FINANCE & MARRIAGE.

Taranaki Daily News, 2 August 1930, Page 1 (Supplement)

FINANCE & MARRIAGE.

THE HARD, HARD WORLD.

(By

“Michael.”)

“A sensation has been caused in Paris Society,” read William aloud as he peered intently over his forgotten egg nt-' the newspaper propped against the boarding-house toast stand, “by the announcement that Princess Amcdce de Broglie, aged 74 and one of the wealthiest women in France, is- engaged to 1 Prince Louis Ferdinand of Bourboii, a cousin of the King of Spain. The prince is 42 years of age and looks younger." “It docs not say how she looks,” said the banker, as William. improved ' his pause for breath and nourishment by calling for more marmalade. The three-quarter hour struck, and there was a general exedus. William continued to' read to the dentist and the airman who alone remained. .'

“Princess Amedeo’s children have filed a suit asking the court to remove the estates from the mother’s card, alleging she is dissipating her fortuho upon her fiance, and intends to sell historic jewels and homes.” . s :• The airman: Hili. He’s a pretty shrewd fellow that Prince chappie. She’s ever the three score and ten mark now. •Wealthiest woman in France!’ - And he’s only 42 and looks younger. Oh, he knows what he’s doing. Say she lasts' another ten years. He'll be. 52 and ‘looking younger’—good for another 20 years’ fun with her money. “Prince* Louis was recently engaged to Mrs. Malufllc Cnty, widow of an Amerieni steel kh g,” continued' William, still reading the paper. “This betrothal was -broken off over a ‘money settlement mis-understanding.”’- ‘ '

Airman: I thought so. A clever fellow with his own interests ever before hini. Well, good luck to him if she is fool enough to accept his flattery. Dentist: It reminds me of a holiday I once spent in a northern city. We were at a seaside hotel and there were a great many other people also staying there. Amon" them was an old fellow of 70, about *six .foo/ three inches, big and broad with a very fierce and cruel face. He had with him- his wife, a tiny dwarfed lady of less than four feet and fairly young. We found later that they were on their honeymoon'and ' that she was his third wife. One lady at our table had taken a very real aversion to the man and, when this yarn about his third honeymoon was passed round, I ' shall never forget her words, full of. loathing, ‘I would like to know what happened to the other two wives.’ ”

Airman (following his train of thought regarding the pleasant disposal of the money): You know, she probably won’t last 10 years. It is seldom that descendants of European Royal houses hold on after tlid allotted span. Dentist (to the airman with a grin): You know, I believe you would follow the Prince’s example if you >, -had half a chance. You do love money, don’t you? ....■ Airman (still, preoccupied with visions of wealth): That Prince is a shrewd fellow. He left the American, lady, even though she was the widow of a steel king. I wonder what the misunderstanding over the money was? Or did he \ merely make that an excuse to get awayf Perhaps he found that the American widow was-.‘tough’ and like- ■ ly to see him go under. Dentist, to William: Our friend is intrigued and his imagination has caught—the glitter of easy gold. We will certainly follow his career with interest. . ■ Airman, still dreaming: I have been reading some of Maupassant lately— ~ Dentist: Oh! ' —and the paragraph savours of him. What a fine story for his class of readers lie could make out of it. . . . Once . j upon a time there was a child bora, of royal blood but in poorly circum- ' ■ stances. The child’s father, instead of following the advice of his wise , men,' followed instead the dictates of. his own heart and, leaving the rich but cold and haughty princess who had as a dowry the wide stretches of .vinefields, in southern France, chose for his bride a poor but beautiful little dressmaker. His people were horrified. The grounds of his castle fell into ruin through lack of wealth and the love match, so happy at first, was inclined at times to become very bitter, sharp words and long alienees showing how the pair were drifting. . ' ' Finally, the boy was born. The castle, lordly home of ancestors for generations / back ■ was falling into disrepair .an.d-.tl«.ft.^__. ; father had ceased to speak to . his wife, the little maker of dresses, dreaming instead of the affluence and comfort which " would have reigned over his had he married instead the wealthy prill-'-cess. The child brought them together for a time, but again the couple drifted and the little lady, pining away through lack of attention and love, died when the young prince was but two years of age. The father determined .that his son should succeed where he had failed and took upon himself his education. He impressed on him the necessity for seizing chances; he taught him the value of money; he taught him love. By the time the boy was-twenty’ he knew as much of the world as his father and, moreover, though wont to wear the wondering face of the country ; boy, was of an artistic temperament and had developed a strong leaning towards literature and art, the which his father wisely encouraged. Hence, when two years later he expressed a desire to seek wider fields the plan was upheld by his father, whose final instructions were that he bring home a beautiful wife and money enough to repair the family fortunes. . , The city life-awoke all those traits of character that had been instilled into him by the watchful father and for ten years he led a grasping and selfcentred life."'- Constant letters from the south urged him to hurry and bring . homo his wifo-nand incidentally the ; ; dowry—for his father was growing old ...7 and was sadly !n debt. The young prince abandoned his art and set about. looking for a suitable wife. For another year ho led a riotous life and became ono of the acknowledged beaux>of Paris j —and then he xnet Fleur ....

. Maid (to airman,’ •' jwith. . disdainful glance) 1 Telephone’ please.