From Millionaire Prince to Medical Student.

Otago Witness, Issue 2308, 26 May 1898, Page 52

From Millionaire Prince to Medical Student.

One of the most diligent and unobtrusive of medical students in Brooklyn is Francois Auersperg, who a few years ago was dazzling Vienna with his sumptuous equipages, his almost regal style of living and. his

boundless extravagance. As Prince Francois Yon Auesperg, the son of an Austrian Prime Minister, and intimately allied by blood with all that is best and most exclusive in Austrian society, he began life with every advantage that high rank and wealth can give. On Ms father's death the young Prince set to work to dissipate his patrimony, He had the advantage of a handsome face and a charming personality, which made him popular with all ranks of society. His tastes, however, were for theatrical friends, and these flocked round the young Prince in orowds. He lavished money on them right and left, and would entertain an entire troop in princely fashion for weeks at a time, surrounding them with eA'ery luxury that money could purchase. To one fair actress he gave a single present of jewellery which cost him £4000; for another he built and furnished a palatial house in the suburbs of Vienna. He gave dinners on which he spent a fortune and sent his guests home laden with costly presents. In this fashion his millions of florins took wings quickly; and his disasters were orowned when he began to speculate in property, about which he" knew nothing, and cared as little. Creditors became clamorous ; and in spile of all his friends could do to help the foolish young Prince he had to leave the country with the little money ho could save from the ruins. In New York he determined to " turn over a new leaf," and redeem the fxiture if he had ruined his past. He began to" study medicine, took rooms in an obsoure part of Brooklyn^ and under the name of Francois Auesbprg is working out his redemption with as much zeal as jhe spent in dissipating his fortune.