New-York tribune., 1920-04-20
Former May Oelrichs Was
Once Heralded as the
Most Beautiful of All
American W o m en-
Decree Issued i'm
Paris Months Ago
Ex.Husband Had Filled
Diplomatic Posts; Is
Widely known Clubman

The divorce IN faflS SeNcTdl mOnCnS
aro of Mr.. and Mrs. Leonard M.
Thomas, both prominent in New York
and Philadelphia society, came to the
knowledge of The Tribune yesterday.
Although the two have been living
apart for many months no word of the
separation and subsequent divorce and
no inkling of difficulties existing be-
tween them ever has reached the ears
Of their scores of friends here and in
Philadelphia, where Mr.. Thomas was
born and reared.
Mrs. Thomas was Blanche May
Oelrichs, daughter Of Mr.. and Mrs.
Charles May Oelrichs, Of 925 Park
Avenue. In 1918, three years after her
marriage, she was heralded through
out the land as "America's most beau
tiful woman" This was the title be-
slowed upon her by Paul Helleu, the
famous French artist, after a visit to
America.
Children With Mother
1t was learned yesterday that Mr..
Thomas, who until recently had lived
At 154 East Sixty third Street, had
moved to an apartment at Y! Madison
Avenue, and that Mrs. Thomas, with
her two children, Leonard Moorhead
Thomas jr. and Robin May Thomas.
live at 81 East Ninety-fourth Street.
Mrs. Thomas's telephone is listed un-
der the name "L. M. Thomas"
Asked last night whether it was true
that there had been a divorce, Mrs.
Thomas replied:
"Yes, it is true that we are divorced.
But the divorce was granted many,
many months ago. / am sure that our
friends would not be interested in any,
thing of the kind.
"You should talk to Mr.. Thomas
about this" she added. ~ am sure he
should be consulted, as it is of quite
as much interest to him as to me-"
At the home of Mr.. Thomas, a SER
want, after asking who was calling,
said:
Are you looking for information {?
II you are you'd better try to get it
On the outside. Mr.. Thomas has moth
ing to say"
Mrs. Thomas was asked if it were
true that action had been taken by her
former husband to obtain the custody
of one of her children.
my children?" she repeated. "Why,
they are both right here in the house
with me-" So far as she knew they
would remain with her, she said.
Wedding a Large Event
She declared that she did not feel in
clined to object to the publishing of
the fact Of the divorce, but implied
hat her former husband might not
feel as she did.
To those who remember the splendor
Of the preparation for and carrying out
Of the marriage of Leonard Moorhead
Thomas, son of one of the wealthiest
families in Philadelphia, Yale gradu
ate, member of a dozen clubs and at
one time second secretary to the United
States Embassy at Rome, later first
secretary of legation at Madrid,
their divorce will come as a surprise.
They were married at the home of the
brides parents.
The romantic events leading up to
their engagement and marriage and
their subsequent entertaining both in
New York and Philadelphia. as we'll
as on many occasions in Paris and
London, led those who knew them to
believe their lives were happy-that
they were the "ideal couple"
Paul Helleu had come to America,
he announced, to find the most beauti-
full woman
~ found her." he said, as he en-
barked for Paris. IL found her in Mrs.
Thomas"
Hundreds Of artists sought after op-
portunities to paint and to draw her in
the following months.
Mrs. Thomas a Poetess
And Mrs. Thomas was not only a
beautiful woman. She accomplished
the thing which at that time many
;oung @omen-she was just past twer-
sy-.wo then-were attempting. She
vas successful in writing poetry. She
also wrote play. She advocated equal
subject.
She was one of the most widely
kno"n persons in Newport society. and
ssiser her marriage she and her hus-
'and entertained iayishly in their home
On Narragansett Avenue.
Ar: Thomas is forty-two years old.
n's father was for a generation we'll
known as one Of the important figures
y the financial and charitable activi-
yes in Philadelphia and was partner
4 Co. A's ''"A"' - '
ihe two children's names originally
we're Leonard May Oelrichs Thomas
1sa Meredith Michael May Thomas.
.nese were shortened through court
sssion In 1915. Leonard il. is nine
'ssrs old and Robin is five.