The Washington herald., 1921-05-29

He has been detained in South
America by illness. although much
of his time was spent in addressing
business men in South America on
trade conditions in the United
States. He surely has been missed!
+ + +
The social elect here are intensely
interested to hear that among the
recent arrivals from Europe in New
York is the Marquis Cusani-Confal-
onieri, who will be remembered in
America as having spent several
years in the United States as Ital-
ian ambassador at Washington. At
the time OF the completion of his
mission, at the end of 1913, there
was no foreign diplomat who had
succeeded to so marked a degree in
establishing relation not merely of
cordiality but also of personal
friendship, with President Wilson
and with William Jennings Bryan,
then secretary of state. Perhaps the
principal reason for his success
here. apart from the tact and
charming simplicity of manner.
wholly devoid of hauteur. which are
the hallmarks of the true grand
seigneur, was his strong sense Of
humor. This appealed in a special de-
gree to Americans and enabled him
to pass lightly over small troubles
and annoyances, where so many
other foreigners, no matter whether
in an official capacity or as visitors,
are so frequently opposed to mag
nifty them.
The Marquise de Fontenoy writes
Of Cusani:
"Cusani's debut at Washington
gave a cue to his character. He
happened to be alone in the chan
cellerie of the Italian embassy when
a young reporter called for the pur-
pose of obtaining some Information
about the new ambassador. Taxing
the marquis for one OF the clerks
the reporter gave free exercise TO
his spirit of inquiry about the en-
voy. asking, What kind of a man is
your new bossT Offering him cigar
cites by way of encouragement ht'
asking him whether he could NOT
come out and take drink ana pc
coming quite chummy. Finally with
many professions OF mutual good
will, the reporter departed. promls-
ing to return on the following after-
noon, when he was assured that an
effort would be made to find an op-
portunity of presenting him to the
boss-that is to say, the ambassa-
dOr-so that he could get for his
paper a personal interview.
when the reporter returned the
next afternoon and sent in his card
he was passed on from one liyeried
footman to another until he finally
reached the salon where the ambss-
sadress was receiving. The marquis,
catching sight of him. advanced to
greet him. and thereupon presented
him to the ambassadress, who well
coined him in the most charming
fashion. Then he carried of the
much reporter to the
buffet for a glass of champagne and
chatty interview. That estab-
lished the reputation of the Cusanis,
at any rate among the newspaper
fraternity of the national capital"
-Cusani. for whom Premier Gfolitti
has always entertained the highest
regard, enjoys great favor at the
court of the QuirinaI especially with
Queen Helene. This is largely due
toEthe fact thai he spent a number
OF years as Italian minister at Get
TIME, and was in that way the
channel not only of intercourse be-
tween the governments of Montene-
gro and of Italy, but also of COM
munications of an important per-
sonal and private character between
the king and queen OF Montenegro
and their royal son-in-law and
daughter. King Victor Emmanuel
and Queen Helene, of Rome.
During the war Cusani, in spite
of his rank as ambassador. insisted
upon rejoining the army as a fieu-
tenant, Of the reserve forces and
after a time, on account of his
age. was transferred to the ambu-
lance service Of the knights of the
sovereign Order OF st. John of Jeru-
salem, in which he repeatedly rfsked
his life on the front in rescuing the
wounded from the battlefield. He
also went on a special embassy to
Japan.
Cusani belongs on his fathers side
to one OF the old houses of the
northern italian aristocracy. and
through his mother is descended
from that Count Frederick Confa-
lonferf who played so notable q role
In the emancipation fof Lombardy
from foreign ruTes~ Possessed Of
considerable wealth in his own
right. as7weil as through the mar
quise. daughter OF one Of the his
toric families of Lombardy. he owns
grand old castle and large estates
few hours out from Milan.
Cusani has achieved considerable
distinction in literature. alike as a
poet and as a playwright, in the
Italian language as In the French,
which latter he speaks and writes
with the Naana Ak~ra.