The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1911-06-17
BY LA MARouIsE DE FoNTESoY.
w yHILE divorce is unknown In
w Italian law. yet the latter in
l " cnrta In u,

w Italian law. YET the latter in
certain eventralitles DEGREES
the annulment of marriages. The
grounds are almost Identical with
those of the canon law OF the Roman
Catholic Church, It is for reasons OF
this character that the italian courts
at Rome have just pronounced null and
void the marriage contracted Just two
years ago by Princess Fiammln!a
Odescalchi. one OF the most famous
beauties OF the Eternal City, to Don
Cioacchino Rumo. Prince OF SAINT An
timo. OF, the great prlncely and ducal
siciliah house OF Ruffo. founded by
shall OF the Kingdom OF Sicily In the
thirteenth century. The marriage took
place with great state in the cele-
brated chapel OF Pope Plus XII. in the
odescalchi Palace at; Rome, on the
Square OF the Apostles.
The prince is very handsome man;
and after the young couple had pro-
ceeded to the Vatican and received the
blessing OF the Pope. they went 10
Paris for the first stages of their
honeymoon Three days later the
bride returned to Rome. and not long
afterwards instituted the proceedings
before the canonical court of the
Vatican. and before, the judicial tri-
bunals of the government. for the an
nulment of her marriage which has
now been granted
The decree authorizes her to resume
her maiden name. and 1t is under the
la far ha c ba n h<r
marriage. with young Roman pat
rician widower. who lost his own wife
last year in childbirth.
The affair has created a great sensa-
tion, not only throughout Italy, but
also In Austria and Hungary. where
the Odescalchis form part and parcel
OF the OLD aristocracy. The princesss
brother is eighth Prince OF Odescalchi
OF the Holy Roman Empire, is Duke OF
pire. Magnate Chat is to say. peeD
of the Kingdom OF Hungary. and a
grandee of the first class OF the
Kingdom of Spain. The Odescal chis
have furnished several Popes to the
Church of Rome.
King George has appointed the Duke
of Northumberland to be the Lord
High Steward OF England for his. coro:
nation. and as such he Will walk next
before the sovereign. in the procession
into the Abbey, and will bear the
Stewardship Of England Is the highest
office in the realm. and dates back to
period prior to the reign of Edward
the Confessor. Formerly 1t was a
|HuuthoritS' to that OF the sovereign.
But monarchs finally came to the con-
cluslon that 1t was dangerous to in;
trust so much power to subject. and
t,o, TAD ha hf On Inf nfr
lord high stewards for some special
purpose, such as coronations. or pre-
siding the House of Lords when sit
ting to try charges of treason or
The last occasion of anything Of the
kind was when some years ago the
present Earl Russell was tried by his
fellow peers for the felony Of higamy,
bury, the then Lord Chancellor of the
realm, was specially appointed as
Lord High Steward OF England, to
preside the proceedings. The first
for purposes of trials by the House
of Lords, was Edward Earl of Devon.
when he received the white wand OF
office as such, for the trial of John
reign of Henry w.
In olden times the lord high stew
ard used to determine the claims of
those with pretensions to perform SER
Vices OF different kinds at the corona
lions, some of these services being as
ISOLATED with the tenure OF their re-
spectiye estates. But already, bySs the
time Queen Elizabeth came TO the
throne. these duties had been trans
ferred to committee Of the Priyy
Council sitting as a court of claims.
In the place of the lord high steward
Queen Elizabeth,Sindieed. was SO afraid
of the lord high steward, whom che
was compelled to nominate for her
coronation. making undue use of his
! prerogatIves, ms such, that In making
out the commission to Horny. Earl OF
1fArundel, which, still In existence. bears
| the date of January II, $50, she
caused 1t to be stipulated therein that
| tile term OF his Office should last only
from the rising OF the sun on tho 18th
day. ofsJanuary. (the date Of her coro-
nation) to- the setting Of. tho sum
1.-The prefix of"Your Grace, ]" by Virtue
off, his office. and outranks NIL the
| great officers OF state and peers of