The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1892-03-08
A SKY PARL0R BARON.
Grunebaum Once New Yorksocio-
TVS Pct On His Uppors.
DOWNFALL Of AN ADYEN7URER.
Five Seasons Ago iIs Danced with
Mrs. Astor at the Patriarch's Ball,
Now lIo Occupies M Humble Lodg-
Ing lIousc.-Valn Efforts to Exchange
Tito for an american IIcircss.

NEw YonK, March THE namo OF
tho Baron Grunobaum Is ono very
familiar to New Workers, especially 10
those Of tho fashionable set. Nearly all
know Of his social successes some years
ago how no was lionized by society, but
few knew that the suave and cultured
advonturor Is living in sky parlors on
tho West Side, and has as companions
truck drivers and others-vory respect,
able men, no doubt, but hardly con-
CANAL companions for one whom tho
Four Hundred once delighted 10 honor.
The Baron is rs well known in Eu-
ropean capitals as in New York, and the
stories OF his cscapades are familiar to
clubmen in dozen cities. lilo is IN
Austrian by birth, but veritablc cos
mopolitan. Like all adventures, ho has
passed. through many vicissitudes, but
his New York career Is perhaps as re.
markablo rs any portion OF his history.
The baron made his first appearance
in New York about five years ago. His
tito and his distinguished manners
Eavc him an entreo into the society cir
cles of the Four Hundred. lilo was fro
quently to be found at tho swell clubs,
and made such \ favorable impression
that ho lead tho german at tho Patri-
archa' ball five seasons ago, Mrs. Aator
being his partner. Flo was dined, wined
and feted on every hand, and was quito
society lion. But while he was living
in tho best New York society, he by no
mems gave up his questionable habits,
and it began to be rumored about the
clubs that tho baron was shade too
fast even for this rapid city. When no
returned to Europe his position in So
ciety was not quito as high MS it had
been, and he seems to have felt that he
had made about all he could expect to
out OF New York.
For some timovery little was heard of
the baron. When tho Prince de Rohan,
another titled ndvonturer, was sentenced
to imprisonment in Paris ior swindling
a.woman Of wealth and social position.
out OF n great deal OF money, Baron
Grunebaum was reported to have been
deeply interested in tho business. and
to have barely escaped incarceration
himself. Then, about nine months ago,
he turned up i'll New York again. 1t is
no secret that tho baron had expecta-
tons when he arrived in America. He
had met a wealthy New Yorker and his
daughter while they were travelling in
Germany, and had, with his suave
manners and elaborate coat OF arms,
made an impression upon them. He
pretended to fal! in love with the young
lady, and threw up an imaginary com.
mission in the German army in order to
marry her.
The Baron. came to Now York and put
up at the Hoffman house. But the heir
ess whom he thought he had captured
was brighter than the usual RUIZ OF
heiresscs, and the doughty Boron's
scheme fell through. He tried onco
more to enter society, and made no Sc
cret OF his empowering desire to find a
rich American wife, but tho character,
Of the nobleman had been pretty cor.
rectly estimated by this timo, and he
found very difficult to secure oven
recognition from people who had load
ed him with favors a few years before.
s Baron Grunebaum's exchequer had
been in rather a depleted condition
when he arrived, md it was not replon-
ished with great rapidity. Tho baron
changed his quarters with great fire.
quency. Flo appeared at the Fifth Ave-
nue., Bartholdi, Imperial and Lenox no.
tells in succession, but was not allowed
to remain very long at any Of these hos
telries. 1t is understood that his digni-
ty was severely shocked at tho Barthol-
di by tho fact that the proprietor actu-
ally withheld his trunks for unpaid
bills, and his clothes, which were all he
possessed, fell into the hands OF his
creditors. All his jewelry and many
smaller articles OF more or less value
found their way into the possession OF
the pawnbroker. Then he suddenly
disappeared and was not to DO found at
any OF his accustomed haunts. For
some timo his whereabouts was the sub
ject OF languid discussion and wonder at
the clubs where he had once been
frequent visitor. It was believed by
many that he had given up in disgust
and returned to Europe.
But this hypothesis was incorrect.
The gay and risky baron has been To-
Gated Society, which once petted ard
caressed him; clubmen who won from
or lost money to him (they more often
lost), and charming heiresses who were
captivated by his distinguished man
ners and foreign title, will be interested
10 know that he has made his appear
ance in very different walk OF life.
Just in tho rear OF the Jefferson
market police court, at the corner OF
Greenwich avenue and West Tenth
street, stands three-story brick house,
the ground floor OF which is occupied by
liquor saloon. Over this, in cheap
lodgings, is domiciled the Baron Grune-
baum.
It is somewhat OF descent from
suite at the Imperial or the Lenox to
roof lodging over gin mill, but the
baron has made it. His fellow dodgers
include gentleman of the Hebrew per-
suasion, who describes himself as n
broker in secondhand clothing, and
who bears tho name OF Cohen two truck
drivers and aretired hack driver, too
old to pursue his calling All OF these
men, at least, have been or are engaged
in honest work, though they are hardly
the companions and fellow dodgers whom
ono would expect q roal bona fde Aus
trian baron to choose.
What the baron is doing for 4 living
is mystery. He spends but little time
in his room, and is frequently seen in
the company OF mon who arc not un-
known inside OF tho big brick building
across the street, but his business, if he
has any, is unknown to. anyone, except
these same gontlemen. He .still makes
an attempt to dress we'll, and succeeds,
taking everything into consideration.