New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1905-10-20
AFFAIRS OF D'ANNUNZIOS
Romantic Career of HIS Late Father
in-LaS.
iin-Law.

At the very moment when the celebrated
r.aIian author Gabrielle d,Annunzio. whose real
v,atronynlic is the frightfully plebeian one OF
Rapaxnetta. is obtaining in Switzerland a d.
1orce from his wife. the Principessa Maria Gal
,sss 10 wed the widowed Marchessa CarIotti
daughter OF the Italian ex-Premier Rudni
death has overtaken the famous novelist's aged
father-in-law, the Duca di Galiese whose ca
reer has been SO romantic that 1t has been made
the theme of one of Marion Crawford's most
successful novels
one Of the grandest palaces in Rome is that of
che Altempos now owned by the Crown of
snain which in olden times was a monastery
mat Cardinal Marco Altempo rebuilt. embel-
iished and arranged as residence. Toward
che middle Of the nineteenth century there re-
NAMED OF the iliustrious Altenpo family only
7ona I.ucretia and a cousin. the Conte Albert
For the sake of family interests it was decided
that the cousins should marry After a few years
+be Conte Albert died, leaving a widow and a
daughter The latter did not long survive him.
60 his widow, Dona Bucretia- remained sole
heiress of the great patrimony Of the patrieian
house Of Altempo-
IN 1880 when the French troops were in
Rome. Dona Lucretia perceived one day. from
the window of her palace. remarkably hand
some soldier of one of the French dragon regi-
rue1fS. VINO was STOoLlkiiS MS i4oA0N- ~
some pretext to send for him and thus made his
o.,,,aiutauce Under the circumstances it
vas only natural that this acquaintance should
ripeu into something warmer. and it was not
long before through her influence. the dragon.
r,les Harcouin by name was offered COM
mission in the PspaI army. whereupon he mar
-iea her and quilted the military service.
This second marriage was not more fortunate
than the first Within year Dona Lucretia
h.
her OF course the father was his chids heir.
and the immense possessions of the ancient and
enormously wealthy family Of Altempo passed
- the ex-French soldier. in whose favor Pope
p;-s X revived the old Altempo title of Duca
di Gallese-
The second wife of the duke was Dona Ma
+slia Iezzani beautiful girl of distinguished
4.rniIy. OF this marriage the duke had two chill
so, The elder, Don Luigi being married 10
ss,gater Of the Principessa Belnonte. one of the
most fashionable nlatroas OF Roman society.
The Younger, Dona Maria di Gallese, IN an
s,-il moment became infatuated with the Sieur
pg,arnetta- better known under his pen name Of
-f-sh-iele 4, Annunzio." She insisted upon mar
wing him despite the opposition of her father
and brother But. after few years of unhappy
,,nton Dona Maria was led by the novelist's mis-
conduct above all by his association with one
Of the most famous of Italian actresses, TO
.enarate from him. making her home in Paris
vIrh her children. D'Annunzio treated the &C
tress cutie as badly he did his wife, and there
mon managed TO hypnotic the widowed daugh-
Ter Of ex-Preraier Rudini TO such an extent that
her family were compelled judicially 10 deprive
her Of the control Of her fortune 10 prevent her
from running herself and her children for his
sake.
This last aHaire de occur of the novelist has
lasted somewhat longer than the others, possibly
or account Of the notoriety which it has brought
10 him. For he is consumed with vanity and
eeotisn. like so many geniuses, and now he is
bent on marrying her. AS there is no divorce IN
italy, he has secured letters Of naturalization
as a citizen Of Switzerland, to obtain from the
Swiss tribunals decree OF divorce, after which
he will again become an Italian citizen
His wife is Offering no objection. glad, indeed.
of being rid Of the bonds which have hitherto
united her 10 him. I may add that the title Of
Duca di GalIese is a very old one, having been
first borne by Robert, the natural son OF Car
dinaI Marco Altempo. This Robert married
Princ:pessa OrsinL