mean "busi-
ness He has advertised his prince
for sale as follows:
YOUNG RUSSIAN PRINCE, EX-
cellent chara cter, wishes to marry;
requires $750,00O paid on day of mar
riage, rest of fortune to be settled on
wife absolutely. Postoffice box 546
New York.
After an interchange of letters a
batch of would-be princesses began to
flock to the Wall street Offices A
few male agents of matrimonial
agencies added variety to the scene,
but the petticoated aspirants were in
greater number. One woman who ap-
piled, Mr. Walker says, is well-known
IN New York society," and was yelled
so densely she made application for
the prince without being recognized
Another woman with paltry $4,000
was smiled frigidly from the ROOM
How could a woman with only $40 900
aspire to a Russian prince of excel
lent character" Another of Mr.. Wal
kers callers was young man who
purported to represent the daughter of
western mining king. He said the
young woman lived in Colorado
Springs, but her father would pay only
$z5O'OOO This ended all negotiations
because the prince is most particular
he should not be undervaIued.
However, all the applicants are
treated to glance al the royal photo
graph. The Prince is extremely good
looking, in the thirties and rather
stout. His photograph seems to be a
composite of Wilton Lackaye and Jean
de Reszke. According to the pros
pectus, he speaks French and Russian
fiuently and has a smattering of
English. Particular emphasis is laid
upon his sterling reputation. He
neither drinks, swears nor chews.
Moreover. he abhors gambling and dis
dams the delights of faro and ron
Iette. Once he played policy, but aft
erward voted it ''vile, vulgar and I'M
fair" He never has been married and
is an only SON.
OF course, the Princes title is gem
ulne. Mr.. Walker has in his possess
sion bullying envelope bearing
russian stamp of high denomination
In this package are his credentials.
First there is the birth certificate
or the Prince. This is printed in Rus
sian and not very enlightening to
an American. Then there ere some
interesting documents on parchment
that prove his title of prince to be
quite as secure as that of the Cars.
But most alluring of all is the photo
graph, across which spraWls an auto
graph. Mr.. Walker hands it with alb
solute confidence to the inquirers. This
apparent lack of precaution is explain
ed easily. The writing is not decipher-
able. The word prince" is IegibIe.
but the name is all consonants
According to Mr.. Walker the Prince
is known to Ambassador Mccormick
and is on a friendly footing with
the Car" He does not say whether
or not the Prince calls the Gear
Nick" Here is the way in which he
lauds his wares:
Lawyers in Russia asked me to finJ
wife for the Prince. am here
merely to protect his name, for should
1t ever become known in ST. Peters,
burg that a prince was bartering his
title by advertisement disgrace would
follow. A society girl whose name is
in the papers often and who is worth
81 900, 900 was in here to-day Her
father has three times as much.
couldn't tell even his name to her
You see, it's risky business for the
Prince.
Personally, 1 consider this most
excellent chance for American woman
hood. Why, the Prince is cheap. You
don't realize that, now do you? He
surpaSses the Grand Dukes in rank.
and think how Grand Duke Boris stir
red America last summer. Then, just
think of the prices that have been paid
for some noblemen. The Vanderbilts
planked down $1.500000 for Marlbor-
ough. and he's only a Duke. Really,
now, a Prince takes precedence over a
Duke. Think of Castellane command
ing so much of the Gould millions!
Only a Count tool But for fact,
that Yarmouth deal was the most ex-
pensive proceeding of all. He not only
got a settlement, but the rhaws will
get off cheap if they only drop ST.
900, 900.
Now. here's point that must be
made clear: The Prince does not prom
Use to love his wife No love match?
Why, certainly not. OF course, later
it might prove love match. Who
knows? But the woman must want
the title and he wants the money.
Here's another point: The sum must
be $150,000, not a cent less. He could
have married a German heiress f he
had been willing to cut rates, put he
wouldn't. She offered $500, 900, but he
is a man of determination and one
price. l think he should come to New
port this summer and mix up with
that set, but he is not quite sure he
would be received at once, and, any
way. he favors the formal business
method If people satisfy ne they are
in earnest 1 am authorized to tell his
name. He is a Greek Catholic.
What are his stipulations? Oh, well.
he wants the $4,000. There is only
one sort of woman he will not marry,