New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1904-05-11
ITALY'S NEW PRINCESS.
Queen ISabeLIa's Strange Retainer
and the PdzCnshOpS.

message and offer his congratulations 10 the Ital-
Ian monarch and to the childs parents The
latter the Duke and Duchess OF Genoa, who
have been married for twentyone years. and whose
eldest boy a sailor, like his father, is twenty
years old, and known by the name OF Prince Ferdi-
naud.
The Duke of Genoa IS the only brother OF Queen
Marguerite, his father having been 4 younger
brother of old King Victor Emmanuel. while his
mother, the septuagenarian Duchess Of Genoa, VINO
spends the greater portion OF the year at her love-
ly villa at Stresa, is sister Of the present King
OF Saxony. The Duke of Genoa was educated at
the great English public school OF Harrow. where
he made many friends, and speaks English without
trace OF foreign accent on leaving school ne
entered the italian navy. visited this country on
several occasions on board italian men-of-war and
is now as full admiral the ranking officer Of the
italian feet.
Formerly fair haired his immense mustache alone
has retained its former blond hue. while his short
cropped beard is nearly quite white He IS very
unaffected. popular. devoted to his profession, well
off and most happily married to a Bavarian
princess who enjoys the distinction OF being the
only lady OF of the reigning houses whose hair
IS altogether carroty red. Like most women who
have hair Of this hue, she has beautiful complex
ion, OF which she is justly proud. but which does
prevent her from indulging in all sorts OF ath-
letc sports. Until quite recently. at rate she
most skfu gymnast. delighting in all sorts
OF daring feats the horizontal bar and trapeze,
IS superior fencer to any prince Of her house
although her cousin. the Count OF Turin, is noted
a swordsman. excels in swimming and diving. IS
devoted to riding was the late Empress OF
Austria and IS in the habit, on the occasion Of her
annual visit to the home Of her childhood In Ba-
varia, to ride horseback from Turin to Munich
and back again Italy.
II will be curious what name she viii
choose for her daughter. Her other little girl,
now eight years OF age christened Bona after
a very early ancestress namely, thai Of Princess
Bona OF Savoy, whom King Edward " OF England
Tilted for the Lady Elizabeth Woodve. thereby IN
curing the hostility OF the King Maker. Earl Of
Warwick. the last Of the barons'' who had negou-
ated the match with tho Savoyard Princess.
It Is difficult to believe that Queen Isabella left
anything Ike the fortune with which she has been
credited by the newspapers. For IN spite Of her
handsome allowance from the Spanish treasury she
was. by reason Of her extravaganza, in such per-
petual financial straits that two magnificent por-
traits by Velasquez OF her ancestors Were con-
stantIy being carried and fro between the Palais
Castillo. her residence in the Avenue kleber. In
Paris and the Mont de Pete or government pawn
Office which was always ready 10 advance 4o.0oo
francs on these old masters. When that did not
suffice she was wont 20 pledge her fine da
moud necklace o. which she invariably
able 10 secure 80 90 francs more. The mem
Der OF her household employed for the COM
missions was a former "huissier. or sher1ff's
officer and his only other duties consisted N
staying or creditors, which kept him oushy en-
poyed For while the liabilities were usually small
they were numerous and those who had accounts
against the Queen were perfectly aware that since
virtue OF the extraterritoral prerogatives which
she enjoyed member OF 4 foreign reigning house
she amenabe 10 the Jurisdiction Of tho
French courts and could not be sued, the only way
OF securing payment by persistent Cunning
and clarnorng for a settlement
Only once during her thlrty-six years stay at
Paris did Queen Isabella have anything 20 do with
the French tribunals and then II vas she who in
voked the assistance % French law against her
chef whom she accused @, having swindled her.
During the course OF the proceedings agreement
was produced en- evidence which the chef had made
with the grand master OF the Queens household
fixing the prices per head az which the cook 20
feed the inmates OF the palace, the prices being u
francs a head for the Queens table which included
the gentlemen and ladies' % her household, and
three francs n head Tor the servants. Guests
rated at eight francs a head extra FOR dinner and
six francs for luncheon. prices which. especially
according 10 American ideas were modest in the
extreme.
The Queen never permitted 20 run up any big
bills by the Partisan tradespeople. a they knew OF
the difficulty which they would encounter IN recov-
ering payment, and. thanks TO this Isabella died
relatively free from debt, but without leaving any
money. her sole fortune consisting OF her few
Jewels her paintings, her bric-a-brao and the con-
tents OF the Palais de Castillo. which go 20 her
daughter, the Infanta Paz.
The Hon. Eleanor Norton who has lust nads
her debut successful playwright in London is
a twenty -three-year-old girl. with American blood
in her veins being OF the twin daughters OF
Lord GrantIey and OF his first wife. a daughter OF
w. II. McVIckar. OF New-York. commodore at one
time. OF the New-York Yacht Club. The marriage
OF Lord Grantley was in the nature OF a romance:
for HIS first wife had been previously married 10
his uncle, Major Charles Brinsley Norton who was
at that time the heir 10 his nephew's bar
ony. Aunt and nephew fell in love with each other
and Mrs Norton, after the dissolution Of her
union with the major became the wife Of the peer.
Some years later, Lady Crantley presented her
husband with and heir. whose appearance in
the world destroyed the chances OF Major Norton
succeeding TO the Deerage Of his nephew who had
thus deprived him. not only OF his wife. but also
Of his prospects 10 the title and estates Lady
Grantley died about seven years ago. and her hus-
band has since taken 10 himself another wife.
He is descended from Richard Norton, Sheriff OF
Northumberland in the reign Of Queen Elizabeth.
and the first Lord Norton was Speaker OF the
House OF Commons during the early years OF the
reign Of King George III. The present Lady Nor
ton Is the issue OF a most romantic marriage.
tracted by the late peer with Maria FEDERICO a
totally uneducated but lovely daughter OF fisher
man OF the island Of Capri After her husbands
death she returned to Capri resumed her peasant
attire and, although peeress OF the British realm,
died there as a peasant woman in 1892
Edward VII has just created. by means OF letters
patent a king. who. although he Will be invested
with crown IN token OF his dignity SUCH
hardly be described as brother monarch; for the
new king remains merely subject of the
British ruler Of his salaried retaners. the
office 10 which he has appointed being that OF
Garter King at Arms Of England which he is
sovereign within the Office OF Arms over all
other Kings Arms Heralds. PUrsuivants and
officers Of the Royal College OF Arms" The new
king who thus succeeds TO the post left
~ Of oIT Gfr 1,a-t Iz 1frad