The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1910-02-27
PR|NCE|SH BOUNDED
FOR COMMISSIONS
Mobiles and Tradespeople After
Portion OF Former Mrs.
Joseph Smiths Money.
COUNT BoNI GETS "RAKE-oFF"
Rejected Suitor Demands His
Share for Giving Del Drago
Fair Field.
BY VANCE THOMPSON.
Especial Gable to Tho Times Dispatch.

Especial Gable to Tho Times Dispa tch.
Paris, February c6.--Since the re-
turn OF the Prince Del Draga. the hus-
band of Mrs. Joseph smith, of the Lion
Brewery, New York, the most extrav-
agant and extraordinary commissions
have been demanded of him by his
friends" and by the tradespeople with
, whom he did business.
Among those who touched large
commissions was Count Boni de Cas-
tcllane His claim is based upon the
! fact that he introduced the Prince Del
Drago to a well-known goldsmith and
jeweler in the Rue de Ia Paix. when
o the prince placed a heavy order for
, silver for his mansion in the Rue
Bassano. Count Boni, who learned
the art Of "raking OFF, in the days
when he disbursed Anna Gould's cash.
received commission commensurate
with his ability and standing as
nobleman.
1t came none too soon, the counts
tuhas being very low. In a few weeks
nc VIII lose his stipend Of $4,000
yearly which he gains as deputy
therc being no hope Of his reelection
Count Bonis commission Is due more
to his social efforts than to anything,
else. Prince Del Drago. though the
grandson of Queen. has no such
| standing in Partisan society ms Count
/
| The AIarquisc dc Castcllane. Count
Boni's mother, is one of the old no.
| bility and at his request she invited
! the Princess Josephine Smith Del
Drago to RECEPTION at her house in
the Rue Constantine. The flood had
| put out the gas and electric lights.
and the function was given in flood
fashion by the light Of wax candles.
The American princess thus met al
most all of the old nobility of France.
| as well as many Italian aristocrats
1t is believed this will open the closed
ancestral palace of the -Four Foun-
tains' at Rome to Del Drago and his
hitherto unacceptable wife.
More Remarkable Commissions.
The prince is now in Rome pleading
with his irate parents to receive his
American princess, since she has al
ready been accepted BIZ the best
| Partisan society
| Another big commission has been
paid TO Count Dison who was former
~ IN the Italian diplomatic service. He
introduced the furniture dealer. lie
| asked % per cent. but finally took
| Is per cent. commissions.
The most curious of all is tho com
mission asked for by the vicomte de
Pontiac de Bordeau. This nobleinan is
trying to compel Prince Del Drago to
pay him percentage upon the entire
Lion Brewery fortune in other words,
a matrimonial commission. De Pontiac
himself was a suitor for the hand of
Mrs. Josephine Smith when Del Drago
entered the field, and pointed out that
he, being a prince, while De Pontiac
was only a provincial viscount, the
latter's chance Of winning the Amer
lean widow was extremely slight
De Pontiac, realizing the force of
I the argument. withdrew from the con-
la nny, h.
a commission. but Del Drago shrugs
/ his shoulders, for tho French courts
| have decided that a contract for SER
vices to bring about marriage is
immoral and cannot be enforced.
Another Change In "ChantecIer.',
Madame Simone, the leading lady in
F. "Chantecier is about to present her
young husband. Jean Casimir-Perier,
| the son of the late President of the
French republic, with a pledge of her
| affection, and Rostand is in despair to
I! find some one to replace the eX-wife
J of NJ. lie Bargy in the role OF the hen
/ pheasant.
On tho other hand, NJ. Guitry is
cheering UP. as he believes that his
protege, Yvonne de Brey. will be given
! Nine. Simone's role. Meanwhile the
| Is receiving congratulations from all
sides. Among the reasons advanced
| against the marriage of Nine. Simonc-
Benda-Le Bargy with young Perier was
! the disparity of age and the conse-
| quent danger lest the great French
family should die out. The interesting
! event is so near that the hen pheasant
\ VIII be obliged to leave the Theatre
| Porte Mt Martin in fortnight. Nine.
/ Simone's husband has resumed the
! practice OF going early to the flower
market every morning and buying
flowers for her as he did in his student
days at Sorbonne, when their WooinG
began The Casimir-Periers are striv-
ing heroically to win over the mother,
so that the baby may be born in the
famous family mansion. which has a
row of sixteen windows overlooking
the Place des Etats Unis. They urged
that it will be wholly unbecoming for
a child whose grandfather was a Pres
ident OF France and whose great
grandfather was Prime Minister OF
Louis Philippe to be born in a
hotel or lodging-ho
Mrs. Tevis Mckee Makes New Conquest
Mrs. Cornelia Constance Baxter
! Tcvis- Mckee has demonstrated an un-
l expected athletic ability by winning
/, several prizes at Cannes. and especial
n sly by carrying off the Ctretna Green
prize for polo, Instead of using ponies
!, the players were mounted on donkcys.
: which gave a peculiar novelty to the
9 game
Hart Mcllees appeal from the de-
. cislon of the divorce court is still
y pending, but the fair Cornclia's friends
believe that her winning of the Grettna
!, Green prize is al indication that sooner
5 Nor later she will add one more to her
long list of names.
! Pierre des peschants. president Of
I the Golf Club of Laboulie, made a
special tourney to Iannes to witness
her triumph, Indeed. 1t is to him
: that she owes her athletic prowess, as
: he coached her in golf at the fash
! lonable links near Versailles The
0 Deschants money was made in trade,
y but golf and lavish entertainments
+, nave got him into the best set in
! Paris.
Among those who congratulated Mrs.
Mckee on her polo victory were Prin-
cess Ghika, formerly Miss Singer, and
the Duchess de Visen. who was Miss
. Anita Stewart.
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