Staunton spectator and vindicator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1896-1916, 1908-02-21
TITLES FOR 500 AMERICAN
GIRLS COST $3O8.0OO,O 900


OCCASIONAL LOVE MATCHES HAvH
ENDURED, BUT SHAME AND
IGNoMINY HAVE COME.
More than 500 American girls have
married titled foreigners, and a care
full statistician has figured that trifle
more than $3O8, ,OOO,0 has been taken
over seas through cupid's influence.
This amount does not include the for
tune of Miss Gladys Vanderbilt. who
became the bride of Count Szechenyi,
of Hungary.
Not only have the marriages Of
American heiresses filled the depleted
I Golfers of foreign noblemen, but many
| of the fair Americans have presented
their husbands with heirs to inherit
the titles. Also have the American
wives become prominent in politics and
society of foreign countries, notably
those who have married British noble.
men.
, But the record of infelicitous inter-
national marriages is certainly appsll-
ing and the divorce court history of
the past few years teens with the
n ames of titled foreigners who marri-
ed rich American girls. There are
few of these cases in which the Amer
ican wife did not bring the suit either
for separation or divorce.
Some of the matches have been love
matches, and in these instances, with
few exceptions, the American wives
have been happy. But these are the
exceptions that prove the rule. Un-
happiness, shame, and ignominy have
come In most of the international mar.
riages.
The most recent American heiress to
obtain divorce was the Countess do
Castellane, who was Miss Anna Gould
This was love match that ended dis
astrously. And when Miss Gould
married the picturesque Boni it was
confidently believed it was a union
that would bring happiness to the
bride. Miss Gould brought Sc, 600, 900
to her count.
When three sons were born to the
couple there was all the more reason
to believe the couple were happy. The
outcome Of the marriage is only too
well known. Humiliated. her woman s |
pride outraged. and her love dead. the |
Countess de Castellane sought freedom |
in the divorce court. and was fortu-
nate enough to win 1t.
The marriage of Consuelo Wander
bilt to the Duke of Marlborough was
another unfortunate alliance. Miss
Vanderbilt paid $40 ,0OO, 900 for her title.
The separation of the duke and duchess
of Marlborough constituted the great.
est sensation of years. King Edward
did what he could to prevent the up
heaval, but failed.
1t was said at the time of tho sep.
aratlon that the duchess had agreed
to settle 100000 year on her titled
husband in order to obtain the separa :,
tion without resort to the courts.
The duchess retained possession of
her two children, the Marquis of
Bandford and Lord Ivor Spencer.
Churchill.
Miss Mary Goelet, who married the
Duke of Roxburghe, in May, 1908, was ,
one of the wealthiest of American
heiresses to marry a titled foreigner. :,
Miss Goelet. the daughter of Ogden
Goelet, was worth In her own right
over $40, 100000. This entire amount
was actually Miss Goelet's dowry, but
only small part of her inheritance
dowry amounted to more than $1,OOO,- =
900, was settled on her husband-not y
more than 81 600, 600. it was reported.
This union has apparently been hap
py one.
The Bardley Martins became allied F
with the English nobility in 1903,
when Cornella Martin married the
Earl of Craven. The BRIDES dowryl
was more than 81 600 600. Children a
graced this union. II
Miss Adele Grant, daughter of Gen. q
eral F. D. Grant, and granddaughter o
OF General U. s. Grant, brought
small dowry in money to Prince Can 8
tacuzene of Russia. to whom she was 1
married in 1899. An heir has been u
born to the count. e
A notable international alliance was
that of Miss Mary Letter, of Chicago
and Washington, to Lord Curzon, af- G
viceroy of India. Lady Cur.
IN is now dead She was one of the
most brilliant American women abroad Il
d uLing her day. and achieved great u
honor both for herself and for her bus II
band. o.
Marguerite ("Daisy') Letter, her -
sister, also married title, and became o
the wife of the Earl of Suffolk. Both =
American women brought their hus !.
bands dowries of 81, 600, 900 each. Thev - =
were the daughters of Levi q Letter. y
Miss Helen Morton, daughter of Levi =,
P. Morton, former vice. president, ~
married the Due de Valencay. from =:
whom she was later separated. Her :.
father settled $50, 600 year on her. -
Miss Eva Bryant Mackay, who be- =,
came the Princess Colonna; Miss Hag. -
gin, who became the Countess Festetics, -,
and Miss Clara Huntington, who be- ~.
came the Princess Hatzfeldt were three
American heiresses who brought their -.
husbands million dollar dowries. -
And 60 runs the list through the
more than SEQ names