The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1906-02-08
Troubles Ofthe CasteIlanes Date
From the Fete
Given in Honor Of the King Of
Portugal.
.ARONESS SNUBBED
By the Countess in the Castel-
lane Home.
Boni Insisted on Sending Her
an Invitation.

Paris. Feb. 8.=The open quarrel be-
tween the Count de Castellane and the
countess over a baroness-the wife of
g famous hnaneier-dates from the
night the CasteIlanes gave their ia
NOUS fete to Don Carlos, king of Por-
tugal On this occasion the count had
induced his American wife to loosen
the purse strings, and they fairly stag
6ered Paris by the brilliance of the
reception, on which they spent nearly
a whole years income.
The countess had definite suspicious
about the baroness. She had found"
several letters to Boni from the baron
ess. and faced him with an accusation.
but. so far as their friends knew. there
was no trouble. While the invitation
list was being made up the baroness
name arose and the countess instantly
struck fl from the list. Count Boni
was firm. and insisted on having the
baroness as a guest, and despite his
wife's entreaties not to have the other
woman there he sent her an invitation.
Countess SuUbs the Baroness.
When Don Carlos arrived at the cas-
tellane mansion, passing through long
line of automobiles on the Bots de Bou-
Iogne. he was. greeted by the countess,
who had apparently decided upon her
scheme to let the baroness and others
know that she understood the situation
thoroughly
Her vivacity was remarkable for
woman who has the reputation Of being
Fetlcent and the king relished her Wit.
Meanwhile the baroness had arrived
and it CHANGED that the countess and
her rival were brough nee to face in
the very center of the scene OF royal
magnfdcence- Then the countess play
ed her first card by openly snubbing
the baroness. &-ste
The details of this incident were OBJ
tanned by q newspaper correspondent
from a member of Count BOnis Jockey
club. This friend said that the two
women stood looking at each other with
flashing eyes and for several seconds
3 public scene seemed inevitable. Then
the baroness shrugged her shoulders
and smiled, while the count, wild with
rage, could scarcely control himself I'M
til his royal guest and the other diners
had departed.
Scarcely had the gaudily clad foot
man closed the last automobile door
when Count BOni flew at his wife and
they had q most violent quarrel The
countess made accusations against the
count and baroness, it is said and de-
clared tina the next morning she would
leave with her children and start Tor
her brothers home in New York.
On the Watol2-f9H=AEels tlls,-
The member of the Jockey club. who
gave the Information, also gave an out
line Of the incidents in the cause celebre
which occurred just prior to the visit of
Don Carlos. The countess had become
suspicious and she determined to get
hold Of as many letters sent to the count
as possible.
She succeeded in getting a number
from the baroness. covering period of
six months, and then, without showing
the letters, she told Boni that she knew
his secret. He loudly protested his in
nOcence, and just to try to convince his
wife that she was wrong, insisted on
having the baroness at the fete-
The count and the baroness had an
appointment to meet the day following
Don Carlos visit but he suddenly
realized that he was watched, and at
the last moment he received from the
baroness a warning not to keep the
appointment he had made with her at
that time. The same watchfulness on
the part of the baroness is said to have
saved the count last week from being
detected with the woman who has won
his heart.
on the day after the fete the count
ess did leave her home with maid,
but her friends advised her to return
home, which she did. Thereupon tn e
count left on the pretext that he was
going to the lower Alps to begin prep
aratiOns for his election campaign.
After the count returned from the
Alps there was a succession of violent
scenes, and while these came to be
almost of daily occurrence the count
ess was intercepting more letters from
the baroness, who boldly continued
her communications
In some way an appointment was
made between the pair to meet last
week but at the eleventh hour the
baroness again called the appoint
ment off, fearing detection. This gave
rise to the report that the countess had
actually caught her husband with her
rival.
No Sign of Reconciliation.
AS yet there is seemingly no an
a1-fiE rf7 ia q 1, 10
drastic action of the countess in hav-
ing her advocate go into court has
caused Boni to take personal direction
Of the task of coming to an agreemen t
with his wife. He realized that his
friends could do nothing. so rather
than lose his wife and her millions he
has taken this delicate work out of his
friends hands
Several times a day the countess re-
ceives letters from Boni in which he
makes passionate appeals to her to re-
consider her determination for the
sake or the children. He knows how
much she loves the children and he
hopes to reach her heart through
them.
When the countess receives these
letters she retires to her boudoir and
locks her door Thus far she has NOT
answered one of the letters but the
count is still hopeful and he is mo-
mentarily expecting to get word from
her that she is willing to talk with him
about their affairs.
The weeping spells that have af-
1ected her so much continue, and her
grief is increased by the constant
questions of the children, who are
rnystihed about their fathers absence
They ask frequently about the father
and each childish inquiry causes the
countess to weep afresh.
One intimate friend of the count and
countess who is still working indus
triOusly to bring the couple together
said.
ss0,,r efforts to rri7ar abo,,f a rs.o-
Citation are progressing favorably. de-
spite reports to the contrary We are
almost certain this unhappy incident
will be closed satisfactorily soon. The
counts indiscretion was known to us
for some time.
Several Terrible Scenes.