' i. .i.i j'ihj"3 iiu-i -,V i'J !.. '. i'.,i,."u,'', iTS -' -i f .'TCarS!'7f- WW JPPJUOT J1'i ' " " ' J ''" S'W pr;vv.pw- ''tKOtf ' Vf?-i. tvrTtT'i ',."V'J" .,-,-. J- T - .. . - (- , .. -f f.j-. I EVENING PUBLIC LEDGER PHIIiABEIiPHIA, TUESDAY. OCTOBER 10, 1922 . m s 20 WIDOIV OF OSCAR HAMMERSTEIN, Iftfrt NE1V LIFE STR UGGLE WITH GRIM SMILE Ousted Frem Hetel, She Asks Werk te Support Herself and Pet Deg "Bench in Central Park" Is Address of Weman Once : Favored of Fortune t i ii ii i 11 in 111 m i ji fc i .t tTi v .jnn- k B& J '1 M N II- I TF YOU ain't fret no money, yen needn't conic around:" It's nn old, old seiif.;, but peiennially Hue. It isn't a pem from any opera -it' just a plain tin-pan alley ballad, but it is ringing today in the eats of Mrs. Oscar Hnnitneftem. J This woman, whose eccentric hu'nr. 1 made and lest million, who carried the beauty of music te thousand? upon thousand of l'ngh-h-peakinp; people, today i destitute. Accustomed te luxury, te the case and comfort of affluence, Mrs. Hnmmcrste.n today must jre te work! ' "Forward my letters," he says with a drollery that is pathetic, "te ' ome bench in Central Park." She can ruminate there, and she ha-, the necessary detachment te appreciate the irony in her bitter trans formation, i "Can you imagine the wife of, -. . j Oscar Hammerstein trynrr te deep What lie 1, fr te I. or, the Miiiilwtt.n en a bench in Central " , Mi opera I t.iu"i-. wl.ep. sh. I .id nn apart- n suitcase for n nillew. a -id Tt.i.iv . '" in wlne'i '" " i'"'. li-t wint.r. . her faithful deg, te stand watch?" It is a dramatic contrast, cer tainly, and a tragic one. "Somehow, it s-eeiri as if my nerve has left me." And the tears roll down her cheeks, "'lhe wrld and its neetdc have grown chilly since I've cone broke. Only Teddy "shtfti.: her stepson, Arthur 11 immer- ii'in, nn'i oilier niiurcn "i ncr i re liu-tuiiiil, she is penniless, homeless and ndn'fil t" the point of nb-nluw hunger. Mi-. Il.unniersti m l.al Mi.u r -1 ' i'ius in h'T handbag when found weip. .tic lit her held. A'teutmn li.id Icen l.rn t il te her rdicht by an ndvir'1-e-i' 'tit iir work whidi appeared in i in t njH r . ' MI'ST have work of tiny vj't at i.iici Mr. Ovnr Ilimin crsten i widow of the impresario i. Telephone 1'itr.iv :;22l " Queer Twists of Fate Shown at Cafe Tabic 1 i - .i tn ken te (Imiic: a' i ri -Mi.r.iut ii Pjsi Sixtieth street it in uljelr.in; t.i! le t'nre hill pencil t. 1" .! I ti II .i.-'iH'i I. tl,,- liakliu' . r Kins; .Mrs Knth. rlne de IV linn and Mr- K.i?.ibnii I. Warue. I Ie.ik.dik1. wIki as ,i mained ti.iin liad twisen te :t member AiUrir Ilatumer-tcln, who, ntvurding te the dioren courts and the dunces nf Henslnnd, lind annexed tin Litter's wife, imd once met Mrs. Oe-nr when slie wnt i'. ted. w.is se invoked .in.i sn ? nhji'i t te the nt ti k of tin children b his ter ner wife, that if aliiiest iinnu'dlatrly bi'f.i'iie a pn-enri- i eiis h.ihlhty. h" is till ilp'itln in , th" i urt.- for her niit in tin r-stntc et mero than a million delliiiR Vhile laj iui cUun te a : .il'ien and sticks by me. He understand-!." This attractive and cultured woman Emma Swift Hammerstein was friend and ceunsder of her amazing husband dating the ltit Btrcnueus ten years of his life; during h;s last two, when luck ap peared te be going nga.r.-t him and he grew feeble, she lejallv warded off his crowding creditors and strengthened him against his in creasing physical weakiu. Poverty Is Her Reward for Years of Loyally Today her rewa'd i- m!-eraMe poverty. A fc- n 'i t aj she v a found weeping m a I' .th avenue hotel. She wa sur. m the depMis of despair. 1'nable te pay her bill, she had been erib red out of her room. A porter and a hotel detec tive ftoed ever her while she packed a few bits of clothing, a few wretched trinkets in a suitcase. They weie all she wa- permitted te llumaiemuii. I!" mine ever te r." t carry with her from the room. !-"f. I.n'er 1 e invited the entire party Her trunk" wern held by the hotel. i i.ppe! &r.'M, -.:-"-- '.-vsL Xis:r ' . MMmfmmmmm&BmuamiLMm i wf 'v- 8?$2f "',4i-W,aBMtJJMr i.' ij3V. '&&&, The late Oscar IIanuner,!tein (in circle) and hi w idew One contained all the lee letter'1 her husband had written her during the years of their happiness. "It b:e.iks my heart te leave them. What love letters that dear man could write! He wrote jut as eet ones after ma'T.age as before." A frie d a stranger happening by, gae the once pet'ed and pam pered wife of the mpro-arie a few dollars, tuek l.r and h r handsome collie te d'.n r and t''cn obtained for her a niirht' lodging. She may hae slept, but it is mere likely she wept the lung night Hntr.n.fri'f.n through, alone with her memories. ''rU-I 1 m After th. litth twist of fnte Mr KatliTinn !e Hei un began eempari'i notes with Mrs Ilununcmein. TI l.it'er told Mrs. ! ltehan that she had ,".sr been uictcd trex the Hetel Neth- i land "That'i fnnr," cat ' Mrs de He1 an. "they te (1 i tl.it the 1 id 1 e"n ehiisji'd te ; . or n ; n -t fr i her room te J." one -e . i. Vh.i' w.i enr l v n iher " Mrs Ha-.ii erti in told l.er I was tl'c room te wl.i h Mrv de I!! .! hnd 1 een asi-ijied ' "I'll t'.i ti 'i nhat I'll de, Mr1- in! it will i a 2-n 't 1 id: - '" e ' my trunks in the "-:,i"i bin; h.id t-'ene bloke." ' V n would t'linl: Hint a rempim-ti-1 u etitic wnmiin Ike msilf I am nn i t'.,! -eis'i- (. l'd nbt'ltn n little fri'ii'ly lail.tr that nt least I we 'd no lmvi 1 1 en rednreil te tin present extreti'ty. Ill' New Vetk '"in be r1 illy ms, .-r rlll'.j when fe--l i ha eine..(i te 'ni e. Just let ne tneinien n i" things that Irive 1 i- ".Se I paid my bill, ?S0, and with the remaining money toel: my btiKgage and "When 1 Ijtekcn and d.-pre.s,.d, v..t ntr.vvar'.l . sniilins, Mr II in.: i-te.ti"-. List a; -pi'tiranee m 'I .i i ivia"p b"f"'e !"i death i sti'l i.eu-tnln -e 1. With , wdfe at 1 is H'le, the wen. an who i- new in such desperate ptp nntie. he drew In an epen hired victeria behind n s. !..-'. horse threnu'li the Hi-il'e distnet He were lit fitiiei lii.d. b.i' .ml 'i ni' rn ing coat nnd a the ffll: en the stree ill 1'itm s s,imie tvi ei;ii..ed ' im tip bowed, wawd tlieir h.pi''s ii'id r1 ?i l nn be see around the ,i ..rn tli-eit.-h the s' I'll, - nf I - feni r ii 1 The Wlfe sin U 1 her i... ii.i .t ' . impreinpt l -m i t. . mi t . K !. i for he a heads iii m r i1 n'ri'i r tile tlllle It V (IS pie.' . 'i 1 II ' i'.'I ' i , r then "ioiiie lurk ' H unmet m'i i one of a iii'i)nrnt.ve fe n U-.i m who repeatedly 'nine 1 ie'i d'.M'J ' ' life, and I ..1.1... I i.p -wmm!. ' wl.. n i; . pnrently Henied l ii i nt' I v t nallejis) of fate Ii it h - he.ilt'i 1 m geno, nud the im. t 'deM.',' . . HpirltH htl.l lest the phM.'l! elli.is th t formerly sustained h.m Kept Wife A way Frem His Artistic Vayarics ai 1 "errs are in ou hotel yet." .... . . , .. .... ..i ..n..i uie wicew e; U1C iiupruiw, " b0lI5ht a ticj-ct l0 Syracuse f.'.. aT Hr.H , A. ,,,.,.... nnr -...it riin , , , ' ,. ,,.. . ,, nut there I found my relatives were net , she hail found the vnrid chilly te her " in a reeeptne moea niter nu. Jtierc iwre (enses; they were ROlng nn n ' noterinc tup, and I wasn't invited .dens. It was Kiik'Ref.tcd that I mijjht i te wnil;. And Ged, hew I wanted t . i e jm-t that ! Went Hack te New Yerk Leeking for Werk ' I -.pent tay few renminbis dollars f..r ii ticket back te New Yerk. I hail il i iitht te tind n quiet place te lay mj 'ir head 'n pciee for u lltle space, t wiimi t te be. ISaek I came te 1 i it w'xre thee turn the cold pej.e It. e r f In'e ' fp ,' .nt i r n!,-ht as I ' . ' .- a h n West '1 ' f . v t1 ere I rau et I . (- ' lie of I . II into bankruptcy In 1021 tlie Mnnhnttnn Opera Hoiise was old te nntlsfy a judg ment of $12i,ri07 obtained by Mrs. Stella II. Keating nnd Mrs. Rese Tos Tes tcvin, (laughters of the Impresario by his first wife, who claimed this nmeunt te be due them under the terms of a sopnratien ngreement entered into be tween their father nnd their mother years age. Pet Cellie Her Chum In Darkest Misfortune After the nale Mn. llnmnierstcln was forced te give up the. suite of three rooms she hnd occupied as n residence In the building, nnd she went te live nt the hotel. "Even my nerve t,eems te be gene new," she said, as tears stele down her cheeks. "I shall net part with my deg, though, even If I have te f.crub Iloers for n living. Teddy has been one rcnl friend. He understands everything and he is nlwnjs smpathctle nnd he never complains, whether we nrc pros perous or peer." Mrs. Ilnmmersteln throughout her nnrrntlve never blamed her husband or uttered a reproach against him. "When my husband died he left his nffalrs In a sad jumble. The property was large, but was heavily encumbered, nnd there was absolutely no ensh te meet emergency expenses. Almest my , first act after my husband's death three I jenis age wns te pawn my diamond , earrings te obtain money with which , te get our car out of etorage nnd sell it be I might pay the rent en our home. "Mr. Hammer'steln'H chlldtun knew thl!. They knew I weilted hard te carry ns s),e recounted the Incidents In the stein lind enjoyed, were sold in New Yerk. There were 1253 items which brought $73,000 under the httmtner. An Itnllnn Rennissnnce dining-room suite made for Mr. Ilnmmcrsteln nt a cost of $.1300, nnd nt the festive beard of which Mrs. Ilnmmcrsteln had sat as hostess Jn the entertainment of celebrl. ties, sold for $1200. Mnrctis Lecw ncZ quired for $7i"0 a Revnl Sevres vnsa with paintings of mythological object by Rechcttp. Wnlter Ilninpdcn, the Shakespearean ncter, pnld $,"000 for nrtlcles te be used in his production! Mary Rolen, the actress, paid .$123 for n Spanish filet lace bedspread, under which Mrs. Ilninmersteln hnd slept. Tht Count de Groe paid $330 for a stand ing hall clock made by Hlliett, of Lon Len Lon den. A Leuis XV plece which cost Mr Ilninmersteln $3000 sold for $7r6! Treasure after treasure disappeared be fore the ejes of "Mrs. Ilnnuncrstcln, who attended the sales, although It hrek her heart, she said. The goods had te be sold te meet pressing judgments. Or chestrations nnd scores, comprising fifty-three Items, brought $1100. Th highest price of $225 was pnld by Mrs. Ilnmmerstcln herself for "Roberte II Dlnvole," and she also bought for $200 "I.es Centes d'Heffmnnn." "Mr. II.. or llcwnre n Red Name," n farce by Charles Lnmb, ns performed nt the old l'hlludelphln Theatre, was sold te Gcerge I). Smith for $100. This pamphlet of thirty-six pnges, published In Philadelphia In 1813, was a first edition nnd exceedingly rnie. It v,m net published In Knglnnd until ISIS. One of the saddest things that beWI the widow, f-he said te her Intenluwer nut lilt plans ter tap .uiiuunitnn uperu Heuse, and Arthur liimelf told me re- ' pentedly that I had unipiestiennbly pre- 1 longed his father's life many yeurs I thteugh the jealous care with which I lind nursed him." 1 Mrs. Ilnmincrstein began her man agement of the Mnnhattan Opera Heuse with brave fnnfnre. She joined forces history of the nftcrmnth of her hiu band's career, was te witness the nuc tlen of her husband's loving cups just n year age. Famous Leving Cups Went Under Hammer When the Mnnhnttnn Onern llnmn with Pentine Gnlln, new running the ' closed Its season of 1000-07. which Snn Carle Opera Company In New Yerk marked the, zenith of Oscar Hammer tit the Century, te produce grand opera stein's cnieer ns nn impresario In New at prices within reach of the medet Yerk, the stnrs of his rempnnv pre purse. I.ntcr she bought Galle's inter- I. seated te him a large and beautiful all- Mr. II. ii i i '. i ' i i. . i i M hla last wife, I in i i i te n i peculiar nnd f' e 1 ' ' ' ' ' lltcnec. 1 ! ni.li v ' 1'1'd millions in hi-. ..p.. it . inii i ii, i'i ventuti's, and 1. r ui t n li't. ported th. loin, 1 1, 1ii-.ii pi. wit" wns marked l uti r Minpii. in II cared nothing for nmiiev for i e i sake, but enl.v for what it would in furtlieiitig his ambition- prej,.i- Hut his wife, for whom peuen u h were never friends nie new iittemptnu I te nrrange a tlieatiieul hem tit or ion cert te tide ever her prc.Mii,; n.in.- I nients, h.nl "'I "f tl"' '"iiileit .iinl pleasure he denb-d te him-. If , Ijjr, Ilniiiineisti in etn e Mini te a friend : "Yeu knew. I sup'iesc I am a cuneu- flert of num. 1 le enl for tumor- 'row. 1 don't drink nnd I neur pluye 1 n game of curds in my life. When I find I have no money In my pocket I m te the box office and draw three dollars and Its liibts me se long thui it renlly niiikes me feil iishamed of mj . elf, But I hae nmile mil lest a let1 et money. I nnddn't peiblj tell jeu kOw mnny fortunes 1 hne nimis-td and i i.. t. .nnt.. m. .....itii.tu tn tint tnst tbtr. , .tte years." ,L took care et his wife well while iid. Ml nitre, but he had made lnade- "i.-MnJe hr ftftwr hi dMth. - - r m mm. , rii&T .. f'i)i ':&tw: W4p 't. &,' : mmmm, dhsz.-i wiSi HV tj.1. vrntTJm 5,.TmJ TVTIVj-.iTHIH.Pl.'l VSL'd M msm m 1 r vty i " mmwS III 'Mm WW ftJubli t&fcMt isv s-.l- WW w 4rv 1? j 'Jm Hill MmMwM 1 hMWm & mmMm 6 - xn ISiXSZi Kjam i& w,. &.-f Am Pi Wm hx 1 4111 :'.HHKj ;. '"' ' ' i -- .-w ,,mwmwm. ,. i , . . , , ,, i IWJi " '"' " " 'V?fr - FPl iBlHi JKB' '' RBBmmM. - Lm -- -n VnHir ' i 'riTifffflWWIF ' nuiiMl Mil m fMp"1 affix raSSiMwSIHflHHHHR M9l 'irK wMfflJaaj 7ul J tv Prince Olee; Rademar (nt left), cousin of the Kins of Italy, who was reported engaged te Mrs. Ham Ham merstein. After the first brief announcement of the engagement no further public mention hnB been made of the reported romance. (Above) Mrs. Hammerstein and her faithful cellie before a painting of the late impresario Mrs. Hammerstein from a painting Hut Mrs. Jlnininersteln could net en- fives in Syracuse, nnd told them I uai sjioiilder en even old friends of the fair diiM the thought ill and feeling bad nnd also Indicated and prospeieus days, if they even bub "I would rather sleep vln Central i that I was without money, uliey bent Park en a bench, as I Jff (intended, me $100 and asked me te come te Byra lJhS A-bt, M4msipp UtlMtesiPAt ncrt vnn nra iintvn and out , "I had nothing but my bafig JJttle change. .With my, baww aK I could get lnn a hotel. I was de termined te Ket into business. I centihi 1 te (-et eneugli money te tip the servants about the hotel, and, of course, I could stun checks for feed. If it had net been for that fact I should have starved, literally, for I had made up my mind net te try te borrow money. I nm tee proud for that. I had de termined te sink or swim en getting some kind of nn income, no matter hew small, by my own efforts. "Hut this win net easy. Yeu see, I hnvii been a married woman nnd have been taken care of. I have hnd no real business experience exeppt such ns I gained through my cemrndcshlp with Mr. Nammc-steln. "rinally, Irannpn bill at the hotel amounting te $223. This wns during a period of about two weeks. They impor tuned me for payment and finally noti fied me that unless I pnld up, I would have te yet out at 0 o'clock en Monday night. I couldn't blam.e them. It was business with the hotel. I said thnt I would meve. I had no money what ever, "The predicament I waa In had be come noised around threiy my putting the want advertisement in a paper for n position. I selected n paper that would take Mich tidwithements ever the telephone without nd. line payment, be cause. I didn't hae enough money te paj for the ail. Well, jnt as I was. ubeut te be ejected fiem the hotel, a teal nice tepeiter, who didn't have mui h money with hlin, came te see me, and he ginn me u dollar. Had te Leave Leve Letters as Security for Hill "The hotel let me hae a small suit case with a few of my toilet urtides nud the thlnjjs for my Scotch collie. Men wntdied me while I piuhtd mv bag, but 1 nail le leave tee rest et my cUcUs. I have only these, clothes en iny hack mid one thange of underwear. X took the bill away with me, and I'll pay It when I cnn. "They asked me nt the hotel desk where iny feiwnrding address would he, nnd I wrote en a form slip that it would be Central Park until fuithcr notice. I meant just that. I have often wit for hours in beautiful Central Park and it wouldn't le.illy have been se tturlble out there en a bunch, I don't suppose. It wasn't the physical part of. It I drendtd, but the mental Buffering that gees with such nn experience." Mrs. Hummerstcln explalntid that the Mnnhattan Opera IIouse nnd the Re public Thcatru hnd been willed te her by her husband, wdie had ninde her bin sole beneficiary, but that Mr. Hum mersteln's daughters by un earlier mar riage hail the opera house, after a court contest, and that Aithur Ilnmmcrsteln, n son by the snme marringe, get the theatre, one exclaimed: 'Hurelv. there mint be lustics In the. courts, anu I am relying new en thnt justice, but It has been long In com cem -., m m , B m f Alter aw, ammertein wai xerctq had owned and i i est In the holding company known n the Temple of Music, hut retained Halle and pushed her plans nletie. This ventute iuiled and financial dif ficulties begun te plle up before In r. The icsiilt was that she, decided te efter the opera house for fcale In Pebruary, lt'-l. Then began the suits by the im presario's dntiKhters, and the ultlmnte tinning our of tin. prupeitj te them. Is Fighting in Courts Just as Husband Did Mrs. lliiuimersteln asserts that this action virtually confiscated her piep- city and a part of her present light Is te have the cenn's decision ruverhed. When evicted ut the end of last .Tnn uary from her opera heuse home, Mrs. llnninierstelti wua at least philosophi cal. She did net believe the situation would endure long. Hut teurts ere sometimes nlew te net nnd the machin ery of the law grinds slew. At the time, her own lawieis said theiu was sllel.t chance e a successful appeal. At the sntne tlme Mis. Iliuiiniersteln suffered another reverbe. Ousted from the oeera house, bhe had n friend iku her country home In L'airvlew avenue, Atlantic Highlands, N. J., te ltisnect it ' inr ncr, nu leunu it nail been looted, She had stored In the place, then in the hands of a receiver, furniture, paint ings nnd ether effects of her husband, which hnd been insured at ene time for $73,000. Rut the lnsurance had lapsed The f i lend telephoned her the day she wns evicted from the .Mnnhnttnn Opera Heuse that the house had been almost entirely cleaned out. Thieves had found n stock of liquor theie and consumed en the bpet what they did net rotneve. They had carted away every thing else in moving vans. After Mr. Hnmmersteln's danttimn of th furnishings and works of art he ivuicu ear, iiammer. ver loving cup inscribed with their names. Then- again, ut the close of th following season the members of hi company joined In giving him a cup of ecn greater si.e, with sculptural ele ments designed by Mr. Scettl. Heth et these cups, which meant mere than wealth te Hummer.steln, were Ei'a whlle the widow wept. One bore thl Inscription : "Presented te Mr. Oscar Hammer stein Jr.' affectionate appreciation by the pilupipel artist of the Manhattan Opera Company, April 20, 1007." The Inscription en the becend cup read : "Te our beloved impresario, Oscar Hainiuersteln, a token of sincere ap preciation of bis splendid sen ices In the cause of nrt and his constant sym pathetic interest In his artists, MaxcD 2S 1008." . There was nlse sold the concert grand piano ubed in his home by Mr. Hinj iwrsteln for coiupeblng music, ns well as a collection of his pergenal Jewelry. ineltiiliiiK ft geld watch presented te him back In 1800 by uttaches of tnu Harlem Opera Heuse. Mrs. Hanimerstcln hnn much te rj number, nnd much she would Hke l? feiget. All she seeks new Ls a !' sympathy and understanding and eeiPt she snysi, be she can make her own w7 without being beholden te any eua. Bhe believes though she was nefi " artist herself nnd the publie ewes W nothing thnt the world nt least would heli) her te n living, if nothing mers. Khe wn-j, after nil, the wife of tn eccentric man who had brought musiciu Jey te the henrts of millions. . Khe wus his lejal helpmate na pnrtner. In a fashion she worked as, vlre: etisl as htr husband did for the fw et tne publie. But the puhllc, in its cus wwaiee, ieru se toen m w f.ii ... i . ,t,'Jk - I
Significant historical Pennsylvania newspapers