The Leon reporter. (Leon, Iowa) 1887-1930, 1909-02-04
~ Graf Won ~
Blumen Schloss.


ored by an invitation from the emperor
and empress and was thereby made a
part of Berlin society? No? Well. mi
tell you now.
While in Vienna | was invited to a
state ball at the palace. My partner
Tor the cotillon was q young German,
Graf Won Blumen-Schloss He waa
handsome, refined and of noble bear.
Ing. His social position was of the
very best not only from his personal
ity, but because he represented one of
the oldest families Of Prussia ! was
an untitled American whose father had
been pork packer and whose hus.
band was a manufacturer of shoes
Nevertheless Graf Won Blumen- Schoss
treated me with as much attention as
II l had been q duchess When with
me no attraction elsewhere could in.
duce him to desist from listening to
what had to say to him or to suspend
my face True, l was then young and
had some good looks, but | knew it
was not l who held his attention, but a |
courtesy inherited from a long line On
mobiles. Besides, when he was with |
other women he was apparently quite
as much wrapped in them.
He Wore an army uniform and on
his breast several decorations. I did
not know what they represented, but
l understood that one of them had |
been bestowed upon him for bravery
in battle. | think should have fallen |
in love With him If l had been single
and given an opportunity. But | did
not see him again while in Vienna. and
shortly aftcrward we left for America;
Two or three years after this, While !
i'll Philadelphia. stepping at one Of the
finest hotels in that city, on entering
an elevator one evening to so up tel
my rooms was ushered in by a man
wearing the hotel uniform There was
something about him that was familiar
to me. The uniform of a servant seem
ed to resolve itself into that of an
army officer. | heard the strains If
dance music and was whirling in the
german cotillon. ! raised my glance
to the servants face. Could l believe
It? He was the Graf Won Blumen
Sch!oSs.
His flaming face told me that it was
indeed he and that he knew me, but he
made no other sign of recognition
Nor did l. The elevator door toward
which lie waved his hand stood open
l entered and was lifted to the fifth
story. | could not bear to run the
risk of continually meeting my pre-
vious cotillon partner reduced to a
servant, and the next morning l left
the hotel.
Three years after that my husband
gave up business. and we again went
abroad. Being wealthy and abundant
ly able to keep up Il position in any
foreign city. we desired especially to
spend winter in Berlin. but on arriv-
ing there my husband, who is an i'm
patient. independent. thorough Amer
lean, gave otfense to our minister, ana
there WAS Il deadlock upon our ell
tering society. We were about TO give
the matter up and so elsewhere when
; something occurred to change our reso-
luton An invitation came one morn
| ing to attend Il ball to be given by
| Graf and Gratiin Won Rlumen-Schloss
1t was evident, first, that the graf had
resumed his original position in the
| world and, second, that he knew was
in Berlin. assumed that he must
have seen me. though | had not seen
him. We made inquiries and learned
that he had married a wealthy and
refined American lady and had recent
ly been appointed an aidde-camp to
the emperor.
We went to the ball and were very
craciously received by the gratiin, who
gave rs 4 reason for inviting us That
we were her fellow countrymcn My
meeting with her huSband in his own
home was naturally constrained. lie
made no mention of having met me in
America, but asked me If he had not
met me in Europe told him that he
had been my partner at Il state ball in
| Vienna Then he appeared to remem
Der. He may have been sincere III
not giving evidence of recollccting just
where he had first seen me.
Later an invitation came to dine
with the emperor and empress. which
of course was inspired by his abide
camp the Won Blumen- SchIosses be
ing of the dinner party After thi:
we were welcome everywhere.
Never did either Won Blumen
S. hloss or his wife make the slightes
allusion to his having been in Ameri
ca. | as we'll ignored having met hin
in hotel livery. What inspired hi:
kindness to me | do not know. Il
may have been intended to keep me
silent on his past or it might have
been Il token Of gratitude for my fail
ure to recognize him while in a menia
position. Indeed, he might have beer
Influenced by both of these causes.
In time came upon his story. Soor
after had danced with him in Vienna
financial rcverses deprived him of his
fortune. Like many an EUROPEAN arts
tocrat in the same circumstances, he
went to America and became q Serv
ant. From the hotel he went to serve
gentleman as chauffeur and while
| actinv in that poDacitv won tho hna r,