The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1907-01-06
STAGE STORY HAS MANY
PARALLELS IN REAL LEE

How many society girls in real life
would do as the heroine In ''The Man
on the Box the comedy Ia which
Henry Z. Dixey comes 10 the Belasco
Theater tomorrow for one week?
At the first glance one would say that
no high bred. refined. intellectual girl
would think Of doing such a thing. yet
there is hardly a week that such q r0-
nance does not occur IN the highest
circles OF American society. Nor is this
kind OF romance confined 10 American
girls alone. Countesses. duehesses. and
many other members Of the highest
circles in Europe have followed Dan
Cupid over the same route.
The most notable instance Of such a
romance which has occurred lately is
that OF Mrs Burke-ROche. a woman
famous the world over for her brilliant
social position and her beauty. Wit and
regard for class distinction. Yet. il is
only two months since Mrs. Roeha
eloped with Auriel BatOnyi. a celebrated
driving master OF New York. Scarcely
had the sensation caused by Mrs Burke
ROches marriage died away before IL
was revived By her former husband.
v no Is an English peer, bringing suit
against her for bigamy On the ground
that her divorce from him was obtained
in the United States and therefore not
binding, according 70 English law
Another notable example OF the truth
Il The Man on the Box romance was
furnished by the Countess OF Rossiyn,
who as quickly as she had obtained
q divorce from the earl eloped with her
chauffeur. who. IN these days Of auto
MODELLING, occupies the same position as
toe groom did formerly.
To come back once more 10 America
the niece Of the richest man IN the
world, Andrew Carnegie. -cumbed 70
the fascination OF an Irish groom VINO
taught her 10 ride and drive. and she
is now Mrs. James Hever. and her hus-
band is justifying Andrew Carnegie's
celebrated announcement that he was
very sure a good coachman was prefer
able to q worthless duke for husband
The latest instance Of the fascination
u a groom for his mistress in real lie
is the case OF the unhappy Senator
Thomas G. Platt Of New York. whose
marital woes not long ago filled the
newspapers with stories Of his young
and handsome wife and a cOachman en-
uloNed al senator EAALL . LJAA--+9 -N1-
dence.
Then there is the famous case OF beau
tiful Victoria Alorosini, a daughter OF
one Of the most celebrated bankers in
New YORK. partner OF the late Jay Gould
and supposed TO be the wealthiest Ital-
ian in the world. as well as one OF the
notably rich men Of America Twenty
years ago she eIoped with her father
coaehmau. Ernest SchiIIng, and her
father never forgave her for il, though
she left her husband very shortly after
The marriage and has never seen him
since.
With all these notable Instances OF
real life 10 excite the romantic POSSIBLE
ties in ones imagination, and with the
untold romantic incidents which must
have formed a part OF all these love az
Iairs. il is nc wonder that Mr.. McGrath
maintains that not only is the plot Of
his own story absolutely true but IL is
perfectly within the bounds OF PROBABLE
ity and possibility, and is. in fact. much
less fantastic than that OF many other
occurrences OF the same sort in real life.