THE BONANZA KING AND THE EX-QUEEN OF SPAIN.

South Canterbury Times, Issue 2750, 16 January 1882, Page 2

THE BONANZA KING AND THE EX-QUEEN OF SPAIN.

The pretty and showy wife of a Californian magnate, generally supposed to be the richest man in the world, was not a little gratified at being received with open arras by the good-tempered but always necessitous, Mistress of the Palace of Cascourt. The lady alluded to, who thinkk nothing of wearing any amount of costly dress and diamonds that throw everyone else in the shade, was constantly inyited to the receptions given by Queen Isabella, was asked to grand dinners, at which she was placed at the Queen’s right hand, and was treated in every way with the most flattering distinction by her royal hostess who at length capped the climax of her affectionate familiarity with her new and delighted friend' by condescending to borrow 100,000 francs. All this charming intimacy with the former occupant of the thone of Ferdinand and Isabella, had sprang up and been carried on during the absence of tbeCalifornian millionaire who has recently returned to his residence in the capital, and who speedily learned from his wife the fact of the loan she had made to her ex-Majesty. The millionaire, thereupon wrote a polite little bote to Queen Isabella, requesting her to return the amount which had been lent to her by his wife. To this missive her Spanish Majesty returned a prompt reply, saying that she had no return to make, the sum referred to having been presented to her, not as a loan but as a gift. The friends of the Californian celebrity report that gentleman as caring nothing for the loss of the money (which evidently can be of no importance to the possessor of his fabulous wealth), but as being not a little nettled by what he considers cool impudence by such a proceeding. It remains to be seen what will become of the royal friendship so delightedly accepted by the Californian lady before the' occurrence of this very characteristic proceeding.