The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1906-11-29

ES HIS is q tale of three cities and
two international marriages.
1t is a sort of Il told you so"
tale. Eleven years ago last
spring. when the Gould girl married
the Castellane count, many Americans
predicted that they would not live hap
PLY ever afterward. And eleven years
ago this fall. when the Vanderbilt girl
married the Marlborough duke, these
same Americans made similar predic-
lion Now the Castellanes have been
TO the divorce court and the MARI
boroughs have signed a separation
These weddings in which European
titles and pedigrees were exchanged for
American cash and coupons, both took
place the same year. Now in each case
comes the final rupture in the same
year. The girls wanted the titles and
the gewgaws and glitter of nobility
The men wanted the money. Each
got what each wanted, but the girls got
more than was included in their bar
gains They got heartache humiliation
and marital neglect. Though on the
part Of the girls, both of whom were
rather young, these may have been
love matches at the outset, events seem
to have proved beyond peradventure
that on the part OF the bridegrooms
they were money matches altogether.
Anna Gould became the wife of
Count Paul Ernest Boniface de Cas-
tellane on March 4, 1895. Eight months
later. Nov 6. Consuelo Vanderbilt be-
came the wife of Charles Richard John
Spencer-Churchill. duke of Marlbor-
ough. earl of Marlborough, earl of
Sunderland. Baron Spencer of Worm
weighton, Baron Churchill of Sand
ridge, prince of the Holy Roman en-
pire and Prince of NIindelheim in Sua-
bia.
Whewl
Miss Vanderbilt got considerably
more in the matter of title, it seems,
than Miss Gould got, but the Count de
Castellane was also known as the
powder puff" and some of his ancestors
fought valiantly in the cause of the
crusaders. The little Boni could trace
himself back along a pedigree string
from which hung all sorts of counts
and other noblemen, some of whom
were Of some account and others of
whom didn't count at all.
Each of the men in these matches is
somewhat diminutive in size and I'M
prepossessing in appearance This ap-
plies particularly to the count who is
4 slim dude, made gorgeous with cost
ly clothing, which he changes three
times q day, seldom wearing one outfit
more than two or three times His
clothes came easily because his wife
had. at the time he got her, an income
of about 100000 a year, and he was
very saving as to his expenditures on
her, for according to the evidence in
the divorce suit we are advised that he
allowed her out of his proper income
just $50 4 year for pin money. That is
nearly $1.54 a week
Just why the count made the coun-
tess this ridiculous allowance, or any
allowance at all. seeing that she had
$17,000,000 is a thing too Frenchy to
admit of American translation.
The Duke of Marlborough. Earl of
Marlborough. ETC., behaved much better
than the count. Boni, according to the
evidence, squandered $4,000, 900 of his
wife's money with very little or moth
ing left to show for it except his Won
derful wardrobe and the fine furnish
ings of several Partisan apartments,
which the countess did not share with
him. Also, he beat his wife He
struck her the first time only four
months after the grand wedding at the
New York home of George ]. Gould.
Before the honeymoon was in its second
quarter he began his abuses because
his bride protested when he demanded
money and more money and yet more.
t is a revolving tale. this Castellane
business. The long and elaborate an
nails of the rich and titled, from the
beginning of recorded time, contain no
record to match it in depravity. For
half a dozen years already it has been
an open book with some of the most
shocking pages glued together by the