The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1904-09-25
OPENS CODIcIL
AFTER 800 YEARS
Italian Prince Does Not Yet
Know Whether He Is tolBe
Rich or Poor
Special Foreign Service

WI nVe years ago all was CONFUSION
in the great Giovannelli palace
on the grand canal in Venice where
the princess was thought to be dying.
Through the magnificent Gothic win
dows was to be seen one of the fairest
and gayest scenes on earth, the bright
blue waters sparkling in the sun re-
fiecting the fairy-like palaces and
churches, the gondolas floating by.
while not sound was to be heard but
the dip of the oars, the calls of the
gondoliers and an occasional song.
But inside the palace there was the
sound of weeping. for the long and
eagerly expected heir had been born
only to close his eyes in death, and his.
mother, it was thought, would soon fol-
low her little son.
"Only one thing can save her." said
the doctor, IF she comes to know that
her baby has not lived her case is hope
less, but if you can give her another
1t may save her life"
What was to be donei The prince
wrung his hands, but suddenly he
sprang to his feet and seizing his cloak
he hurriedly left the palace An hour
later he returned, and in his arms was
boy,-a month old. Princess Giovan-
nelli, in her weakness, did not notice
the size of the child, and she recov-
cred, and nursed the babe, and loved it
as her own, knowing no difference, and
giving him the name of Alberto.
Two years later domestic was
angrily dismissed by her, and in re-
venge told her that the child was not
hers. Then ensued a terrible scene
with her husband.
Is the boy yours?" she demanded.
He is" he replied, very pale
But he is not mine," she cried, and
he could not deny it.
So" she said. you dared to impose
on me, Princess Chigi! Take the
child away and do not let me see either
of you again."
The palace, however, was large, ard
the prince instead of leaving the city
shut himself up with his son in a little
used wing of the building, and for
weeks the husband and outraged wife
never met Meanwhile Princess Clio
Vannelli ate her heart out in solitude
deprived by her pride of both husband
and child whom she had worshiped
One day in passing to her gondoIa she
heard through. an open door a little
voice Hsping, Where is mammal"
This melted the ice and moment after
she had the boy in her arms, and was
herself in those of her husband. He
then told bis story. The little Alberto
was really his son. born of poor girl
who died in Childbirth, and it was only
his desperation at his wife's condition
which induced him to deceive her.
The principino, as he was called was
then formally adopted by both prince
Ixy
cree, but their efforts to induce King
Humbert to give him legally the title
and name of Prince Giovannelli were
long and arduous, as the king was
much opposed to giving titles In this
way. The -Giovannelli and Chigi in
fiuence at last proved potent, however,
SO the adopted boy is now legally
Years passed. Princess GiovanneiIi
died, and left Prince Alberto all her
considerable dot, which came to her as
princess of the house of Chigi, then
the old prince also died and also left
everything he possessed by will to his
son, making him one of the richest of
the rich young aristocrats of Italy
We must now go back 200 years. A
certain eccentric Prince GiovannelIi in
1903, feeling his end near, and having
a fantastic worship for his own name.
left will and codicil, the latter to be
opened by the head of the cadet branch
only when the chief branch Of the
house should be extinct. The codicil
was deposited in the archives of Ven
ice. Prince after prince married and
had sons, and the old codicil was for
gotten, except by those whom it most
concerned. In a distant and poor
branch of the house. which was also
prolific, the words, eve will be happy
when the codicil is opened became
legend.
In June, 1904, a poor telegraph clerk,
Alfonso Giovannelli, gHs sitting in his
modest house trying to think how he
could add to his stipend of $50 a
month, SO as to educate his children.
Al that moment bright little fellow
OF seven years bounded into the room,
singing at the top of his voice in a
KIND OF refrain, How happy we shall
be when the codicil is opened. when
the codicil is opened" His father
gazed at him for a moment, and then
with a whoop sprang out of his chair
and fed from the house, shouting.
That is it, that is it!'' The history
of Prince Giovanneli was we'll known
to him, and the boys words illuminate
ed the fact that the moment had come
TO open the ancient testament His
lawyer said that there might not be
anything to benefit him, but it was
worth while reading it.
Lawyers and emissaries were sent
to Prince Alberto, who had never
heard of the codicil, scoffed at the
idea of any such document and looked
upon it all as a conspiracy to ger
money from him, but the Naples law
yers were not to be stopped and, hav-
Ing an idea Of the date of the desired
document, soon found 1t, musty and
yellow with age, covered with the dust
of centuries. They carried the infor-
nation to the prince, who was incred-
uiouS, but seeing is believing. SO he
was obliged to consent to be present
at the opening, which took place with
great solemnity in the presence of the
representatives of the rival Gioyan-
nelliS and the city authorities The
contents were indeed dramatic They
set forth that when the chief bfancn
should be extinct, all the possessions
OF the house should go to the head OF
the cadet branch, and if there were no
Glovannellis forthcoming. to the Ba-
silica of ST. Mark
Alfonso in Naples executed a war
dance, and saw himself a millionaire.
while Prince Alberto had a vision of
himself, poor and friendless, and earn
ing his own living. Alfonso was for
taking possession at once. but the law
yers stepped in and there is to be on.
of the most bitter lawsuits ever con-
tested in Italy. And, In fact, the
question is a pretty one In the be-
ginning, Prince Alberto is still the le-
gal holder of the Chigi money left by
n