Daily press. [volume] (Newport News, Va.) 1896-current, 1908-03-21
HITCH IS OVER DOWRY TO Be PAID
Duke Said to Demand 100000 Annual.
Iy-Losal Obstacles in Way of Wed.
ding Could be Overcome If Financial
Arrangements Could be Agreed Up
on.

Katherine II. Elkins Will not be rea.
lied. Is indicated very strongly here
Friends OF the family assert that the
engagement no longer exists. and that
the duke Will sail for home on Sat
urday. While there still may 10 4
possibility of obstacles being over
come, and the match yet being an.
nounced. the strongest statement that
could be made by Italians who are
supposed TO know somethIng OF the
affairs OF the Duke OF the Abruzzi,
was:
"Thc engagement is not yet an
nouncod. 1t may be announced soon.
II may be announced year hence, II
may never be announced"
The facts seem TO be that. in the
first place, the duke, against the adj
vice of the King of Italy. and on tho
lnsistoncc of financial advisors asked
~ u condition to the marriage that
there be settled on him and his wifo
n large income. said to he about $780,
600 year.
In the second place. tho dinlculties
OF Italian law. private statutes. and
stiff court regulations. permitting n
member of the royal house of Savoy
To marry tho daughter nl commoner,
and one OF another and Republican
country were not at first fully con-
sidered. This has been serious
hitch. Indeed. and If II were not over
como. the American bride of the duke
would not DO vested with his title or
rank and instead OF living at Rome
and received at court, would reside
at Turin.
Objections Might be Overcome.
But, curiously enough. II was ex-
planned IL the settlement were large
enough. the duke would have sun.-
Client Influence TO overcome the oh.
Jectlons to his wlfo sharing In his rank
and title, and that the marriage would
not then be morganatlc.
Under such circumstances the Elk
ms family refused to sanction the en-.
gagement, and Miss Elkins. who Is n
spirited girl. acquiesced. There Is no
doubt that she and the duke are very
fond OF each other, and there have
been no apprehensions that the match
would have been unhappy. But the
Idea that II should be necessary to
provide such large dot and at tho
samo time have doubt as to her shar-
Ing In the title seemed TO have spoiled
this international romance.
J When the duke and Miss Elkins
frat met. II is said. they were mutual
~ attracted to each other. and, being
thrown much In each others company
last spring. when he was here IA tho
commander of an Italian squadron
there was soon gossip coupling their
names. But no serious thought was
given to the stories until II was learn
ed that the duke had come to this
country incognito to see Miss ElkIns
He followed the lady and her mother
10 Miami. Fla. and thence to ST. An.
gustlne. and. after spending a fcw DAVIS
there, came back with them to Wash
ington.
Senator Elkins Not Pleased.
AS soon as II was known that the
son of the house of Savoy was I'm
Florida with Miss Ekins, Washington
became certain that there was a royal
wedding coming. This, coupled with
statements sent from Italy from
friends of the duke that he fully OK.
pected TO claim an American bride.
apparently left no doubt as 10 what
his Intentions wore. Matters seem
J TO have come to a crisis Tuesday
night following the arrival here vi
Mrs. Elkins, Miss Ell,Ins, and the
duke.
There was gathering at the Ital-
Ian Embassy that night which was
attended by Senator and Mrs. Elkins.
Senator Elll,ns Is n practical man and
ne got to The bottom of things very
quickly. It Ia said that he Is not In
favor OF American girls wedding for.
eigners OF title anyway, and he oh.
jected TO an enormous settlement.
Naturally the proposal that there
should be settlement of
100000 year grated on his
feelings. Coupled with the sug-
gestion was condition that the prin-
ciral yielding tho requisite sum should
DO deposited In Italy. This meant, at
8 per cent. a cool s2000,000. Tho
duke. 1t is said. has sadly depleted his
fortune in the numerous expeditions
of travel, adventure and exploration
on which he has been engaged He
had essentially been man OF action.
He has sought the pole. he has climb
ed the Mountains of the Moon and he
has hunted and explored In Africa.
with engaging manners, great frank
ness aud naturalness. and with a
square jow, he Ia just such a prince
as would delight an American girl
who also happened 10 possess the
spirit of adventure.
House OF Savoy Reported Willing.
Since the meeting at the italian
Embassy OH Tuesday night there has
been great amount of cabling to the
Italian government. Numerous sto-
rics have como from Italy showing
great satisfaction on the part OF the
royal family with tho proposed en-