Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1909-08-09
GREATEST sPENDTHRIFTs.
Spending 1858 a Minute for II Years
Is Record of CasteIIanes.

SeventyOne million two hundred
thousand francs-roughly, $4,000, 600
spent in IL years Even Paris, accus-
toned as it has been to the spectacular
extravaganza of Count Boni de Castel-
lane, gasped when it heard the figures
read by Maitre Albert Clemenceau in
the crowded little room in the Palais
de Justice, where the divorced husband
of the Princess de Sagan, who was for
merly Anna Gould, was trying desper-
ately to regain his grasp on some of
the Gould millions. Paris, which pass
es quickly from one sensation to anoth-
er, will not soon forget this one.
It's the record of the world" ex-
claimed one who knew the Castellanes
before the transitory American dollars
gilded the name mo other spend
thrift in history outside of royalty ever
spent so much money in such short
time. It's unbelievable!"
But however unbelievable it may be, it
was quite true, for M. Ciemenceau read
the figures-submitted from New York
by Messrs. Coudert Bros, acting as at
torneys in sending funds to the Countess
Castellane, and also the list of the debts
that Boni de Castellane. still owes. And
when one takes into consideration that
of all this money practically none was
lest through bad investments or unwise
business ventures it is doubtful if history
holds record of private individual
squandering money so recklessly. 1t
must be remembered, too, that only a
negligible was lost in gambling, for
Count Boni de Castellane is not a plum
ger at baccarat or trente ct quarante or
at the races, although he attends the
races in the neighborhood of Paris after
the manner of other fashionable Paris
ianS.
Now that the fortune is gone, probably
the man who spent it could not give an
accurate statement of where it went, but
those familiar with the rise and fall of
the Castellane fortune say that nearly
all of the Counts financial troubles can
be accounted for on the theory that he
overreached himself in trying to produce
stroyed by sort of megalomania that
led him on to incur expenses that even
Kings and Queens of Europe could not
have afforded. For nearly all of the s14,-
0Oe, 900 was spent in establishing the Cas-
telianes in a supreme place in society, in
building a palace worthy of royalty. in
lavish entertainments and in the upkeer
|of two encountered estates
OF course, the famous marble palace in
the Avenue du Bois de Boulogne is the
largest single item in the long bill of ex-
travagances. Probably more Americans
have stared at it's pink walls than have
seen the Grand Trianon at Versailles
from which it was copied. Even Louis
XIV. whose craving for greatness caused
| him to assign himself attributes of the
Deity and to proclaim himself of the
Sun God, did not equal in the palace he
built for Nine. de Maintenon the splendos
Boni de Castellane gave to the reproduc-
ton. Where the Grand Trianon has walls
and columns of stone. the copy has mar
BILE. The grand entrance on the Avenue
Malakoff side is more magnificent thar
| the famous escalier d'honneur in the
Paris Grand Opera House. The costiles
marbles everywhere reflect the light like
| mirror of varied hues. Voltaire called
Versailles 1.-The bottomless pit of extra
vagance," yet the Sun God" for hi!
great palace, where 10000 retainers lived
and for the Grand Trianon for Nine. d,
lMaintenon, and for the magnificent parl
4 and gardens, with the most remarkabl.
fountain in the world. spent out of tn
1rcyal treasury only $200, 600 600. The hous
that Count de Castellane built in tn
/ Avenue de Bots de Boulogne whicl
could be put in part of the wings of TIN
palace at Versailles, cost s., 900 600 to bull
and as much more 1t is said, to furnish
lit is gorgeous inside with tapestries an
frescoes that Nine. de Maintenon woui
Ihave envied
There have been many lavish entertain
iments within the pink marble walls
4 Those whom Count Boni delighted t
Honor had all that the appetite of LII
cullus could desire. There was the re
tmembered visit of the King of Portuga
Don Carlos who was slain lew month
lago. Ever the official honors of France
lprofiigate in her courtesy to royal Wis
tors, paied before the private entertain
iment OF the Count and Countess de; Cas-
ttellane. Every delicacy that could be d
tvissd At the banquets. every trappin