The Washington herald., 1909-02-07
D. RUDoLPH nE -.

IpUr-llne item appearing last week
In the society columns OF the local papers
announced that the Italian Ambassador
and Baroness Mayor des Planches had
entertained at an informal dinner for
Prince RospigIiosi, OF italy The Res-
pigliosis ever since their marriage have
had considerable difficulty in having their
marital status with regard 70 the Catho-
lie Church established 10 their satisfsc-
ton, and the princess being a Washington
+ girl the matter cannot fail TO interest AZ
this time
Princess RospigIiosi began life as Mary
Jennings, OF Washington. and married
Frederic Hale PaTkhurst. of Bangor,
Ne. who later divorced her. keeping
their two children for himself After sew
eral more OF less exciting years Mrs.
Parkharst went 10 Rome, where her re-
markabIe beauty created q sensation and
il was not long before she was engaged
10 Prince Rospigliosi, head Of the old his
toric house which hears his name Both
being Catholics. they wished to be united
BY religious ceremony. but the Roman
Catholic Church does not recognize di-
vorce. so that a decided refusal was given
70 the princes application.
Eventually the impatient couple were
married BY a civil authority, and. OF
course. their marriage was fully legal
according 10 the laws CT italy. They con
tinued. however, 10 desire a church oere-
mony. and persisted il their efforts TO oo-
tain il. For two or three years the prop
aganda was kept busy studying the
question whether the Parkhurst wedding
might not be considered null since Miss
Jennings. being a Catholic. married with
out q dispensation, Mr.. Parkhurst, who
had never. according TO his own state
ment. been baptized into any religion
The Propoganda, much 10 its credit,
considering Prince Rospigliosrs influence
in the Vatican. decided against the
nroposition. and 10 this day II has abioed
By its decision
It's action has had far-reaching con
seouences. as a decision in favor OF the
Pospigliosis would have affected thou
sands OF marriages IN all parts of the
world including America The fury o.
the prince and princess was olympic
A daughter IN course OF time w1s born
10 the RospigIiosis. and even 70 this
event hangs q tale OF trouble As the
nrincess could not speak Italian appHca-
tion was made 10 the English Blue Nuns
for a competent nurse. The nurse was
promised and all arrangements were maae
on the belief that she was forthcoming
About a week before the expected happy
event the princeIy couple received curt
note saving that the Sister could not 1ul-
I'll her engagement IN the end, a
Protestant trained nurse came from Lon
don and only just IN time Princess
Rospigliosi has never been received by
Roman society Even QuirinRl society IS
Catholic and the rule is against divorces
An exhibition Of women's work and o.
precious and CURIOUS objects for The bene-
fl OF the Workirsman's Pension Fund
v-as recently opened IN a room bred for
the purpose IN The Piazza Rospig!losl
and the princess. VINO owns some tncom-
parable pearls given by Louis XIV 10
Nile MaDcfni the celebrated niece OF
Cardinal 0fazariI. kindly loaned the gems
10 the exhibition She wrote on card 20
be placed with them. Pearls q the pin
csss Rosnigliosi~ ~ The committee. t0rn
between the desire - exhibit the al
traction and not 10 appear 10 recognize
The princess. replaced her card with ar
other bearing the inscription, Pearls
az the House of R0spigliOsi.' But they
reckoned without American pride. for
they soon discovered that the princess
had withdrawn the pearls and that the
committee had suddenly come into very
bad odor with many fair-minded mem
bers OF the American colony
8rs. Marie Jennings Reid ParkhuTSt
was married August .. 1901 10 Prince
Rospigliosi- She was born in New Or
leans. La. on Jackson street, just op-
posire the Cathedral Nay I5. 1855 Her
parentage on both sides come from q long
line Of mustrious and famous people.
Her father Col Samuel Chester Reid.
was born in New York City. In October,
ISIS. and was one Of the most striking
and picturesque characters in this cOun-
try. He had wide and brilliant career
ss lawyer. soldier. and man Of letters.
There was no man better known in Wash
fnCton. which for nearly half a century
was his most favored city
His father. Capt. Samuel Chester Reid,
was the famous early American naval
hero. Capt. Reid. following the inher-
tied vocation OF his ancestors, went to
sea from New York al the early ase q
eleven lie was captured by a French
priVateer and carried into BaSSetcrre.
Guadalupe. where he was confined six
months Il was as commander Of The
brie-of-wsr General Armstrong that
Capt Reid fought one Of the greatest
naval fights iu American history
The 1-r--- ~ar-,a~~ took r,1arn fr
Roads. Azores Islands. on September 2-27.
IslA A brig Of ninety men and officers
al told, and only seven guns fought
against 4 British squadron Of three yes
seIs. totaiing over 2.000 men and 1a5 guns.
The Armstrong was at anchor in a neU-
trsl port when attacked. but this pluCky
American stood by his ship with his
handful Of men and after a series Of
engagements. lasting over two days. cem-
pietely defeated the enemy. who suffered
& loss Of 20 killed and 40 wounded. The
loss Of the American vas but two killed
and seven wounded
Finding his ammunition exhausted. I
Cart. Reid scuttled his vessel and went
ashore with his crew and took posses
sion Of an old Gothic convent. knocked
away the drawbri5ge. ran Up the Amer
lean colors- and bid defiance TO the Brit /
ish commanders demand for surrender /
with the historic remark. NO surrender +
until captured. The British Comman- /
der sailed away
soon after reaching New York CAPT
IReid received the appointment as harbOr !
master and warden Of that port. He de-
signed the present form of the American
fsg While visiting in Washington. the /
Committee on Naval Affairs called upon
him % make a permanent design for the /
flag This he did. reducing the stripes /
IN thirteen 20 represent the original
States and suggested that star be added I
20 the Union for each new state.
The first flag Of the present design was