Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1908-11-16
Evades Comment on His ReIa-
ton to Miss EIkinS.
SENATOR DENIES TROTH
Declares No Engagement With His
Daughter Exists.
HAS HIGH REGARD FOR sUIToR
In Statement to Public He Ex-
presses Regret for Annoyances
Caused Principals.

TURIN, November 16-The announce
ment that Senator Stephen B. lkins had
issued a statement to the effect that no
engagement existed between his daughter
and the Duke of the. Abr1lzZi was received
here by the public with some surprise.
The reported bethrothal had been wide
ly commented upon without official denial
from any quarter. 1t was generally as
sumed that the dukes courtship of the
young American woman had progressed
that far. All attempts to interview the
duke on the subject have failed
Elkins Denies Engagement.
Senator Stephen B. Elkins made last
night the emphatic announcement that no
engagement exists between his daughter
Miss Katherine Elkins and the Duke Of
the Abruzzi of the Italian navy The
senator Is now at his Washington home
The statement was made with the
knowledge and consent Of Miss Elkins,
who declared that the announcement
should be given to the public, which
has manifested so great an interest in the
matter.
The statement as dictated and carefully
revised by the senator was as follows:
Il do not care to say anything further
than that my daughter and the Duke de
AbruZzi are not engaged to be married,
and that l regret exceedingly the annoy
ances that must have come to the duke
and his family by reason of the almost
daily discussion of the matter in the
press and the constant publication of ru-
mors for so long a time-rumors which
venture to hope will now cease
Compliment for Duke.
While ho OH hat
Miss Elkins and the Duke of the Abruzzi
are not engaged, he entertains for the duke
the highest regard, as was evidenced by
the reply which he made to an inquiry as
to how well he was acquainted with the
duke
Not very WE'LL he responded, frankly.
but from what l know and have heard
of him, / regard him as not only a dis
| tinguished personality by reason Of his
birth and position. but added to this he is
an able man, of the highest character, a
well known explorer and scientist-one
who has done things and accomplished
| much-besides being an eff1cien, officer of
! high rank in the navy Of his country"
The senator was earnest in his express
sion of the hope that his statement would
be accepted by the public in the spirit in
which 1t was made. He had felt a deli
cacy in discussing the matter at all. but
believed that the time had arrived. in all
ment of the facts.
Since no one here has been able to say
that they were either in the confidence
of the duke. Miss Elkins or her family
since the first allusiOn to possible mar
riage was made last spring, expressions
of surprise or otherwise on Senator Ell
kins frank statement are necessarily few
today.
Our national pride has gone up sew
eral degrees in the fact that a charm
ing American girl has been courted by an
eminent member of a reigning royal fam
lily That is satisfaction enough in itself
for a while.
More than that. there is keen pleas
ure and all object lesson worthy of
of example In the further fact that not a
syllable In the long and very wearisOme
discussion of the matter was ever traced
to the young lady herself. She has been
content to have those closest to her speak
for her when the proper moment arrived
to do so.
The reason why this was so long
delayed is not properly the business
of the public. but was irritating to our
modern desire to dispose of one item OF
news that the next sensation would not
be distracted by uncertainties. That the
uuietus has come in advance of the win
ter's gayeties is matter of general con-
graduation
Mrs. Elkins and Miss Katherine Elkins
are yet at their West Virginia home, but
they expect in the near future to join
the senator in Washington