LAVISH MARQUIS

Hokitika Guardian, 13 December 1932, Page 2

LAVISH MARQUIS

PRINCE OF SPENDTHRIFTS.

GAVE VAST ENTERTAINMENTS.

LONDON, October 29

Marquis Boni d« Castellane, fir t husband of the present. J)uchc (ss de Talleyrand (Anna Gould, daughter of Jay Gould, the American millionaire), himself a celebrity as the last of the “Grands Seigneurs,’’ died in Paris thirf week at the age <>f 85.

.Since iliis- divorce in 1906 the Afarqui.o had lived in retirement- lit by memories of his forme r magnificence. He himself wrote: “A millionaire should know how to spend his millions and no one knew better than I how to handle a fortune ”

Tn the late 'nineties the receptions of the 'Marquis and Marchioness, organised on an eighteenth-century scale of brilliance and extravagance, were the talk of two continents. He was known a s the “Prince of Spendthrifts.” His coach was gilded like a kings. Hi. 3 bed alon e cost £30,000. Ilis debts at one time amounted to £850,000.

A CARPET OF ROSES. The Marquis de Castellane first be came famous a B a man of fashion, a “Bean Brummel” of Paris. He was always extravagantly dres'-ed and spent lavishly, it being his proud boast that b e spent 60,000,000 francs (£2,400,000 in those days) in a dozen years. The eleven years of his marriage when his means were unlimited, were marked by a life of great extravagance. When King Edward paid his first visit to Paris. . “Boni" D- he was known) spent an enormous sum in a firework display. .'At iho C°we.s Regatta in 1899 he had 4000 roses S “* <>!<* as a oarpet.