Evening star., 1922-10-15
American Chatelaine
OF Austrian Legation
Is Observing Mourning
Mother Of Charge ad Interim
Prochnik Dies at Vienna
During Past Week.

Nine. Prochnik. the charming Amer
ican chatelaine Of the Austrian lega-
ton. and wife of Mr. Edgar L. &C.
Prochnik. the charge ad interim ND
counselor of the legation. Is obsefH-
ing mourning for the mother of her
husband. Nine. Theresa Prochnik.
whose death occurred in Vienna dur
ing the past week. But with very
excellent judgment. under the regime
of Mr.. and Mrs. Prochnik, the lega-
tion always has been quiet and with
gala affairs absent from its routine
In the present condition of Austrian
finances and with so much sorrow in
the country, Nine. Prochnik had done
only the necessary things demanded
oy her position. and even these Will
o. dispensed with during the season
Of mourning.
Nine Prochnik. who will rank
among the more youthful hostesses
of diplomatic establishment. was
before her marriage in 1915 Miss
Gretchen Stirling James, daughter
Of Mr.. and Mrs. Edward Preston
James of Boston. for many years
Prochnik was born in the western
city. and was residing there at the
time of her marriage to the Austrian
consul. Mr.. Prochnik, who had served
almost eighteen years in various
American cities when the declaration
OF war on Germany caused him to
withdraw.
Returned to Austria.
He had married some fifteen years
ago a lady from Chicago. who died
and left one daughter. Miss Lorando
Prochnik. now about twelve years of
age. and at school in New York With
an infant daughter. Valerie Stirling
journeyed to Vienna with her hus-
band. and remained there during the
remaining eighteen months of hos
tilities. Like all those in the strick-
en- city. she suffered all the miseries
OF hunger, cold and isolation from
the world and from her own people.
Her second child. Edgar L. G. Proch-
mix. jr., was born during this sad
period, and there is another little
girl less than a year. who is called
Patricia because she saw the light on
the joyous feast of the patron of
Erin.
The Austrian legation is in the for
mer home of Mr.. Josephus Daniels,
but 1t Is marvelously changed since
the rather spectacular regime of the
erstwhile Secretary of the Navy. The
crashing music of the Marine Band
was SO often heard here when Mrs.
Daniels held her receptions and the
house utterly laden with flowers and
always crowded with guests. An air
OF simplicity is apparent In the man
sion now. although there is all the
elegance of the Austrian embassy in
the old days. The equipment Is most
ly the personal property of the charge
ND
few Of the great crimson and gold
sofas and chairs which adorned the
drawing room of the embassy in Con-
necticut avenue during the residence
OF DR.. Constantine Dumba and Nine.
Dumba have been transferred to the
sale of the building on Connecticut
avenue.
Avoid Extrnvaxanees.
Tho legation oflces have been in
stalled on the top floor of the resi-
dence. with a good part Of the Sec
ond given over to nursery and play
rooms M. and Nine. Prochnik pos
sess m adequate private income. and
they could live In state If they SO
desired; desire H., but the painful impression
mind. and especially II news of It be-
came known in Austria, may easily
be imagined They both are engaged
in all manner of activities which l6oH
to aiding the Austrian people. and the
children and Nine. Prochnik. since
purposely refrained from Joining
clubs or expending any sum in any
direction except to aid their country.
She was active in relief committees
In Vienna during the war, and after
the armistice, when tho economic con-
ditious were 30 grave, and she still
devotes all the time she can spare
from the children and from her other
duties to organising baxaars and en-
tertainments to swell the fund for
bread and milk IN. the poorer sectfons
Of Vienna Conditions. however. lre
ifowiHg more normal. and fhe future
and Nina Proehnik are members OF
the congregation of St. Matthew's Ro.
man Catholic Church ON Rhode lalAnd