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About The Oregon daily journal. (Portland, Or.) 1902-1972 | View Entire Issue (Dec. 21, 1919)
Of i . 4 I 'J at Pretty Fernanda Riatouckinsky, Divorced and Glad of a $40a- i fr w1 THE marriage of Robert Goelet, once -called "the world's richest bache lor," to the strange, fascinating Madame Fernanda Rocchl Rlabouchlnsky, sometimes called "Princess Riabouchin fky," is the most astonishing social occur rence of the day. Although the event oc curred in Paris on October 22 It is dis cussed as much as ever, for the couple have yet to appear in society in this coun try and never did ' a bride face so many curious questions which fashionable so ciety would like to know the answer to. Was she a "Princess" or was she not? Bhe permitted herself to be called "Princess" and then suddenly refused to allow people to call her by this title. Was Bhe crazy for a dramatic "career" or was she not? She signed a stage con tract with great enthusiasm and then she said she couldn't possibly think of going on the stage. Was she seeking a cuance to exploit her self in the newspapers or was she not? She arranged for a series of articles and gladly posed for a bunch of photographs generously revealing her charming face and figure, and then insisted that Bhe really couldn't consent to having, the articles published. She signed a contract to work for $40 a week and suddenly asked to be released from it. What was the sudden turn of the wheel of fortune that changed all ber plans? Fashionable society awaits the arrival of Mr. Goelet's Interesting bride and would like to know the answer to these puzzling questions. . In the first place it must be remembered who Robert Goelet is. He comes from one ot the oldest of Knickerbocker families and owns the largest block of New York real estate after the Astors. Much of the Goelet property is on Fifth avenue and Madison avenue near Fiftieth street. His wealth has been reckoned at $100,000,000. His relatives on thl3 side include the Gerrys and Vandetbilts and many others ot similar Importance, and his sister is the PuehesB of Rozburghe in England. On the other hand Madame Rocchl Rla bouchlnsky Is the daughter of a poor pro fessor and never bad any fashionable so cial position. She came here from Russia with a hus band whose name was certainly a mouth ful to pronounce and who wore luxuriant whiskers and who planned to hold a sale or "antiquities." Then she obtained a divorce from that husband. And then began a succession of ' episodes in the new Mrs. Goelet's career that All society with wondering curiosity, some of which have been already men tioned. It was late In 1915 that Mr. and Mrs. Nicholas Rlabouchlnsky first approached American shores by way of the Pacific. He was quoted as saying that he brought : several - millions with him to purchase : munitions for Russia. . . The Russian couple established their : Kew York headquarters in s : handsome UK v x - r suite of rooms In the Hotel Knickerbocker, a resort for the lively element of society. They had with them a large collection of art Objects which were described in a cata logue as being paintings by such noted Old Masters as Lippo Lippi, Luini, Hans Mem ling and Cranach, not to mention Van Dyck and a few others. There were also porcelains by the greatest Renaissance masters of France, and antique bronzes from Italy. Rlabouchlnsky valued this collection at a mere $1,000,000 and said he proposed to devote the proceeds also to buying muni tions for Russia. He professed himself un able to speak English, and his beautiful Italian wife acted as interpreter. Con cerning her origin we have definite Infor mation, for Robert Goelet's office has Issued a statement, saying: "Mrs. Rlabouchlnsky is twenty-four years old and is the daugh ter of Professor and Mrs. Mariano Rocchl, of Perugia, Italy, where Professor Roc chl holds the chair of Paint ing and Design at the Uni versity of Perugia." When Madame Rlabou chlnsky was living with her first husband Bohemian so ciety loved to call her "Princess," but she has since given it to be under stood that she had no claim to the title. Her husband is said to have been a mem ber of the Russian diplo matic service, an official ot the Bank ol Moscow and t writer on art, dancing and other matters under the Czar's regime rather an as tonishing and surprising col lection of ac-compllsh- 6 xuents. r At the Hotei Knickerbocker stage the lovely Madame or "Princess" Rlabouchln sky was pathetically desirous to have t "career," to be known as an actress or an exponent of . physical culture or a writer on topics associated with those callings. She met the New York theatrical man ager, Morris Gest, and eagerly accepted from him an offer to display her beauty in various roles for the modest1 salary of $40 a week. -It is interesting to remember that she now enjoys the revenue from about $100,000,000 of New York real estate. "The Prince and Princess were stopping at the Knickerbocker Hotel," said Mr. Gest. "She saw one of my productions, was impressed with it and soogb.t me out. "She told me that she desired a career, - that she was not satisfied with her life as it was, and wanted my Judgment.upon her ' abilities. The moment I looked upon her 1 knew that here was a find such as one Has a urn Finally Becomes MilKonaires BriJe A t XJJ 4C h'f i49k..' makes only In a generation. She had beauty and grace, but besides those she had also that Indefinable thing which we call magnetism. Furthermore, she was extremely intelligent and temperamental. I recognized at once lhat with proper train ing here was a woman who might become a second Bernhardt, another Duse, and she was most beautiful! , , We entered Into a contract, she ac cepting the terms most willingly. The . first year she was to receive $40 a week so little because that year would necessarily he spent largely In her training. The sec ond year she was to receive $200 a week, and the third year $500 a week. And then Bhe sent a, lawyer around to ask me to release her from the contract! "Already at that, time I had acquired the rights ot the great . scenic production, . Aphrodite. I had Intended to really make . her j debut- asw Chrysys the priestess of IQ X919, latnaattooal FMton Scrrte, Ias : 1 r A i'- --5- C T eets ox J-UC: tlie Mi urn- V, 4 4 i t r f-fi "ft i j ' 1 .-v in V 1 ' 7X-2S -v' Mfci 7 z? Aphrodite, the Alexandrian courtesan, who is the heroine of this great play, in the mean time I had cast her for Beauty in the play 'Experience,' and intended, after she bad found herself a little more,' to re hearse her as Passion in that same play." At about the same time Madame Rlabouchlnsky under took to write Tor a newspaper a series of articles describing how she had cultivated her re markable beauty and giving valuable advice to women who were desirous of attaining similar perfec tion. Just after these occurrences, in June, 1916, a deeply significant event took place. Madame Rlabouchlnsky sued her husband, commonly known as "Prince," for divorce in the New York Supreme Court. She alleged that "an unknown woman" had alienated her husband's affections. Just before this Rlabouchlnsky had been sued in a Federal court for $45,000 which he re fused to pay on the ground that It was a gambling, -debt. Madame Rlabouchlnsky said it was through this case that she learned of her husband's infatuation for the other woman. Madame Rlabouchlnsky obtained her divorce. - , At this time, or, perhaps, a little earlier, the lovely Italian v oman had made the ' acquaintance of the multi-millionaire, Rob ert Goelet. - Accounts generally agree that they first came' together, through their mu ' t GrwtB$UU81cbUMfT4 V: Goelet n 0 "to- fir taal interest in Red Cross work, in which Mr. Goelet was very active, even before the United States entered the war. ' It is not venturing much to say that the multi-millionaire was deeply impressed with her from the first. She had the fig ure of a deliclouB young wood nymph and dressed in exquisite taste, but In a very picturesque, unusual and highly artistic style. The combination of rich Italian beauty with a highly cultivated seme of the charm of drapery end just a touch' of . Russian mystery and strangeness was one which might have stolen the senses of any man. The social prejudices which Mr. Goelet has defied in order to marry her prove the force of the charm which he experienced. Before beginning her divorce suit Madame Rlabouchlnsky moved from the lively Hotel Knickerbocker to a very dig nified, artistic and charming apartment at No. 449 Park avenue. Then a complete and most surprising change occurred in Madame, sometimes called "Princess," Riabouchlnsky's views of life. She felt no longer the least desire to have "a career," to become a great actress, to be e gifted -writer for the press cn elevating themes, or to teach other women to develop the priceless gift of beauty. The newspaper had already gratified her "early ambition by beginning the publica tion of her articles on beauty culture. Sud denly a lawyer engaged by Madame Ria bouchinsky obtained an Injunction against that newspaper, forbid ding the continuation of the series. The law yer stated most partic ularly that Madame Rlabouchlnsky did not want to be called "Prln-! cess,'.' to be represented as au actress or would be actress, or publlo' performer of any kind,' or to be spoken of as an expert on beauty and beauty culture. At nearly the same time 6he haughtily served notice on the pained and astonished Mr. Gest that she would not appear as Beauty or Passion, or even as Aphrodite her self, for the munificent 8ur it $40 a week or tor any other sum. 4 "Everything Beemed splendid," said Mr. Gest, commenting on this episode. "She was happy in the career opening to her and I was happy in having found such a woman. I say again that her . 1 qualifications for the stage were such as are found only once in a generation. "Judge, then, of 'my amazement, my com plete astonishment. . 4 4 when one day an attor ney called upon me, saying that it bad all been a great mistake, that the Princess had changed her mind and wished to be released of her contract Quite naturally I asked why. The only answer was that Bhe had changed her mind. Only a few hours; before this, practically, I had lis tened to Madame's enthusiasms. I asked for an Interview with her to ascertain just whathad occurred. My request was re fused, and as a gentleman, of course, there was nothing else for me to do but release her from ber contract." Reports that Robert Goelet was about to marry Madame Rlabouchlnsky became cur rent. Society had observed his rapt devo tion to her for some time. His attendance upon her suffered a considerable interrup tion at one time, for when war broke out he went to an officers' training camp, sub sequently obtained a commission. Upon his return to this country his de votion to the lovely Madame Rlabouchln sky became obvious tq all those who follow the doings of the inner set of New York society. In the Summer the curious noticed that Mr. Goelet's great house at Newport was being repaired. It had been neglected and more or less unoccupied since his first wife, once noted as the beautiful Elsie Whelen, obtained a divorce from him in 1914. , In August Mr. Goelet sailed for France. When asked plainly if he was going to marry Madame Riaboucbinsky, he smiled happily and said it would be best to in quire of her. She had already preceded him on the road to Paris. In due course came an announcement that on October 22 they had been married at the American Church Jn Paris. . The official announcement from Mr. Goelet's office made it clear . that - the couple after a few weeks honeymoon in tended to "reside permanently in New York." Society awaits with keen Interest and curiosity the arrival of this new and un usual young woman who is such a mystery and such a contradiction. They do not, of course, hare to live' In New York. Mr. Goelet has a beautiful estate in France, noted for its game pre serves, and if that did not suit them they could live in any country that pleased them. The command of the Goelet minions roust be a delightful sensation to the poor professor's daughter and more than con sole ber tor the sacrifice of her "career and the opportunity to appear as Beauty and Passion In "Experlenco,"
