The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1903-09-29
FORMER WAITER
NOW RICH COUNT
Was Working In Hotel When
News Of Fortune Game.
LIKES TO Be CALLED PLAIN Mr..
RomaIo MalnardI Fsrsh Starts Tor Ancss-
hal Estates 10 Italy With Brooklyn
Girl Bride.
LIKES TO Be CALLED PLAIN Mr..

New York. Sept. 2s.-In his shirt
sleeves ard coilarless, Count Romolo
Mainardi Ferrer1. who has until recently
been a hotel waiter. was packing his
trunk Sunday preparing TO sail with his
bride Tuesday to come into possession OF
his estate OF 1900 900 In Italy.
With profuse apologies for being In such
attire. the count greeted reporter with
courtly grace. and while displaying dis
sa satisfaction at the publicity which has at
tended his strange turn OF fortune and
his Interesting romance with the BROOK
lyn shopgiri who 10 now his wife ana
real counties they say, was willing 10
tell the story OF his life.
Stranger things have happened he
said. but I suppose now that so much
has been printed about my humble SELF
there are those who are asking. can IL be
truey rs he really a count, and has he
been content to serve as walter all
these years. suppose in this light OF
the case II may be we'll for me TO go into
the story frankly and tell how ! came TO
leave italy. how I have been tossed about
between hard times and good times like a
cork upon the sea, and how. at last, l
have come into possession OF my rightfui
estate as the only heir-at-law to the
family OF Ferreri. want 10 say. however.
that | do not seek such publicity.
II was quite apparent that the Count
was sincere I'm this last statement. Every
word, gesture and manner about the little
man bespeaks modesty and refinement
His large. frank gray eyes. always fixed
squarely In the face Of the one he Is ad-
dressing. vouch for candor and sincerity.
DOESN'T CARE FOR HIS TITLE.
THE newspapers have given me noto-
ID hn AA
like that. much prefer TO be called plain
Mr. Romolo Ferreri.' am democratic TO
the core. oii+ +F." ".n ~
az an, a count, but waive all claim TO
he called Count I like to be plain citi-
zen better"
How did you come to inherit the es-
tate that you say is worth N'soo.coo?" was
asked
MY mother. Donna Marietta Mainardi
Ferreri, died recently. and was the only
heir.
"I left home when was sixteen years
old why did L? Well. IL was a love af-
fair. 1t was my first and only love affair.
until met Miss Emma Moeckel the
young lady who Is now my wife. I had n
Misunderstanding with my mother at the
time. too. and being OF an independent
turn OF mind and wanting to leave on ac-
count OF my unhappy romance. / just ran
away. Since then have lived in other
parts OF Italy, In Switzerland. in France.
in Egypt and In England. but have spent
most OF the time in the United States.
IT landed in this country without a
penny began as n waiter here and have
struck 10 the trade ever since. worked in
the Auditorium at Chicago. also the
Stratford, the Grand Central and the
Sherman hotel. 1t was at the Sherman
house that worked my way up TO be
head waiter r. lh~r--N a~1
ROMANTIC MEETING.
Finally the change came was work
ing as n plain waiter at the Hotel STRAIT
ford. Chicago. when I heard of my
mothers death. Then took of my apron
and jacket. handed in my badge to the
head waiter, and went to Italy. There
succeeded In establishing my identity and
came into possession OF great part OF the
estate which now hold The rest OF II
will come after some contest with the gov
eminent
"As TO the romance which has culmina-
ted In my taking wife back to Italy
with me. l want TO deny that met Miss
Moeckel by advertising In the personal
columns OF any newspaper. Miss Moeckel
was a young woman living with her par
ents at No. % st. Marks place, Brooklyn
here where we are now staying
she earned living by working In one
OF the Brooklyn department stores. She
read in the newspapers last June OF my
having come into possession OF the fam
ily estate. She saw In my name some
thing very similar TO that OF a young for
eigner she had met once travelling on the
West Shore railroad between New York
and Buffalo. and wrote to me congratu-
lating me. thinking was the same man
she had met. 7 saw her mistake and
wrote her. In this way began a corre-
spondence which has resulted In our sud
den marriage"