Evening journal., 1918-08-22
DIDN'T WANTCARUSO
FOR HIS SON-IN-LAW
Park Benjamin Says He Re-
fused Singers Plea for
His Daughter Hand
SAYS THE WEDDING
WAS A SURPRISE

NEW YORK. Aug. 23.-Park Benja-
min, father OF Dorothy Park Benjamin
who was married ON Tuesday TO En-
rico Caruso, the singer, said at his
summer home yesterday that the mar
rlage had come to him as a great sur
prise, for he had absolutely refused his
permission when the tenor asked him
for his daughters hand. lie said that
Caruso had been spending week-ends at
his home, and had come to him last
Friday TO ask for his daughter.
I'VE talked the matter over amieably
enough" continued Mr.. Benjamin. "and
| supposed that with my refusal the
matter was closed. My daughter went
TO New York on Monday, and ! heard
nothing more OF the matter until
somebody called me on the telephone
on Tuesday night TO tell me OF the
wedding. Il was neither my daughter
nor Mr.. Caruso who called. but l as
sure you that ! was completely sur
prised.
MY objections are Of a kind that can
not be overcome. They are based upon
the difference in the ages OF the couple,
and the fact that they are not Of the
same nationality. Moreover, the singer
Is a man Of temperament. l did not
want my daughter to marry riches or
a voice, or an orator, but Just a man.
However, she Is a mature woman, and
Caruso Is as, therefore the match can
not be ascrlbed TO the ardor Of youth.
"As for the singers past that the
newspapers have raked up, that makes
no difference TO me. The incidents re-
lated occurred when he was a mere
youth. Since then he has become the
worlds greatest singer. and he has
reached that position as the result Of
the very hardest kind OF work. and so
has had no time TO do anything but
lead the best kind OF life.
you ask me whether my daughter
and son-in-law VIII be received here II
they call. ! can hardly answer for the
whole family. The whole thing was so
extremely precipitous that we haven't
had time 10 think. but the thing is done
now and cannot be helped. so we shall
probably make the best OF 10. There
is no mystery as TO why we did not
go to the wedding, We were not
asked"
In his apartment at the Hotel Knick-
erbocker yesterday afternoon, Caruso
talked freely Of his marriage and seem
ed TO enjoy immensely the hustle and
to-do connected with the enlarging of
his suite 10 eight rooms. While he
talked and laughed and told Of what
his friends had written TO him in con-
graduation, the hotel men were NOV
ing in new furniture, his secretaries
were answering telephone calls. re-
ceiving kilograms, and meeting callers.
Caruso showed a stack Of $50 tele-
grams which be and his wife had re-
celved, among them being congratula-
tions from General Guglimotti OF the
italian Military Commission, from
Amato, Gatti-Casazza, and Mrs. Cornell
lus Vanderbilt.
Il met Miss Benjamin" said Csruso,
at a tea party and reception given
two years ago at the home Of DR.. F.
VI. Maralloti. at POP Madison avenue.
have seen her at various times since
then. but we were not engaged until
six months ago. When we decided o
be married we made up our minds that
we did not want any fuss, so we did
the thing as quietly as possible. II Is
war time now, so we feel that any ex-
travagance in the way Of presents
would be out OF place. As / am sched-
uled TO begin work next Monday, Il will
be impossible for US to take a honey
moon. so we shall continue to live here
for some time. We would take our
honeymoon later II that were possible,
but you know a late honeymoon is not
a honeymoon at all"
In the meantime Mrs. Caruso arrived
in their automobile from a shopping
tour. She was unwilling to talk Of
herself OF Of the wedding replying TO
all inquiries by saying. "Please talk
TO my husband" As she assembled the
elevator she carried an onyx swagser
stick. and swung 10 imratently as she
warded of the many queries put TO
her, but finally consented to allow the
papers 10 have her photographs.
Mr.. Caruso said they expected TO be
received at a small party OF friends
and relatives at his father-ln-law's
house a week from Saturday.
COMMUNITY BOARD MEETING.