The Pensacola journal. (Pensacola, Fla.) 1898-1985, 1911-10-31
BERLIN PAPERS
NOW REC|T|NG
AN OLD STORY
THE SUICIDE OF HELENE Won
DoENNlGES RECALLS THAT SHE
WAS THE WOMAN FOR WHOM
FAMOUS SOCIALIST LEADER
LOST HIS LIFE IN DUEL.
RY Associated Press.

Berlin, Oct. 3O.-The newspapers are
just now reciting the story of the sui
eide on the woman for whose sake the
famous socialist leader, Lassalle, lost
his life in a duel-a woman well re-
membered by former visitors of the
German theatres in New York.
The story of her life is full of tragic
interest.
Helene Won Doenniges was the
daughter of a Prussian diplomatist,
Won Doenniges, who represented the
Prussian government at the court Of
Munich in the sixties. At the age of
eighteen she was engaged to Prince
Won Racowitza, a young Roumanian.
Before the marriage, however, she met
Lassalle at a reception in Berlin, and
the two Immediately became infatu-
ated with each other. Helene, who
was not deeply attached to the Rou-
manian, at once proposed that they
elope and fee to France, since it was
quite out of the question that her par
ents would consent to her marrying
the socialist leader.
Lassalle, however, determined to
win her in the usual German may and
went to her parents, who rejected his
offer with scorn. He said a hasty
farewell to the girl whom he was
never 10 see again, and soon sent
challenge to Won Racowitz. The duel
was fought in wood near Geneva,
and LasSalle fell. Shortly after this
Helene married the prince, but he
died within a few months. She then
resumed her studies for the stage, and
soon married the actor Friedman, but
the union was dissolved after five
years.
Meanwhile she had become a highly
successful actress, playing to enthu-
siastic houses in Vienna, Berlin, Ores
den and other German cities. Later
she played with equal success in st.
Petersburg, where she made the &C
uuaintance of NJ. Won Schewitch.
lawyer occupying a government office,
who at once fell desperately in love
with her. The couple went to Eng
land and finally to New York, where
the greater part of their married life
was spent. Won Schewitch was an
editor and she continued her theatri-
cal career. About ten years ago the
couple returned to Germany and set
tied in Munich. The car had confis-
Gated the Russian estate of Won Sche-
witch because of his desertiOn of his
post with the government, or, accord
ing to some accounts, because he was
a Nihilist. Upon his return to Europe
he was reinstated in the ownership,
but sold his lands to his brother.
The couple thus came into posses
sion of ample wealth and established
an elegant home in Munich. Won Sche-
witch. however. soon lost his fortune
in gold mine speculation, after which
the two earned a precarious livelihood
by writing for the newspapers. Re
Gently the husband died, and the
widow. who had been practically an
invalid for some years, saw herself
alone in the world and confronted with
starvation. In her despair she took
poison.
Emperor's Son Fined.
The emperors third son, Prince
August Wilhelm of Prussia, and his
chauffeur were this week brought be-
fore a Berlin magistrate and fined
1915 and costs for exceeding the speed
limit in a Berlin street
Fortunately for the princes personal
dignity his chauffeur was at the wheel
when a traffic policeman timed the car
and took it's number, or, at any rate,
the chauffeur assumed the RESPONSE
bility in court, and the fine was as
sessed against the employee though
paid by his royal employer.
Prince August Wilhelm, the legal
more difficulty in settling with his
father than with the courts, since the
emperor, displeased with the number
of automobile accidents in which
members of his family figured, some
time ago gave notice that an offend
ing prince Cor princess) might have
the machine confiscated. The impe-
rial sons, and even a daughter-in-law
or two, enthusiastic automobiles, are
fond of steering their own cars, and