The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1914-02-14

Just before leaving Madrid for
Seville the other day. King Alfonso
bestowed tho Order of the Golden
Fleece upon the Marquis de In Nina,
who Is almost rs well known In Lon
don and Paris as In the Spanish capt.
tai. and who, q Liberal In politics, has
long been most trusted member of
tho encourage OF Dowager Queen
Christina and or his young sovereign.
His sister was tho late Duchess OF
Alba and of Berwick, who died In Paris
Just ten years ago. and consequently
no Is nm uncle OF tho present Duke of
Alba. as Well of tho Duke of PEN
aranda, the crack polo player OF Spain.
and also OF their sister. the handsome
Duchess Of Santona. popularity known
as Dona Sol
Already very rich In his own right,
the Marquis de Ia Nina will become one
or the wealthieat men in Spain on the
death or his stately old mother, psr-
haps the most wonderful old lady In
the land of tho idalgos---ccrtainly tho
srandest. For bhe Is Duchess OF Fer
nan Nunez, in her own right, as we'll
az possessed OF four other duchies,
seven marquisates, eleven titles of
countess, besides numerous other Dig
mites, all of which will on her death.
but not until then, come to the Mar
outs de la Nina
They were shared by his Italian born
father. until the latter's death, ao-
cording to Spanish custom and law
He was known as the Duke de For
nan Nunez. and ns such nlled the role
OF Ambassador OF Spain In Paris in
tho most magnificent fashion. Inter
course with the duchess was a constant
| source of perplexity to the wife OF
President Grevy. who Ind been his
cook, and who was totally devoid of
any manners, breeding or savoir fairo
Nine. Grevy, whenever the duchess
visited or dined mt the Elysec, In her
capacity as ambassadress OF Spain, was
always In n dilemma. as to how to nd
dress her. Sometimes sho would apos-
trophizc her IA Madame lie Duchesse"
but more often as either Madame For
nan" or else as Madame Nunez."
Sh, was never quite sure which was
right. II, indeed. either.
| The Marquis de la Nina is ono of
the leading fgures OF the Spanish turf,
and has endeavored more than eay ono
else now living to popularize horse
racing In Spain, in the phase OF bull
lighting. He maintains the finest rae
Ing stable In Spain, which carries off
each year the honors at Seville. Mad
rid. barcelona and Malaga, while lie
has private race course OF his own
at Ia Flamenco, his fine place on the
banks OF the Tagus, near Aranjuez.
where he keeps his principal stud
farm.
The latter was founded by his
father, scion of one of the great houses
OF the old arlstocracy OF Italy, and who,
being not only n friend, but also Il
connection OF the late Duke OF Aosta,
did not disdain to receive from him the
Order of tho Golden Fleece when he,
Aosta. reigned for three years over
Spain, under tho title OF King Amad-
I "a i,,r,
because, with the exception OF the
Duke of Fernan Nunez, none OF the
great mobiles or Spain nor tho bearers
OF the historic name and titlo of that
Kingdom, would consent to frequent
the court of Amadeus. nor to receive
any honors at his hands, regarding him
as an alien.
The Marquis de In Minas only broth
er bears tho title or Duke of Mon
beilano, and is married to tho sister OF
those Escandons who are among the
richest landowners in Mexico. and who
are so noted in England and on the
Continent OF Europe. for their PROV
esses on the polo held.
The marquis himself IL married to
daughter of the late Count Niquena,
granddaughter OF old Marshal Concna,
marquis or havana, and makes his
home with her in the superb old Ger
WALTON Palace, at Madrid, filled from
cellar TO roof with art treasures, aud
with historic relies, conspicuous among
which are the saddle OF the Inflated
BoAbdil, last of the Moorish Kings OF
Granada, and the coat OF mail worn by
an ancestor OF the marquis, when he
| entered Granada, riding h. the side OF
king Ferdinand after the capture of
that city from The Moors in l4yl
Copyright, 1914, by the Brentwood
Company