The evening world., 1911-01-06
Nikalai Sokolof Secretly
Welded to Stepdaughter
of Admiral Mark.
WAS HIS ~ACCOMPANlST.
Volunteered Once in Crisis and
Succeeded so Well Russian
Fell in Love.

Nikolai sokolon, the Russian violinist,
pupil OF Ysaye and protege of wealthy
residents Of New York and Boston, has
signed a contract for life with his pri-
vate accompanist. Miss Lydia Filkins,
daughter of Grace Fllkins, the actress,
and step daughter Of Rear-Admiral
Adolph Mark. l.. :. ~. retired.
In the Marriage Bureau OF City Hall
yesterday one OF the City Fathers,
whose name has not been ascertained,
made the agreement between the pair
enectual, and they hurried to Hartford.
Conn, on a honeymoon.
The first Admiral Mark and his wife
knew of the elopement was when news
paper men inquired OF them what they
thought about 1t. To-day when an Eve
min World reporter was ushered into
the drawing room OF the Mark apart
ment at No. 30 Central Park South and
was announced by the maid a robusto
bass voice called out "Out OF the city"
Their First Meeting.
Tie story OF the first meeting OF Miss
Fiikins and sokolor and OF the romance
that has eliminated In their marriage
was told to-day by friends OF the pair.
One wlntry night Ave years ago Soko-
Ion appeared at a musicale In one of the
fine residences in Washington to nnd
that his professional accornpanis, was
stormbound near Baltimore.
Miss FIlkins was one OF the rue.t,
and when Sokoloff learned that she wa
an accomplished pianist he requested her
TO play his accompaniment, and she as
sented. Being a perfect sight-reader
she interpreted the piano settings of his
concerto so well that Sokoloff asked tina.
he might meet her again.
AT that time Rear-Admiral Mark lived
In Washington. and Miss Filkins told
Sokolof that when he wa in the city
again he might call upon her. Tha,
winter the violinist spent all his spare
time In Washington, n was near Miss
Filkins as often as she was able to ses
him. Recently he has been abroad, bu'
q steady correspondence between the
pair was kept up.
shortly after Rear-Admiral Marix',
retirement from the Navy last May h,
moved TO this city and engaged tn,
F%fty-ninth street apartment. Durinl
the summer Sokoloff came back from
abroad and shared a bachelor apart
ment with Willis Steele. the play wright
at No. 79 Park avenue. Steele, VIII,
knew Mrs. Mark we'll, and IL workini
on a play which will mark her return
10 the stage next fall. became interested
in the attachment that had sprung u,
beween Miss Fllkins and his chum. ans
he used his influence with Mrs. Mari,
and her husband in the interest OF get
ting their approval of a marriage.
Pare. is cbdur-'-.
But both Rear-Admiral Mark and hi
wife held out. declaring thai as Sokolof
was about to start on a two years con
cert trip through Europe. they did no
want to see their only child leave then
for so long.
This appeared TO satisfy both Sokolof
and Miss Fllkins. but when they realizes
that his our meant a two years sepa
ration from his tiancee they resolved 4
wed secretly when an opportunity pre-
scented itself.
Neither Rear-Admlral Mark nor hi
wife suspected that the pair woul
elope. for they believed thai thei
daughter had resolved TO wed Sokolot
upon his return from abroad.
But yesterday morning Miss Filkin
went downtown. ostensibly to do som
shopping, taking with her a suit cas-
filled with necessary clothing. Sh
met Sokoloff at an appointed place
and they hurried to City Hall and go
a marriage license. In the Marriag
Bureau in the basement they found a
Alderman, who quickly wed them. ant
binding every one present to secrecy
they fastened to an uptown hotel.
Sokoloff plays in concert at Hart
ford; Conn.,. tomorrow night. So tina
the Rear-Adrniral n Mama Mar!
would not be frightened at their daugt
tors failure to return home. the bride
groom arranged for word to be sen
to the Mark home of the elopemen'
But newspaper men who had learned
the taking out of the license reache
the house first. only to be dismisse
by both the Rear-Adiniral II his wifi
Mrs. Mark was Grace Sweetman be
fore she married John Robert Filkinl
who was manager OF a Boston theatr'
He died twenty-eight years age, whe
his daughter was a year old. Mrs, Fl
kins married Rear-Admiral Mark
Washington eighteen years q
Sokoloff IL four years younger tina
his wife and was born In Russia. II
came here when fourteen.