Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1908-08-11
OFFERS FIDDLER EASE
Prince Finds Long Lost
Nephew in New York.
LONG SEARCH F0RRUNAWAY
Violinist at Hotel Recognized by
Russian Noble.
GAITZ-HOCKY NOW IN DOUBT
Don't Know Whether to Accept Offer
Of Wealth-Wife Elopes
With Him.
.0NG SEARCH FOR RUNAWAY
aAITZ.HOCKY NOW IN DOUBT

Hocky. whose violin playing has won the
patrons of the Hotel Knickerbocker is
the hero of a romance which had Its de-
nouement on Friday evening last when
he was recognized by his uncle. the Prince
Alexis Baronova, who happened to be
among the guests in the Armenonville
restaurant
Hundreds looked on wonderingly at the
violinist and the Russian nobleman as
each clasped the other in his arms but
none dreamed that they saw the end of
a world wide search which the prince has
carried on for years to find his nephew,
who was won away from him by the de-
sire to become a musician
Gaitz-Hocky has not been near the
Knickerbocker since that night A re-
ported found him yesterday In the Hotel
Rudolph. in Atlantic City, debating with
himself whether he should forsake the I'M
certainties of a musicians life and a
home in this country for the wealth and
ease to which Prince Baronova would
have him return.
"Gregor! MY Boy Gregorv'
1t was by chance only that the prince
happened to go to the Knickerbocker
with Frank Gould Friday last. Gaitz-
Hocky was at his best, and the prince be-
came a leader in the repeated demands
for the encores. He was so pleased by
the violinist's playing that he invited him
to his table.
The nobleman was still further plea sed
when Gaitz-Hocky informed him that he
was a Russian. too. Then confidence be-
gan to run and the prince suddenly real
lied that he was talking to the nephew
for whom he had searched so long.
'Gregor," exclaimed the prince. with
tan afv,ev Iii 1In hory
Gregor!"
Violinist in Doubt.
The prince and his nephew left the hotel
soon after the meeting and the nobleman
who had to leave Saturday for Chicago
told the violinist to go away from New
York for few days and think better of
his refusal to return to Russia. So Gaitz-
Hocky stole away to Atlantic City.
Il am in doubt" said the violin.st when
he had consented to tell his romance to
the reporter who discovered him. whether
1t would be better to go back to Russia
after all these years. 1 don't know that
would be happy.
My uncle, the prince, was governor Of
Vetebsk in 1895, when 1 was left in his
charge by my fathers will My mother
was dead. My uncle wanted me to go in
for the army. but a military life never
had any charm for me.
II wanted to be musician, and when
the prince insisted that should be SOL
der, despite all l urged to the contrary.
ran away and entered the Imperial Con-
servarory at ST. Petersburg. 1 was
eighteen then. and since my eighth year
my father had given me instruction on
the violin, so l was not tyro by any
means.
Graduated Second to Kubelik.
II graduated with honors and then
went to Prague, where l graduated from
the conservatory there, second to Jean
Kubelik. 1t was in Prague that l met
my wife. daughter of the grand marshal
of the Isle of Brandish, German-African
state. Our match was a runaway one
and SO that practically finished US. She
was at outs with her people. l was at
outs with mine.
My uncle wept with JOY when he
found me Friday night unexpectedly. and
when l showed him my 5000 violin. a
prize 1 had won at he Prague Conserva
tory, he said that 1 would play for the
crowned heads of Europe.
Il care little for that. l would rather
stay here in New York, where l have a
home and lovely wife. That means all
in the world to me and far more than
castles and all that money can buy.
have cabled my wife to Paris to return at
once and share my joy"