The Washington times., 1922-07-09
MAGNATE
!. WILL. WED
"A BEAUTY
Engaged to Gamma
Walska, Harvester
Co. Head Pays Ath-
letic Youth $500
for Secret Ponce de
Leon Sought.
CHICAGO. July &.
70 uaara old Waariell


TIFTY.Two years old. wearied
and weakened by oppressive
- business cares. worries by
long litigation and domestic trou-
bles. Harold r. Mccormick, chair.
man Of the board of directors Of
the International Harvester Com
pany, went into the Wesley Me.
mortal Hospital a few weeks ago
Is secret patient for a mysterious
operation.
The millionaire appeared at a
window a few days later and waved
his hand. smiling, at the crowd
that thronged the street below.
When DR.. Victor D. Lespinasse,
the celebrated surgeon who per.
formed the operation. was asked
how the noted patient felt, he an.
, swered:
"oh, he feels like a man Of TWEEN.
ty-six!'
Just half the age of Harold r.
Mccormick measured in terms OF
time! Then, suddenly realizing
that he was discussing forbidden
subject, DIR. Lespinasse hastily
added:
"~"I did not mean that. 1t was
Just a joke. I have no business
talking to you people. But Mr.. Nc
Cormick Is feeling finer
OPERATION SUCCESSFUL.
But the unintentionally uttered
statement was the first definite,
=. official information indicating the
exact result of the operation on the
financier's mind and body, and
even DIR. Lespinasse's quick at
: tempt to retract it did not lessen
the Importance of The announce.
ment.
The operation by which the
Harvester trust head believes that
his age has been diminished by half
was gland transplantation. the
modern medical method Of at
tanning the results sought by
Ponce de Leon In his quest for the
tabled Fountain of Youth centuries
ago. For several years the eff
cheney Of gland transportation has
been discussed and scores Of such
operations are reliably reported to
have been performed. But never
on a man whose identity made him
80 conspicuous a subject that the
actual value of the achievement
could be observed by the entire
world.
ULTRA.MQDERN ROMANCE.
The most startling phase Of the
entire experiment Is to be found
In the fact that this man of many
millions is betrothed to the now
celebrated Gamma walsla. the OBJ
scure Polish singer who aspired to
become a prima donna of grand
opera and failed ingioriously.
Younger than thirty years. q tall.
blonde, radiant young woman, she
is in Paris awaiting the complete
convalescence OF the American
financier. He is preparing to join
her overseas, and. their marriage 10
fixed for the near future.
Three days after the perform.
ance Of the extraordinary medical
achievement. Mr.. Mccormick sent
this message by cable to the young
woman:
Operation successful. Much
love.''
Their marriage will add one more
chapter to the startling series Of
marital alliances and separations
In their families which has kept in
ternational society astir for a dec
ade. For the beautiful young
singer this will be the fourth mar
riage, for the rejuvenated million.
aire 1t will be the second.
HIGH COST OF YOUTH.
A bizarre incidental feature Of
the situation is that the person
from whose body the gland or
glands were removed and grated
into the millionaire Is virtually
unknown. He was young,
strong, extremely healthy Ameri-
can at the very peak Of physical
power, selected from hundreds of
applicants. Beyond these few facts
the volunteer is shielded in Sc
crecy.
Not that he desires the anony.
= nous distinction, but because It
was q part Of the agreement that
neither before nor after the opera.
ton should he discuss IL or make
known his identity. Even TIE
family Of the man are unaware of
the nature Of the sacrifice II he
has kept the contract. For the
Gland which was transplanted the
original owner received $500, and
In acknowledgment he signed pa.
pers waiving all claim for further
consideration. While II is not def
2ltely known, II is understood that
tes giver OF the gland will be rec
orupensed further at stated inter-