Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1904-11-16

Catholicism, IL is stated, by Bishop Spald-
ing of Peoria, who is now here attending
the meeting of trustees at the Catholic
University. and thus their daughters. Mary
and Lima, first came into close touch with
the creed.
Mary Caldwell was educated in the Con-
vent of the Sacred Heart, in Manhattan
Vile. y. Y. and for years her mind was
bent on becoming a nun, but she was dis
suaded from the thought, and she after
ward spent much of her time in Newport.
where her father had summer residence.
and In this city.
At his death Mr.. Caldwell left a fortune
of s4.OOOCD in care of Bishop Spalding of
Peoria. to be equally divided between his
TWO daughters, their mother being dead.
md in 1SSf all Catholic Americans were
aroused to enthusiasm by the announce
ment that Mary Caldwell had given $500, coo
Tor the foundation of n divinity college in
the Roman Catholic University in Wash
ington. Her sister added $4,000 to the gift.
Were Honored.
In the splendid assemblage of prelates
statesmen and public officials of beauty
wealth and fashion. that focked to the
laying OF the corner stone of the college
which bears Miss Caldwell's name the two
sisters were objects OF special attention
Pope Leo XIII had sent to each a gold
medal In recognition of their generosity
and these were publicly presented to them
after the ceremony
Alter lHt FOUNDATION OF the college MISS
Caldwell made her residence abroad.
spending much of her time in Rome. Ores
den. Baden Baden and Paris, but making
occasional visits to Washington.
The marquise spent a winter in Washing
ton eleven years ago, when she leased the
home of General Myers, opposite the Army
and Navy Club.
That season she moved in the gayest So
ciety. numbering among her friends mem
bers of the diplomatic corps, and her dash
ing trap with cream colored ponies, her
splendid furs. including a cloak of sable
that reached to her feet, are still remem-
bered
Last Visit Here
Her last visit to this country with her
husband was in 1898, when they spent
season at their Newport villa. Friends of
the marquise were next surprised to learn
In January last that she had been for sew
eral months living in seclusion, trying to
restore a weakened nervous system. The
marquis was not with her, but she was
cared for by Mrs. Terence Donnelly, who
had been a mother to her since her child
hood
A Pen Picture.
Speaking of Mary Gwendolin Caldwell be-
fore her marriage to the Marquis DIES
MONSTERS, an acquaintance gave this pen
picture of her: "She developed into tall,
handsome girl, slight, with brown hair and
dark eyes. Her temperament was imperious
and her bearing naughty, and while she
was yet youthful, her associates in the
Kentucky metropolis learned to fear her
ready tongue and flashing eyes. To her
younger sister, who was a pretty girl of less
imperious nature. she was counsellor and
director. always implicitly obeyed and
leaned upon. 1t was not until her twenty
first year, when her munifcent gift toward
the proposed university was made. that
Miss Mary Gwendolin came into general
public prominence. Thereafter her move
81 I'D hal Of IN
important parsonage.
Miss Caldwell had but entered upon her
majority when she Informed her guardian,
Bishop John Lancaster Spalding of Peo-
ria, Ill, that she desired to found a Catho-
lie University of America, such Pope
Leo had endeavored TO establish at Dublin,
at Paris and in other places. She believed
the Importance of the church in this coun-
try justified such an institution. and that
it would be an honor to aid such insti-
tuition.
Such a project had long been considered
by the American hierarchy, but sufficient
funds had never been forthcoming. Miss
Caldwell offered to endow the institution.
Bishop Spalding, realizing the ardor and
enthusiasm of the young heiress, suggest
ed several years of deep thought. At the
end of this period Miss Caldwell, through
Bishop Spalding. Informed the Catholic
hierarchy that she wished to endow the
university, and a council was called to con-
slider her offer.
1t was accepted, and Miss Caldwell pur-
chased eighty acres on the edge of the cap
ital city and gathered around her the best
architects and artists she could to map out
her gigantic plan.
She betrayed the expenses Of turning the
land into park and built three of the
costliest buildings of the present group or
fourteen, including Caldwell Hail. which Is
the largest building on the grounds. She
also built the chapel and provided for the
maintenance OF the university for three
years. 49,
Her first gift to the university was $780,
OO0 Subsequently she gave a great deal
more than this toward the institution.
Friends of the marqutse in this country
say that although she has signed away
much of her fortune she is still rich with
her jewels and some of her American
bonds.
The Murat Episode.
In connection with her proposed marriage
to Prince Murat. whom she met In Italy
in 1887. and who was said to be deeply IN
debt and thirty-three years her senior, the
following statement has been made:
After their engagement was announced
preparations for a regal wedding were
made. q rousseau fit for queen ordered
AMI the day of the ceremony set
Several DAYS before the wedding day the
prince and his legal representatives, Miss
Caldwell and her attorneys met to arrange
the ante-nuptial contract. The prince IN
sisted upon the control OF the fortune. MISS
Caldwell refused this. Then he offered 10
take half of II. The American girls spirit
such proposition.
II had intended to settle $4,000 year
on YOU" she said. Il now offer to make II
So go"
The prince tried to decker for more. Then
the American girl got up and said:
Since IL has come to be purely ousl-
ness transaction destroy the contract. III
there are any unpaid expenses of this nego-
tation charge them to me"
She hurled this to her attorneys and left
the astonished group in dismay.
Attempts TO change her were useless. Il
am not selling myself. nor buying a hus-
band" she said and ordered arrangements
for an immediate return to America.
in the workshops of Worth four large
parlors had been set aside for the trous-
seau of TIE American heiress Miss Cald-
well ordered this sent to America. When 1t
arrived. the elaborate trousseau, every gar
ment of which bore the crest of the prince.
was given to poor churches to be converted
into vestments. Endeavors were made to
dissuade the heress from this action.
IL will not wear patched clothes, nor will
l wear the crest OF the King of Naples.
They will be serving n better purpose,
with superb dignity. than the one to which
they were designed"
And the trousseau, with its thousands of
dollars worth OF material and fortunes in
real lace. was disposed OF by the dash OF
pen.
Upon her return to the United States
Ice INRl.N xt~-h In "A l,-.