The Washington times., 1920-04-02
d. c. Shocked BY Plans
OF Mrs. Stiness to Wed
Marquis Who Has Wife

What next7 asks Washington So
ciety, which has been following close
ly the checkered career OF Mrs. Inez
Spraugue Stiness. granddaughter OF
William Sprague. civil war governor
OF Rhode Island. and Kate Chase,
famous Washington beauty OF her
day, on learning that the beautiful
diVorcee has given Paris its worst
shock In years by her latest romance.
Marquis Has wife.
Pursued for almost ten years
since she was divorced in Paris In
1911 from william Stiness. son OF her
grandfather's ancient enemy-by no
BILE. but usually needy, suitors, Mrs.
Stiness has varied the announcement
OF her plans by stating she never
would wed again or that she was
about to do so.
The latest dispatches from Paris,
where she has elected to make her
home since her divorce. tell OF her
engagement TO marry the Marquis
Santini- Pacinelli, an Italian well
known in Washington and New York.
But IL also Is revealed that the mar
quis is not at liberty to wed just now
because he has a wife, an American
girl, who is said TO have been living
in seclusion in New York since 1914.
This situation, ordinarily so discon-
certing to a prospective bride, how
ever, docs not apepar to have per-
turbed Mrs. Stiness or her family, as
a Paris cable says arrangements are
going forward for a big dinner party
next week to celebrate the engage
ment. 1t has. though, set Paris fash
ionable circles agog. The view Is
held that as an index of the postwar
social trend II opens new horizons OF
matrimonial enterprise, and II also Is
being profoundly discussed by emil
nent Socialists In connection with the
scarcity of husbands in Europe at
present
: Among the guests invited to the en-
gagement party is Paul Panl9ye, who
several months ago was rep9rted en-
gagged to Mrs. Stiness. In the interim
between the report OF Panleve as the
favored suitor Of the fascinating d.
vorcee and the announcement of her
engagement to the Marquis Santini-
Pacinelli, gossip connected her name
with that Of the Marquis Celiani. an
other Italian. u
Had Other suitors.
IS These were the more recent Of her
suitors who were popularity accorded
chance of success, however, and
followed capt. M Idfudicis VI INC
French artillery, veteran of the
Marine, Somme and Verdun. and well
known in New York and Washington.
Captain Pardanei and Mrs. Stiness
would have. been wed while on
motor trip from Narragansett to
Washington in September, 1917, had
a motorcycle policeman not inter-
fered. ,.sss., .,.
He arrested the couple after their
automobile had collided with another
on the baltimore pike and Mrs. Stiness
was fined $25 for reckless driving by
a Laurel Judge. At that time Mrs.
Stiness said she and the captain were
on their way to Washington to see
about her entering the service OF the
Government and had intended to be
married on the way.
Once before. since her divorce, II
was believed certain Mrs. Stiness was
about to wed. This was in Septem-
ber, 1911, when she crossed the At
lantic from France on the same liner
with LeCompte SainteCroix de la
Rouciere, who then was commission
er general Of the French colonies to
the Panama Exposition. Friends OF
the count at the time asserted that