The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1921-12-30

girl. the former in his early twenties.
the latter only twenty, stand out pre-
eminently in the "behind-the-scene"
story Of the now famous forty.five-
minute divorce Of Mrs. Edith Rookie
teller Mccormick and Harold F. Nc
Cormick, president OF the Interna-
tional Harvester Company and SON.
ln-law of John ID. Rockefeller.
The boy 10 Harold Fowler McCor-
mich, tr., called Fowler by his friends,
and a graduate of Princeton class Of
1921. The girl Ia Miss Muriel McCor.
mick, talented, vivacious, full of feel
ing--and only nineteen.
Put Pressure on Parents. -.
They are the eldest children Of Mr..
and Mrs. Mccormick, and II was due
principally to their efforts that their
father and mother did not undergo
the ordeal Of a scandal popularity
termed social cause celebre."-
More than a year ago young Nc
Cormick and his SISTER realized their
parents had reached an impasse in
their matrimonial relations.
So these extraordinary young per
sons put their heads together and
brought personal pressure" to bear
the quick, painless divorce" in the
Cook county superior court, Chicago.
on Wednesday.
There were many fascinating DE
hfnd-the-scenes" episodes in this
drama Of matrimonial discord that
threatened to drag the name and
good repute of two Of Americas best
known families through the divorce
courts.
For instance, Mrs. McCormick's as
ISOLATION with proponents of an ad-
ia 80 -
ogy provoked irritation on the part
Of her husband and children. Par
ticularly was this marked In the
case Of the young Austrian archi-
tect, Edwin Krenn, who came to
America with her in late September
as her private secretary.
Her Favorite Pupil.
Krenn was. and Is. Mrs. McCor-
mick's favorite pupil. Their asso
citation (that Of Krenn and Mrs. Nc
Cormick was extremely unwelcome
to Mr.. Mccormick and their chill
dren.
Nevertheless, Mrs. Mccormick in.
sisted upon retaining Krenn In her
employ. and, 30 far as known. he is
still her confidential adviser"
After the real break came between
Mr. and Mrs. Mccormick land this
country last September) Fowler and
Muriel Mccormick determined to quiet
the flood that was threatening to on.
gulf the family.
When the family went to Chicago
Fowler went with his father to Lake
Forest. Miss Muriel accompanied her
mother to the Mccormick town house
at 1000 Lake Shore Drive. Both of,|
them temporarily put into the back.
ground their own OBSERVATION-DISCLOSURES
for a career in business. with music
as a side hobby, and Miss Muriel
for a stage or perhaps operate career.
What pressure they brought to bear
upon their parents is not known. But
Il 10 a fact that Miss Muriel finally
persuaded her mother to institute di.
vorce proceedings.
It Is a fact also that young Fowler
Mccormick persuaded his father that
Mrs. Mccormick should be permitted
to obtain divorce in order that each
might be free to lead his or her own
life in his or her own way.
Mary Garden Story Denied.
The result is now known to the
newspaper reading public.
As for the future:
Nothing definite can b. said save
that Fowler and Muriel Mccormick
will always labor for the happiness
and well-belng Of both their parents.
Rumors galore have followed the
SURPRISING devon NN1hrt in the ~.
cago court Wednesday. One that
Mr.. Mccormick will wed Mary
Garden. This, II may be said au-
thoriat'vely, Is preposterous.
Another that Mrs. Mccormick VII
contract a marital alliance with her
young pupil and secretary, Krenn.
A third, that Mccormick will
marry Gamma walslea Cochran, >s.
tranred wife OF Alexander Smith
Cochran, American millionaire.