The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1913-03-29
BY No Means First Occasion on
Which She Has Endeavored
to End Her Life.
BY IA MAnaUIsE DE FoNTENoY.

~ RINCESS TERESA COLONNA's
attempt to commit suicide on
Sunday last at the Grand Hotel
a; Rome is by no means the first oc-
casion on which she has endeaVored to
take her own life. Indeed. there have
been several attempts OF this KIND
since she lost her reason, near thirty
years ago.
Her mental condition during these
three decades has been no secret TO
the great world, either in England or
In Italy. though the general public has
been ignorant thereof. AT the same
time the leading daily and weekly
newspapers in London would have
done we'll If a year ago they had takon
the trouble to make some slight In
quiries as to the personality and char
acter OF tho princess before they
printed the letters which she address
ed to them over her signature. de-
nouncine the atrocities which she in
sisted had been committed by her
countrymen, that Is to say, the Itai-
ians, during their military operations
in Tripoli. These charges, In spite OF
their extravaganza. excited widespread
attention among those ignorant OF her
mental condition. by reason of the
fact that her two married daughters,
Dona Isabella Chigi. and Donn VIC
gether with Princess Helen OF Italy.
Duchess OF Aosta, were serving AS Red
Cross nurses in the ambulances ut
Tiipoli.
Naturally the letters which Princess
Colonna had had printed in the Eng
lish papers. were reproduced In the
italian press. and resulted in much
popular Indignation, and in torrents OF
abuse being lavished upon her. Her
aX-
pia nation TO the public, and the result
Is that ever since she has been a sub
jcct for abuse, as mendacious. unpa-
triotic. and Heaven knows what be-
sides.
The princess, who. born OF an Eng
lish mother. IS far more English than
Italian. first lost her reason a couple
OF years after the birth OF her young
est daughter. the Princess Tearo. She
had become at the time an object OF
infatuation on the part Of the young
Marquis Napoleon de Roccagiovine,
great grandson of that Lucien Bona
parte who was younger brother of
the great Emperor Napoleon, and a
great grand nephew. therefore. OF King
Joseph Bouapartc, who spent so many
years at Bordentown. y. ].
The marquis made no concealment
OF the fact that he had lost his heart
10 Princess Teresa, who was renowned
FOR her beauty. No one has ever ven
turcd to hint that there was anything
questionable in the young mans ad
miration. But her husband, fearing
that the marouis's attentions might
give rise to unpleasant comment, re-
ruested him, in the most courteous
fashion and for the princess's sake,
To abstain. at any rate for time.
from visiting the Colonna Palace.
On receiving this communication,
young ccagiovine. altogether beside
himself at the idea that he could pos
sibly have compromised the fair name
of the object Of his alteration. blew out
his brains. leaving n note asking that
his favorite scarf-pin a jcweled but
terny pierced through the heart by a
ruby headed pin. should be presented in
his name to the princess.
The tragedy created II tremendous
sensation at Rome. 1T wrecked the
mind Of the princess. who. upon a par
tial return to lucidity, developed so
pronounced an aversion for her hus-
band that she refused TO speak to or
remain with him, or even to bear his
name. She took up her residence in
England under the wing of her
the wife OF Lord Walsingham having
buried in turn her second husband, the
Italian Duke OF san Teodoro, and her
first husband, Lord BurGhersh, eldest
son and heir of tie Earl OF Westmore-
land. Lady Walsingham herself was
OF somewhat romantic origin, having
been born several months after the
death of her father, the gallant and
immortal Locke" OF whom Lord Lytton
writes in his ERNEST Maltravers," and
who. having made runaway match
,tx-~ -i.+o m acI, q
drowned in an open boat under the
very eyes of his bride during their
honeymoon in italy
The princess's husband the late Don
Marc Anthony Colonna, chief of all the
Colonnas, and Prince Assistant Of the
Holy Seat, always manifested the most
chivalrous regard and devotion to his
afflicted wife, never allowing himself
to be Influenced In any way by her at
titude towards him. He declined to
secure judicial separation. and al
though she was rich in her own right.
through her father, the Italian Duke
of SGn Teodoro, he made point OF
surrounding her I'm England with every
luxury and comfort. She had her
country seat and her town house IN
London. and he kept her daughters,
who lad remained with him, in con-
slant intercourse with her.
Gradually she appeared to have re-
covered her health and her reason, and
to have become sensible to tha devo-
ton of her husband. She announced
her intention OF returning to Rome
TO resume her place at the head OF
his household at Rome. and also his
name: for while in England, she had
insisted on being described by her
fathers title. that Is to say. rs Duchess
Of San Teodoro.
Ru, the racnnoIlla ton. such AZ II