New-York tribune., 1907-10-07
A GOLDEN WEDDING AT ROME

Old Prince and Princess Chig-Albani have Just
celebrated at Rome their golden wedding. which
has been made the occasion of many manifesto
tions Of regard and good will. alone by the
Pope and in Vatican circles but also by the people
of Rome in general, messages Of congratuletIon
being likewise received from America, notably
from Cardinal Gibbons
Prince Chigi. who is now in his seventy-nfth
year. is of the most picturesque figures of the
Eternal City, is married to princess of the for
merly reigning house of Wittgenstein and in
addition TO all his Italian titles which include
about dozen dukedoms, is prince Of the Holy
Roman Empire by virtue Of patent granted by
the Emperor Of Germany three hundred years ago.
The patriciate Of the house of Chgt really dates
from that time namely the middle OF the
enteenth century. when of its members, Don
FabiO Chigi, elevated TO the chair Of ST Peter
Pope Alexander VII. But long before that the
Chigis were famous in the Eternal City as bank
ers and Don Agostino Chigi had charge as such
of the financial affairs Of Pope Leo X Of the House
of Medici II is related Of him that one memo
rable occasion when that PontiT had honored him
with his presence at banquet given at his Far
Messiah villa, the bank of the Tiber, he flung
at the close repast the whole Of the superb
gold service which had figured on the table into
the river declaring that plates thus sanctihed by
the Of His Holiness should never be employed
again. The Pope vastly impressed by this
compliment, and remained until his death shortly
afterward in happy ignorance OF the fact that Don.
Agostino had taken the precautioa place a net
carefully concealed from view, beneath the surface
Of the water, so that after the departure of the
Holy Father he experienced no difficulty whatever
in recovering possession Of tho gold plate.
The present Prince Chigi, his descendant, is
equally astute in his business dealings and is
Of the very few owners Of famous picture galleries
and historic collections Of paintings Rome who
have managed to get the better of the Italian
government in evadrg the Pacca law Wishing
10 raise some money few years ago, he quietly
summoned TO his palace a number of probable
purchasers. and thereupon put up among them a
particularly beautiful Rotticeli the highest bid
der the painting. though small in size. fetching a
sum in the neighborhood Of 10000 The prince
turned over the painting to the purchaser and re-
ceived the money then and there Later in the
day he notified the Italian government of the fact
that he had disposed OF the picture in question
not TO a foreigner but to Italian gentleman,
whose card containing the name and address he
!nclosed. OF course when the officials OF the De
partment Of Fine Arts endeavored to look up the
purchaser they found that one had ever heard ]
OF him at the address given. An attempt was
made hold Prince Chgi responsible but the
courts decided that IL the purchaser-an Italian
not n foreiGner-had assured him that he intended
10 keep the painting in Italy and did not purpose
TO take II abroad the prince had no reason for
declining 10 sell the masterpiece or 10 doubt the
mans word. the provisions of the Pncca law con-
tentng themselves with the prohibition of the sale
% old masters for export without the consent of
the government.