FORTUNES LOST FOR WIVES.

Timaru Herald, Volume LXXVIII, Issue 11998, 21 February 1903, Page 3 (Supplement)

FORTUNES LOST FOR WIVES.

(Tit-Bils.) Men are often accused of sordid motives in seeking wives, but there are many recent instances which go to prove that, so far from being fortune-hunters, many men are content to think the world well lost for love.

It is Mr Cornelius Vanderbilt, the oldest son of the late millionaire, Cornelia'; "Vanderbilt (senior), who has made the greatest sacrifice on record for the sake of the girl he loved. He felL in love with the charming Miss Grace Wilson, whose father, Mr Richard Wilson, was an object of •especial dislike to the elder Mr Vanderbilt. In defiance of his father's express command, Cornelius junior insisted on marrying the lady. This act cost him an enormous fortune, for when his father died, in 1899, the younger son, Alfred, was made heir, receiving £9,000,000 down, while to Cornelius was left merely the comparatively trumpery sum of £300,000. It is, however, satisfactory to know that the marriage has proved an absolutely ideal one, and that Cornelius has evinced no ill-will towards his younger brother because of the latter's good luck. A somewhat similar case was that of Mr Charles Tiffany's son; Bur*uett Tiffany. He fell in love with, and married, a dowerless young lady, of whom his father disapproved. When the elder Mr Tiffany died, he left the great part of his large fortune to his younger son, Louis Tiffany. Burnett Tiffany sacrificed £400,000 by his marriage, and as the young couple quarrelled and separated on the tenth day after the ceremony, it may be said that his honeymoon cost him £40,000 a day. A well-known young English officer, who became engaged lust year to a charming Irish girl, did so against the wishes of his mother, who called the Court of Chancery to her aid to prevent their prospective maiv riage. But the young couple, in company with the young lady's father, hurried ove"r to Scotland, where they were beyond the immediate jurisdiction of the Court. The mother of the bridegroom arrived in Edinburgh at the same time, and endeavoured to have her son arrested. But the chief constable refused to endorse the writ, and so did the Lord Justice General. Eventual!, the ceremony took place. Luckily the young officer has some private fortune, but it is believed that he has sacrificed prospects of a very much larger income by his marriage.

Baron von Ketteler, the well-known German diplomat, who was at Pekin during the siege of the Legation, braved tinprospect of the loss of aIL his worldly advancement for the sake of the woman he loved. She was Miss Ltdyard, an American, a very beautiful and charming girl whom the Baron met while ho was attached to the Washington Embassy some ten years ago. German diplomats have by law to obtain the permission of their Government to marry, and any Ambassador mat tying a lady of the country in. which he is .serving is forced immediately to give up hiy appointment.

The Baron's request was met Dy an unqualified refusal from the Chancellor, Von Caprivi. But be was not discouraged. He threw up his appointment, went home, and worked every possible influence. Von Caprivi was adamant, so rite .Ambassador went ■b".~k to America and got married. Fortunately for him, at that very time Prince Hokeulohe succeeded Caprivi as Chancellor. He was more sympathetic, and eventually the persevering diplomat was restored to favour and given an appointment at Pekiu.

Something more tlj.-i.ii mere money was given up by a young Russian mimed .Maritski, who, in the spring of last year, was married to Nathalie Kafiitch. who' had been banished to Siberia fur implication in a Polish conspiracy. Maritski refund to be. separated from bis Inidc, although she begged him to give up (he idea of marriage Tin; authorities permitted the wedding to take place in the prismi chapel, both bride and groom wearing convict clothes. Next da» the Mvo <„.f '„„, f,„. ,],..},. p.iOO-milc journey to tin- *,, H mim>. Ii \< ill be dim year., before nthrr uf 'hen .-..>. again the face of a relaliou or friend.

Equally pbickv was a v/ium» Hungarian lever who fell in hm. with n. belle of his iKttuo village, Dvbifcziti. SiV lel'tisctl

him because he was bow-legged. He at once went to an hospital and begged the doctor, to break his legs and re-set them. A hey at first refused to perform so dangerous an operation, but he insisted, and at last they yielded. He was in bed for many weeks, and incidentally spent all his savings on his cure. But when he at last eft hospital, straight as a die and nearly two inches taller, he felt repaid "for his sufferings, tune and money. The happy pair were married last Whit Sunday.