New-York tribune., 1918-05-15

Al
freedom originated in that rs ion :"
The next suggestion, however, over
came his -belligerent philosophy.
He was asked if he would fight Rus
sian. "Yes!" he exclaimed. "I'll fight
Russian in remembrance of poor Po-
land!" So the, contest took place in
the presence of the pupils and the UNI
pres, and the victory was unanimously
awarded to young Bennett. Thereupon
ne turned to the company and said:
Now. if there is any one else here
who doubts my courage III fight him.
no matter what nation he belongs to-"
The challenge was not accepted, nor
was there thereafter any question of
the boys courage or of his popularity.
Mr.. Bennett was on several notable
occasions involved in important liti-
CATION. A series of suits was once
brought against him by Miss Juliette
Schettler. French actress the daugh-
ter of Miss Camille Clermont, another
French actress, in an endeavor to prove
that she was his daughter and was en-
titled to share of his fortune. All
these suits were unhestatingly de-
clded in Mr.. Benefits favor A few
years ago he and other members of
The Herald Corporation were PROSE
cuted for the publication of objection
able advertisements. Pleas of guilty
were entered and fines were paid
Mr.. Bennett was not married until
late in life, though he was on several
previous occasions the subject of mat
rlmonial rumors. In early life. before
the.s death Of his father, he was en-
gagged to be married to a beautiful!
young woman. but for some reason
which never was disclosed to the public
the engagement was broken. Mr.. Ben
nett had a quarrel and a personal con-
f1ict with the older brother of the lady
and there was some idle talk of a duel.
The matter was. of course, never dis
cnssed by Mr. Bennett, not even with
his personal friends
Married Baroness de Reuter-
On September 10, 1914, however, Mr..
Bennett was married to the Baroness
de Reuter-, widow of Baron George de
Reuter-, son of the founder of the great
Reuter- News Agency Mrs. Bennett.
was formerly Miss Maud Potter, daugh-
ter of John and Helen Norris Potter,
of Philadelphia. She was married to
Baron de Reuter- in 1891, and was left
a widow in 1909. She and Mr. Bennett
had been close friends for many years.
Their wedding took place in Paris, the
religious ceremony being performed by
the Rev. DR.. Watson, at the American
Episcopal Church in that city, the
American Ambassador being one of the
witnesses.
In politics Mr.. Bennett was an inde-
pendent, as his father was before him.
but at times he took an intense interest
in national affairs and contributed
much influence to campaigns. He did
much to bring about the nomination of
Horoce Greeley for President in 1872
by the Democrats. 1t is related that
shortly before the Democratic corven-
ton of that year at Baltimore he called
for one of his editorial writer's and
said to him: "You know that when
said that it would not be much of
rain. But Noah built the ark, and
when 1t began to rain the smaller
animals came and got in. The harder
it rained the more animals came,
bigger and bigger ones. At last came
the giraffe and the elephant, the
rhinoceros and the grizzly bear. They
were very sullen, but they were afraid
t; to remain outside any longer. That is
recognizing Greeley. The little fellows
came in a good while ago, and now
Thurman, Hendricks and Bayard are
tagging in to get out of the rain. Can
you write that?" The resulting edi-
torial strongly influenced the conven-
ton to indorse the nomination of
Greeley.
Although he spent most of his life
abroad, Mr.. Bennett always maintained
a home in this country. Indeed, ne
had two homes, one in New York City
and another at Newport. He also had
suite of Offices constantly ready for
his occupancy in the Herald Building.
Mr.. Bennett took his fun with aban-
don and displayed characteristic
sense of humor. One OF the incidents
told about him occurred when he took
to coaching in France. Under the law
all drivers of coaches had to take out
licenses and wear their badges. Mr..
Bennett wore his. Then, when a strike
OF omnibus drivers was called in Paris
Mr.. Bennett and his fashionable coach
went on strike, too, and he sent a con-
trlbution to the strike fund.
Generous to the Porter
One New Years Day Mr. Bennett ar
rived at the Union Club, his favorite
resort when in New York. There, OBJ
serving that some members of the club
were giving to the venerable porter SIS
tills as New Year presents, he called
hlm over and gave him bill.
Peter, my FRIEND" he said. "take
that" '"'u' '0Ae
THANK you, SIR" said Peter. his ewes
gistenlng at the sight of double Ks
Mr.. Bennett gazed at him for a sec
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