Friday, April 23, 2010

Princess Torlonia's father blackballed by Hunt Club

April 23, 1910

Charles A. Moore, the millionaire father, of the Princess Torlonia, has discovered that it is not easy to to move up in Roman Society.  Although Mr. Moore's daughter now moves "into the most exalted circles" in Rome, and "at Court is a noted figure, he has been blackballed by one of Rome's most prestigious clubs, the Hunt Club.
Moore wanted to join a club, according to the New York Times, and,  he "aspired to the most aristocratic and exclusive, the so-called Hunt Club."  It seemed nearly obvious to all that Mr. Moore and "his millions would have been welcome with open arms."  He was known to club members as he stayed there as a guest. 
But when the Club's urn was opened, Princess Torlonia's father was "found to have been rejected."  It appears that the rejection was due to Moore's son-in-law, Don Marino, who, when he was a bachelor, "led a powerful clique in the Hunt Club."  He and his friends wanted to keep the club select, and "blackballed right and left every candidate who they disliked."   The Club's members turned the table on Marino by blackballing his very rich father-in-law.

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