New-York tribune., 1907-09-30

Catholic Church. In fact. hfs father is and
vicar of the Basilica of St Peter In order TO
understand this condition Of affairs. it must be
planned that Prince Hugo Boncompagni, Duke OF
Sora, after the death of his second wife, Dona
Laura Altieri. to whom he was passionately de-
voted. and after the wreck of his fortune in real
estate speculation at Rome. IN unsuccessful news
paper enterprises and in the Panama Canal Com
pany smash, confded the administration of the
remnants of his fortune and the guardianship Of
his children his old father and entered holy or
ders, in which, by of his lineage and Of the
services of his family the Church. both by him
self and by his ancestors, he is certain TO rise
rapidly In fact. the name Of the duke has been
mentioned as one of those prelates who are most
likely TO elevated to the Sacred College and 10
receive the red hat at the next cOnsistory- The
duke's family has already furnished two pontirs
n the Church of Rome, namely. Gregory XIII and
Gregory XIV besides numerous cardinals, and re-
ceived the rank of Prince OF the Holy Roman
Empire enjoyed by all its members, from Emperor
Ferdinand II in 1854
The chief of the house is the father of the Right
Rev Duke of Sora, and grandfather of that Prince
Francis Boncompagni who has just become the
son-in-law of ex-Minister Prinetti The old noble
man bears the title of Prince Of Piomblno pos
sesses about a dozen other ancient dukedoms
rnarouisates and princely dignities. IS Grandee
Of the First Glass of the Kingdom of Spain, and
as long as the late XIII of Naples alive acted
as honorary grand master of his household and
grand chamberlain. He makes his home IN the
paIace of PombinO, on the CorsO' anu enjoys CO4-
siderable fame as a mathematician. while his
library which he sold ct auction about two years
ago In order TO extricate his from his financial
difficulties, was the most notable collection OF
scientific works in Italy. His grandson, young
Prince Francis Boncompagni. is his heir. and the
wealth of the young fellows bride will go far to
restore the fortunes this grand old house which
can show an uninterrupted ancestry in the male
line to 1888, when it figured the records OF the
day as forming part of the patriciate Of Bologna
Prinetti received a marquisate from King Vic
Emmanuel on conclusion OF his three years
tenure of the Department of Foreign Affairs. but
cannot claim to of noble descent For his an
cestors were all Lombard merchants, and he HIM
self until he became Cabinet minister was not
only a merchant but also manufacturer. being
a member of the great firm of Stucch & Prinetd'
the leading concern the production Of bicycles
and sewing machines in Italy He is remark
ably clever business man, and While minister VI
Public Works in the Rudini administration put a
sudden end to the innumerable claims for CAM
ages the part of contractors Of railroads ana
Of public works of kind and another by max
ing hard and fast rule that no contractor should
be allowed TO tender for government work who had
any pending claim against the government in the
courts. The wisdom Of this somewhat arbitrary
decree was speedily demonstrated by the fact that
hundreds OF claims were hurriedly Withdrawn. this
going TO show that they were based not on any
valid ground. but the hope that by OF
bribery influence they might be used TO get the
treasury consent the payment of a by
way of compromise.
His wife, the Marquise Prinetti. is old school
mate and girlnood friend of Princess Bulow,
and the intimacy between the two women contrib
uted in no small measure to that political under
standing between their respective husbands which
eliminated in the extension OF Itay's participa-
tion in the Triple Alliance until 1912
MARQUISE DE FONTENOY-