The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1903-09-06


Henry of Teck, brother Of the present
Princess of Wales; the Earl Of Shaftesbury,
who would have been a suitable match in
point of years, as he is now only "a; Capt
Oswald Ames, said to be the handsomest
as well as the tallest man in the British
Army; Prince Hohenlohe of the German
Chancellor's family, poor, though OF the
most artist cratic German descent; and Craig
Wadsworth of Geneseo, the cotillon leader
All these men were in the army Miss Goelet
met here and in Europe and whom rumor
pronounced most devoted to her.
After period of mourning Miss Goelet
returned to society and several years passed
with only stories Of suitors, devoted ad-
mirers and contemplated engagements,
But there were no engagements. Miss
Goelet remained. to all appearances, as free
from any preference as she ever had been
She was at Newport and Homburg, New
York and London, travelling with her
friends, the Mills twins or visiting at Cleve-
den with Pauline Astor-and there was
no definite announcement Of forthcoming
wedding. These were always tales of the
suitors and there were not always pleasant
| The story of Prince Hugo Won Hohenlohe
was one Of these.
Capt. Ladislss de Porkony, once Military
| Attache of the Aust rian Embassy in London
and Llcus O'Brien. an Irish solicitor in
| London, were in 1889 engaged in the business
| of arranging international marriages be-
tween penniless aristocrats and wealthy
American women. Prince Won Hohenlohe,
according to the stories told by O'Brien,
who drtfted to this country, when the Prince
was also here, promised these enterprising
| partners $4,000 as a commission If they
could secure from Miss Goeet considera-
| ton Of his offer Of marriage. According
to O'Brien, Won Hohenlohes offer was laid
before Mrs. Goelet through two women
| in London society. This letter, which
the agent made public later. reveal the
extent to which the negotiations pro-
| gressed.
BELGRADE SQUARE IS. W.. Jan. IL. 1890.
DEAR STR: 1 saw Mrs. Goelet yesterday
and she begged me to say how fattered she
| felt at the proposal with regard to Prince
! Hohenlohe. but that her daughter was still
very young. and. as she had never seen him.
she must decline the proposal. Should they
meet hereafter, it would be a different matter.
| but without any personal knowledge on
| Miss Goelet is a charming girl in every
| way but Is very English in her feelings and
| views. and dislikes the marriage de con-
venance" system abroad extremely. | do
! not think she will ever marry unless she falls
in love with man. Yours very faithfully.
A few days after indicting this the writer
Of the letter learned that Won Hohenlohe
was so years old and impaired that infor-
| nation to Mrs. Gcslet who at once informed
her that the Prince need not make any
further effort. to press his suit. as he was
beyond the age limit.
Undismayed by this apparently irretriev-
able disadvantage, the Prince. who had
| gone to London from Berlin after the ne
| gotiations began, persisted in his efforts
to get an interview with Mrs Goelet. But
| when he returned to Berlin he forgot to
pay the agents and suit was brought against
| him in England. Part Of the money was
then paid. When further proceedings
were threatened in Berlin a thrifty
maiden aunt Of Won Hohenlohe paid $500
to save the family reputation.
! Prince Won Hohenlohe denied categon-
cally the story Of the agents, saying
| that for him dealings with matri-
monia go betweens were quite I'M
necessary. He came here in he spring
OF 1901 and took place az clerk with Laden =
burg, Thalmann 4 Co, to learn the banking
business. During that summer he went
to Newport as the guest Of Mrs. Cornelius
Vanderbilt, aunt of Miss Goeet. and was
entertained by Mrs. Goelet.
Meantime, while the fairy princess had
been enjoying the pleasures Of the world
the great increase in the value Of New
York real estate was making her richer
every day. Now her fortune is said to
be, at a conservative estimate $4,000, 600
Much OF the increase to this large sum
came during her own lifetime.
When she reached her twenty-frst
year she came into absolute possession
Of $500 900. OF her fathers estate $40,
100000 is In trust, of which during her,life.
time she receives about half the net income
She cannot use the principal BY her
fathers will she is to receive one-hali
the residuary estate Of $50, 600 900 on her
twenty-fifth birthday, Among the prop
critics in the trust established for her and
her brother Robert were the Kncker.
booker Theatre, the Imperial Hotel, the
Gorham Building at Broadway and Nine.
teenth street, the Judge Building in Fiftl
avenue, the Kembe Building in Whitehall
street and the San Carlo apartments in
East Ninty-seventh street Upon Mrs
Goelets death the entire net income o,
this property goes to the two children
Upon the daughters death her share in
the fortune is to go to her children, if she
lea yes any, otherwise to her brother Robert
This historic fortune-for the Goele,
wealth began to accumulate when New
York's mercantile interest was small indeed
descended to Robert and Ogden Goelet
from their father Robert. He was TIA,
son of the eccentric Peter Goelet, who
| lived for so many years in the old-fashoueC
house at Nineteenth street and Broad wa v
keeping a cow tied in the spacious yard
and few brightly colored pheasant,
struttng about in full view Of the Broadwa,
crowd.
| The social importance OF the famiI,
began with the present generation Rob.
ert Goelet, father Of Robert and Ogfen
lived in Union square, comfortably
but without luxury His two sons went
to Columbia College and their pllowanr, .
were as meagre as many of the boys who
had no property al all received II W.,
told of their father that, asked why ii.
| wife did not entertain more and help heI
husband to spend more Of his great for
tune, he replied