Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1906-11-10
B0NI STILL BRIGHT
FACES SOCIAL, POLITICAL AND
FINANCIAL RUIN.

With financial ruin staring him in the
face and his political future absolutely
black. 1t is said that Count Castellane is as
cheerful, vain and foppish as ever A cable
gram from Paris says:
Despite the obvious intention of the court
to grant Countess de Castelane divorce,
the count is as debonair in manner as ever
He is now living with his parents. and has
aged greatly during the recent months.
Count Boni's social position is critical.
Women are beginning to cut him, now that
he Is penniless. Nevertheless, in face of de-
feat and financial ruin. the count remains
the dandy. He is careful as ever about
the slightest detail of dress. His neckties,
waistcoats and gloves still irreproach-
able, although showing the signs of wear.
The counts bitterest enemies admit that
he is plucky In vain fashion. He has but
few stanch friends, for the clubmen of the
better sort have Stunned him for years be-
cause of his foolishness Others who are
married have Stunned him for the reasons
which Maitre Cruppi disclosed.
Politically Ruined.
What grieves the count chiefly is that the
trial destroys his political future. AS he Is
a member of the opposition and royalist
1t is unlikely that the court, which favors
the government. will provide him any ali
mony. Therefore he will be declared
bankrupt and compelled to resign from the
chamber of deputies. Although he is clever,
1t will be difficult for him to earn a living.
The counts family will be obliged to sup
port him. and from this a curious condition
will arise The countess now pays the
counts father an annuity of 2S,030 francs,
and she manifestS the intention to continue
this annuity despite the outcome of her
suit. If so there will be provided the spec
tacle OF the father, whom the son always
! helped financially with his wifes money.
reversing the usual order and providing his
son with money derived from the wife who
has divorced him.
Duels Unlikely.
Boulevarders declare there will be no
duels. because the husbands of the women
whom Cruppi exposed fear to challenge
Boni. since their own conduct, 1t Is said,
Is no better than the counts. The only
person who could challenge the count Is
Edmond Kelly. who would scorn to meet
Boni even in duel.
Owing to the counts financial straits he
may have to resign from the fashionable
clubs of which he is now a member-the
Tennis Club, Polo Club Automobile Club.
Horse Show Club Yacht Club and Cercle
Rue Royale. The count will be received
wherever his parents 60 but the American
colony, where he was formerly received
for his wife's sake, will be closed to him.
found out
her divorce. Even though Maitre Bonnet
throughout the trial has made no effort to
refute her charges. the public is convinced
that the count is douby guilty. The countess
Is living quietly, and now that the worst
strain ts over she seems relieved She
looks. less careworn and her expression,
while not cheerful, Is peaceful. She spends
her time with her children in her palace in
the Avenue Bots de Boulogne and drives
daily with her children and Miss Helen
Gould in closed automobile, fearing the
snapshotters.
Countess In Seclusion.
No queen could be more carefully guarded
than is the countess. She accepts no social
invitations and sees only her intimate
friends, the Wilmington brakes. The count
ess' conduct is suggestive of young widow
recently bereaved. The count. on the con-
trary, attends teas and dinners and goes
wherever he Is invited
Counsel for the countess are confident
that the application of the counts attor-
neys for an examination of the witnesses
in the case will be denied by the court
when the matter comes up next Wednes-
day. 1t Is also regarded as measurably-l
certain that the public prosecutor will not
avail himself of the right which he pos
sesses to be heard in the interest of the
general public. Nevertheless 1t is known
that the creditors are using every influence
to prevent the granting of divorce until
after their case is disposed Of.