Wednesday, November 2, 2011

Princess Elvira - ill and penniless

November 2, 1901

A cable sent from Barcelona, Spain, to the Chicago Daily Tribune states that Princess Elvira of Bourbon, is living in the city "severely ill and in financial distress."   Princess Elvira is the second daughter of Don Carlos, the Carlist pretender to the Spanish throne.  She "created a sensation in 1896" when she eloped with Signor Folchi, an Italian artist.  He accompanied Elvira to Barcelona.

After Princess Elvira refused her father's order to return home, Don Carlos issued a manifesto to his followers, "declaring her dead."   In the last five years, the princess has spent her entire personal fortune of $400.000, and now she and her husband are penniless.

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