New-York tribune., 1907-11-29
THIS ACTOR A DUKE.
Can ProUe His Descent from
BWon's Don Juan"

King Alfonso is reported by number OF Aus
trian, French and English newspapers to have re-
Gently honored the Spanish stage by comforting
the grandesza and the title OF count upon Don
Fernando de Mendoza. There is no truth in this
story. for the very simple reason that Don Fer
nando. a lneal descendant of the Don Juan OF
Byron's great poem. has possessed the grandezza
by right of Inheritance and of royal recognition
ever since he attained manhood. and that he like
wise owes to Inheritance the titles of Count OF
Lalaing in Belgium and in Spain, and OF Marquis
OF Fontanar and OF Duke of Balazote in the peer
age OF the land of his birth. Moreover, he Is oy
his first marriage q son-in-law of that famous
Marshal Serrano. Duke de la Tore. who on sew
eral occasions regent of the Kingdom of Spain
and at time President of the Spanish Republic,
and who moreover. is generally believed 10 nave
been the real father of Alfonso XII.
In the SOS of the most celebrated salons at
Madrid that of the Duchess de la Tore. and as
her young daughter Dona Ventura was passionately
fond of acting she caused private theatre 10 De
constructed one of the huge state apartments on
the ground floor OF her palace. where. throughout
the season. a succession OF amateur theatrical per-
formances were given, in which the leadlng nleHl-
bers of the Spanish arstocracy took part In honor
of the young girl received the name OF the Tea1ro
Venture, and among the principal stars OF the
masculine persuasion Don Fernando MENDOZA
then the acknowledged leader of the golden You'h
of Madrid. possessed of nlustrious birth ana OF d
large fortune Together with Dona ventura He
gave that charming comedy OF the seVenteeht"
century, "E NergonzOss en- Palaclo' (Ahe DaSIi-
order to encourage her timd lover. pretenus 10 oe
asleep and in her dream discloses her love for MIN
The play turned into reality. Don Fernando anu
Dona Ventura married royalty and all 'he
grandezza of Spain being present at tho weddihs
But their happiness lasted only for brel ti'e'
and within a couple of years Don Fernando was
widoWer
During their married life they had both oeen ter
ribIy extravagant. She had never known the Naiue
of money while he idozed her TO such an extent
that it was impossible for him to refuse her any
thing and when he was left alone he found MIN
self bereft not only of wife but also OF fortune
His widowed mother-in-law, the Duchess de Ia
Tore was a frightfully imperious woman VINO
could never forget that she had been the nrst ady
of the land in Spain, and who. moreover was au-
dicted in an extraordinary degree not merely 10
gambling at cards but also to gambling on the
Stock Exchange. and was consequently, In spite OF
her wealth. frequently in need of money 1t was
monetary questions and her imperious manner that
led to a quarrel between herself and her son-in-
law and declining with all the pride OF true
hidalgo TO be a dependent her bounty he set
to work to earn his own living His successes be-
fore the footights amateur naturally turned
his thoughts to the stage, which he now Joined IN
a professional capacity, and ere long he had be-
come the leading Spanish actor and the star OF the
Teatro Espanol, which Is the counterpart at Madrid
of the Coincide Francaise at Paris.