davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The Washington times., 1926-09-08
So CIOL OG|STS
To MEET HERE

The National Colored Sociological
Congress will hold its annual con-
vention at Shiloh Baptist Church.
Ninth and P Streets Northwest,
September 10 to %. Sessions will
convene in the afternoons at $3.50
and in the evening at s p. m.
Eminent speakers are scheduled
to appear here during the conven-
ton. The theme at the opening
session, September 10, at p. m,
viii be ito seek the guidance and
protection Of Almighty God in the
crisis now being passed through by
colored America. .
September %. at 8 p. M, when
the sessions close. there will be a
banquet and jubilee celebration.
The following proclamation has
been passed:
ION September %, 81 years ago
this year, Abraham ii .oln issued
his first Emancipation Proclama-
ton, thus writing the first chapter
IN the universal freedom Of the
American soil. During the 81 years
that have rolled into history, col
ored Americans have demonstrated
the fact they are absorbing Ameri-
can civilization and appreciating
American Institutions and are Will
ing TO be judged by their behavior
and deeds under the American gov.
ernment under existing circum.
The Washington times., 1926-09-08

His last picture had recreated
the success of THE Sheik. He
looked forward % the making OF
.sBanvenuto Cellini," a screen por-
travail of the amorous sixteenth
century artist. He wanted to create,
in this role of a great lover OF
history, film character who
brought technique. thoughtfulness
and sophistication to his many
loves.
He never had the chance to act
this part of whi h he dreamed.
He was stricken III Sunday, Al
gust Is, in his suite at the Hotel
Ambassador. There had been q
party the night before at the apart
ment of Barclay Fl. Warburton,
broker and warm friend of the ac-
tor. Valentino and his manager, 5.
George Ullman, were reading the
sunday papers when the actor sud-
denly pressed his hand to his side,
and groaned. The pallor Of Valen-
tino's face bespoke his condition.
Ullman helped him to his bed and
called a physician.
Valentino was ordered taken to
Polytechnic Hospital without delay.
Other doctors were called In con-
sultation. An immediate operation
was decided on. He was placed on
the operating table at $50 p. m.
It was learned he was suffering
from perforated gastric ulcer and
acute appendicitis, q combination
of ills to which less carefree and
courageous man would have bowed
long before. Valentino had suffered
previous acute attack while a
guest on the Hearst ranch in Cali.
fornia, but took little notice Of it.
Three and a half hours after he
was placed on the operating table,
consciousness returned through the
mists OF ether and pain. He turned
to DIR. Paul E. Durham, who was
sitting by his bed.
Doctor, am I pink powder
puff man?" he asked.
mo, indeed, you have been very
brave" was the response.
How did + take it?''
"You took it fine" said the
physician.
But the thought OF the charge
against him by the writer Of the
Pink Powder Puff editorial per-
sisted and ranked
'tOh. well. what the hell" he said.
"Once a sheik, always a sheik.
Word of his illness brought q tire.
The Washington times., 1926-09-08

Peritonitis Get In the second day.
Despite this infection. he gained
and was pronounced ''out OF dam
ger" August 20, the fifth day after
the operation. The death shadow
seemed to raise.
"The sheik is returning to his
people," was the word that went
out from the hospital.
II was pretty close that time.
Closer than I hope to be In the
next 90 years" was Valentino s
own comment.
Suffers q Relapse
The next night he suffered a re-
lapse. Pleurisy developed in his
left lung. His temperature rose.
The physicians gathered in hasty
consultation. Blood TRANSMISSION
was considered as possible means
OF giving him strength. Opiates
were given to relieve the agony and
give Valentino momentary rest.
He came from the torpor of such
a rest shortly before dawn of Moh-
day, August 23. DR.. Harold Meeker
was at his bedside.
II guess we WON'T take that
fishing tripe doctor" he said. It
The Washington times., 1926-09-08

was the first intImation that he
knew he was dying. POia, If she
does not call in time, tell her |
think Of her, he added, then
dozed off again.
Al friend said Of Valentino that
he was ever "a gentleman in his
consideration Of others. He
showed this quality that day. Know.
ing he was dying he maintained
the same pose Of cheerfulness he
had from the first. when Ullman,
his. friend sand manager, was al
n1itted to his room He did not
want the knowledge of approaching
death to sadden his friend
A crowd Of 900 waited III the
streets outside Polytechnic Hospital
that nnorning for word Of their
idol. the ebullient Italian who had
risen from abject poverty TO screen
eminence. 1t was known he was
sinking.
Noon whistles sounded. The
crowd surged forward as q figure
appeared at the hospital doors a
portentous murmur eddied from tll.s
doors to the banked curbs. fol-
lowed bv hush
! Valentino was dead.
The Washington times., 1926-09-08

thousands of calls. most OF them
from women wanting reports OF the
condition of their screen idol.
Redistributed Flowers
Valentino rallied we'll the first
day after the operation. He was
cheerful. quality he kept to the
end. At This time, however. he did
not know the serious nature OF the
operation. He talked of a fishing
trip in Maine.
The many flowers given he direct.
cd to be sent to other wards Of the
hospital Women patients thrilled
tc, the caress and fragrance of bios.
SONS sent them by the screen idol
they had worshipped.
Messages came from all the screen
royalty, with others also from
Mayor Freeland Kendrick, OF Phila.
delphia representative FiorelIa La
Guardia and u. ". d'Annunzio.
cousin of the poet.
Valentino directed that word be
sent to Pola Negri that he was
"all right" and that cables Of re-
assurance be dispatched to his
brother. Alberto Gugliellni, in Paris.
land his sister, Maria, in Rome.
-
The Washington times., 1926-09-08
B. c. GUARD TO FILL
WEST POINT VACANCY

One vacancy In the next class
at West Point has been allotted to
the District Of Columbia National
Guard and already six enlisted men
have announced their candidacy.
The local guard now has one
cadet in each OF the four classes
at the acaeemy and the class that
Just graduated had q former local
guardsman. Lieut.. Homer B. Mil
lard, Company H, ENGINEERS, a for
mer West Pointer. is coaching the
local guardsmen for the appoint
ment.
The requirements for the ap-
pointment are that candidates shall
serve not less than one year in
the guard prior to July /, 1927.
must be between the ages OF 10 and
%, and not less than 5 feet inches
tall. The entrance examinations are
to be held March /, 1927. The local
guard must make its designation
before December Is.
The Washington times., 1926-09-08

nendous response from his friends
and from countless unnamed al
mirers. Pola Negri wired from Hot
lywood t.at she would come East
as soon as she finished her current
picture. Jean Acker, Valentines s
first wife. postponed trip to Los
Angeles that she might visit his
bedside. Notables of the film world
teIephoneti and ) telegraphed their
hest wishes. Flowers came in pro
fusion.
The telephone girls on the switchs
board at polyclinic Hospital received
The Washington times., 1926-09-08
The Life of the '.Sheik "
CHAPTER XII-Last Days
By Pierre Potterson-

Renewed success and peak popularity, congenlaI asa
ahead in his picture from the emotional unrest
earlier years-hese Valentines when he returned
d. fnrh his last
San Antonio light. [volume] (San Antonio, Tex.) 1911-1993, 1926-01-31

vcloped until the death of Seymour Nor
ris, one of the trustees, on September 7,
1921. Lord Curzon had indeed visited
American following the death of his wife
and had long conferences with Joe Letter.
and it was supposed that the object of his
visit was to obtain more money for his
daughters, but it was not revealed what
actually happened.
With the death of Seymour Morris
new situation arose. Mrs. Letter, the widow,
had died, but it was not necessary to re-
place her as trustee. But when Morris
die it was necessary, under the terms of
the will, to replace him within ninety days.
A fierce contest over this point arose be-
tween Joe Letter on one side and his sis
tiers and nieces ON the other. 1t was
ended by the appointment of William j.
War;, clerk in Joe Letters office, as
trustee.
Margaret Letter, the widowed Countess
of Suffolk and Berkshire, had long been
dissatisfied with Joe Letters management
of the great family estate, and on May 8,
1928, in the Superior Court of Cook
County, Illinois, she filed suit against Joe,
charging "misfeasance" and msmanage-
ment in the control of the estate. The
complaint asked that Joe Letter be sum-
marty removed as trustee, and I! 1T he
be made to give full accounting of his
management.
1t was only little by little that the en-
nifty between Joe Letter and Lord Curzon
began to crop out. Lord Curzon,, who
was deeply interested in the matter as
guardian of his deceased wife's l1ildren,
was thoroughly in sympathy with his sis
ter-in-laws views of Joe Letters manage
ment.
The Countess and Lord Curzon OBJ
San Antonio light. [volume] (San Antonio, Tex.) 1911-1993, 1926-01-31

law, Lord CurZOn. He described Lord
Curzon as ''imperious and domineering"
and believing himself superior to the
laws of ordinary men," Joe Letters ar
raignment of Lord Curzon was written
in the same spirit as the famous couplet,
written about the latter when he was a
student at Oxford, and which stuck to him
throughout his distinguished career:
"My name is George Nathaniel Curzon,
"And I'm a very superior purzon."
Mr.Leiter's answer showed that the suit
was even more of fight between himself
and Lord Curzon than between himself
and his sisters, and pointed to long-stand-
ing enmity between the two possibly dat
ing back to the time of Lord Curzon's
marriage to his older sister. 1t is quite
reasonable to suppose that some of Lord
Curzon's superior remarks at that time
may have enraged the high-spirited young
American millionaire.
Letter argued that Curzon was really the
instigator of his sisters attack on him
and that he had planned the legal meas
ures. letter said that his sister, Margaret,
was merely pawn in the hands of Lord
Curzon,' and that the latters enmity
arose from the fact that he resented not
being named by odd Mr.. Letter as trustee
of the estate.
Joe Letter asserted that his titled broth
er-in-law's appearance in the case was not
filed Gin good faith" and with the knowl-
edge of the persons named as complain
ants.
Letter expressed the belief that Lord
Curzon's complaint against him was drawn
up before his sister Margaret's complaint
was prepared.
Joe Letters defence was skilfully pre-
San Antonio light. [volume] (San Antonio, Tex.) 1911-1993, 1926-01-31

pared to draw n contrast between an ar.
rogant and superclious British peer and
an honest, simple American, who wears
silk socks at $12 pair and lives accord
ingly.
Joe Letter also made a vigorous de-
fence of his truSteeship. He pointed out
that he was the only person close enough
to manage the properties with intelligence,
as the other heirs were women and for
eigners.
Letter pointed out that while the other
trustees employed attorneys and gave but
little time to the estate, he gave unstint-
ingly of time and energy, "even to the
injury of my health"
'My sister, Margaret" he said. cen
joyed the benefits of my industry"
He defended the appointment of his
clerk, War;, as a trustee by saying he
was the person most familiar with the
Letter interests.
Concerning the Countess of Suffolk's
charge that the estate had deprecated
Sl,000,000, under his management, Mr..
Letter said that was really a temporary
fluctuation. In answer to the charge that
he had failed to hand over the income
from the coal properties to the trustees.
he said that he would in a short time re-
pay the entire indebtedness
The Countess replied by filing further
charges of Encouragement of the estate
against her brother. She said that she had
not been consulted about the lease of
$4,000 worth of land to Letter Stores.
Inc, for twenty years Even the old
Letter home at Geneva, Wis, had been
sold without her consent.
She said she had been kept out of her
income by her brother because he had
her income checks signed by his clerk,
War;, and she would not recognize War;
as trustee.
An interesting development in the af-
fair occurred when Judge Sullivan or
dered Letters lively attack on Lord Cur
zon as 'imperous and domineering" and
seeking to get control of his daughters
property, for selfish reasons, to be struck
out.
SIT is not Letters place to make such
charges" said the Judge "They should
be made, if at all, by the daughters
Joe Letter then tried to complicate mat
tiers by filing suit against his sister,
Margaret, and Lord Curzon in Washing
ton, d. C. The sister, Mrs Colin Camp
bell, stood by Joe Letter. Judge Sullivan
enjoined him from bringing the Washing
ton suit.
After the squabble had started Letter
bought the Zegler coal mines, now valued
at $lS,OOO,OOO, for $4,OOO,O 900. By SO
doing he complied with the terms of his
fathers will and forced his sister and
Lord Curzon to withdraw part Of their
charges against him.
The most dramatic stage of the family
fight is yet to come. The hearing to re-
move Letter. as trustee, is expected TO
come up on March IS, in Chicago.
Margaret, the Countess of Suffolk and
Berkshire, will be present and may bring
her young son, the present Earl, and his
two brothers. Pretty Lady Cynthia Mos
ley is expected to attend. She has turned
Socialist, but wants as much money as
possible from her Uncle joe" to help
the cause.
San Antonio light. [volume] (San Antonio, Tex.) 1911-1993, 1926-01-31

jected vigorously to the appointment of
Joe Letters clerk War;, to the vacant
trusteeship. They said the appointment
hau been rushed through by combina-
ton of Joe Letter and his sister, Mrs.
Colin Campbell, in spite of the protests of
the Countess and Lord Curzon's two older
daughters, Lady Irene and Lady Cynthia.
The Countess of Suffolk charged in her
complaint that War; was mot a suitable
person to be a trustee, because he was
completely dominated by Joseph Letter,
and not in position to exercise his in
dependent Judgment and to perform to
the best of his ability the duties of his
trust" The Countess stated that she had
never recognized War; as trustee.
The complaint drew quite picture of
Mr.. Letter managing the vast estate for
his own enjoyment and benefit, regardless
of the interests of his sisters and some
fifteen members of the British nobility.
The Countess declared that Joseph Letter
"acts as though he was sole owner of the
estate, particularly in matters where the
interests of Joseph Letter are adverse to
the interests of the other trustees and
bcneficiaries."
The sister referred in detail to Joe
Letters handling of the Illinois coal prop
critics. Under the provisions of old Mr..
Letters will, Joseph was to manage these
and have the right to buy them on pay
ment to the estate of the 81 900, 900 orig
inally invested, together with interest at
) per cent from the time of the invest
ment. The Countess declared that he had
failed to live up to this provision and had
withheld from the estate money derived
from the coal properties.
The Countess's complaint then accused
Joe Letter of carrying on farming on a
San Antonio light. [volume] (San Antonio, Tex.) 1911-1993, 1926-01-31

The late Levi Ziegler Letter began
life as a poor clerk in a country
store. His career was one of the old
fashioned romances ofAmerican life. TT
Before his death he was one of M
small group of multi-millonaires,
which included Marshall Field, Philip
ID. Armour, Nelson Morris, Potter
Palmer and others who made Chicago
what it was. When he died, in 1904,
he left his vast fortune in trust for
his son and daughters and granddaughter.
Mr.. Letter appointed as trustees his
widow, Mrs. Mary 7. Letter; his son, Joe
Letter; his two younger daughters, Mar
garet generally known as "Daisy')
Letter and Nancy Letter, and the late
Seymour Morris, of Chicago.
Mary, the oldest daughter, was already
married to Lord Curzon of Kedleston,
later MARQUIS Curzon. She died in 1906,
leaving three aughters~Lady Mary
Irene Curzon. (now Lady Ravensdale),
Lady Cynthia Blanche Curzon (now Lady.
Cynthia Mosley) and Lady Alexandra
MADEIRA Curzon (now Lady Alexandra
Metcalfe). In the. year of her fathers
death Nancy Letter marrier British sub
iect, Major Colin Campbell, cousin of the
Duke of Argyll, and then Margaret
Letter married Henry Howard, Earl of
Suffolk and Berkshire. Joe Letter, the
only son married, in 1908, Juliette Will
Jams, daughter of Colonel John r. Will
Jams, U. S. A.
Lady Curzon received bequest from
her father of 100000 and the income
from a trust fund of 100000. One
third of the estate was given in trust to
the widow, and the remainder was divided
equally between the two younger daugh-
tiers and Joe Letter. ..
The estate was of vast value, much
greater than the sums mentioned in the
will would have suggested. 1t included
1000 acres of coal land in Franklin
County, Illinois, valued at over $1S,000,-
900; more than 1000 acres of land in
Wyoming; immense land holdings along
the Potomac River; valuable land and
buildings in Chicago, and enormous rail-
road properties in India.
No open quarrels among the heirs de-
San Antonio light. [volume] (San Antonio, Tex.) 1911-1993, 1926-01-31

vast scale, in Wyom-
ing, for which he had
a personal liking, This
was said to be con-
trary to his powers
as a trustee and he
was alleged to have
lost large sums of
money for the estate
by it.
Three days after
Lady Suffolk began
her suit Lord Curzon,
at that time British
Secretary for Foreign
Affairs, allied himself
openly with his sister
in-law and filed a
document practically
repeating her charges
against Joe Letter.
Lord Curzon acted as
guardian for his three
daughters and asked
the removal of Letter
and War;, as trustees,
and for an accounting
from Letter for his
spending of the es-
tate's money.
Then came the an
swer of Joe Letter.
Perhaps the most re-
markable feature of
it was a scathing ar
raignment of his dis
tinguished and exalted
BIRTHS h brother-in-
San Antonio light. [volume] (San Antonio, Tex.) 1911-1993, 1926-01-31

lr. Joseph Letter, Picturesque
capitalist, Who Has Been Hand
ing the Vast Wealth Left by His
'ather to All His Heirs, but Won't
10 So Much Longer if His Titled
Sister and Nieces Have Their
Way.
The Washington times., 1926-07-13
Diplomats Find Capital Gay Resort
SECRETARY OF
NAVY LEAVES
NEWPORT

af& Il -
Becaase of the sudden departure
Of secretary wilbur OF the Navy
from Newport several festivities e..
ranged in his noncr nave bean can.
celIed, as well as q dinner Wnicn
the Secretary was to have given TO-
morrow night aboard the u 3. 3.
New York. Mr.. and Mrs. Marion i
Epp.ev, with whom Secretary VIE
bur spent Sunday, Wers g nilys
pivan 8 dinner for him tonight at
Raaeon Rock. and Mr.. and MES.
walter Bruce Howe, OF Wasiling ton,
had planned 4 luncheon for him to-
day 1t Berry Hill. Mr.. Howe, Ila.
tionaI vice president Of th navy
League. was national chairman e
last years Navy Day observan nee.
and Mr.. Eppley is 3 former national
chairman.
The Washington times., 1926-07-13
MISS WRENN MARRIED
ETO j. a. PIERPONT

Norman Welfor Wrenn announces
the marriage OF his daughter, Anna.
virginia, to James Arthur Pierpoint
of this city on Saturday. July 3, At
the st. James rectory, West Falls
Church, Va, the Rev. Father Van
Ingelgen officiating.
Il -
Harley Peyton Wilson, Of Wash
ington, who has been at Hot Springs.
Va. with Mrs. Wilson. went last
night 10 New York. Mr.. and Mrs.
wilson entertained at luncheon yes
terday at the Homestead.
Charles r.. Caruai has gone to
White Sulphur Springs, w. Va, 70
be with Mrs. Carusi and Miss Helen
Carusi, who have a cottage there.
y n y
Professor Edward p. Warner, who
came to town yesterday to take IN
his new duties as Assistant Score.
tary Of the Navy for Aviation, a
staying at the Cosmos Club.
The Washington times., 1926-07-13
EOsninq SsrirnruiNg
m m 0rdman Pool

n snnvv Al offAck three evenings
!. sOeelr Mondays, wednesdays and
Trr,Seve. keen way 20 spend the
The Washington times., 1926-07-13
MISSION HEADS
BRAVE SUMMER
IN TOWN
Diplomats Detained Here
Contribute to Seasons
Gayeties
~ JEAN ELIOT

TN most instances the foreign
4 embassies and legations here are
n the hands Of secretaries. but
there are enough heads Of missions
set In town to give an official flavor
TO many OF the informal gatherings
Of the summer season. One meets
the distinguished foreign sojourners
principally at the country clubs
but there are occasional pleasant
parties at embassies or LEGATIONS.
The Peruvian / ambassador, DR..
Herman Velarde. for, example, has
issued Invitations for a luncheon on
Thursday In honor Of DIR. Alberto
Solomon, at which the distinguish.
ed visitor from Peru will have op.
portunity to meet g really interest
ing group OF men and women who
are stiil in town. There was
another luncheon recently, with
Capt. Hayne Ellis as host at which
the ambassador Of Chile, DIR. Cru
chaga. shared honors with another
Chilean statesman, DR.. Claro--
Washington maintains its neutrality
81 the Tacna-Arfca dispute, you see.
And there was 4 dinner at the
Hungarian legation for that most
distinguished prelate. John Cardial
Csernoeh, primafe Of Hungary, who
stopped over here TO be the guest
Of the Hungarian minister. Count
gzechenyi, for a few days.
Dean OF Corps Lingers
The Spanish ambassador. dean Of
the diplomatic corps, seems TO find
Washington the pleasantest OF sum
n1er resorts and rarely goes away
Tor more than q few days at q time.
He expects to be here all summer,
although Nine. Riano viii 60 to
York Harbor Me-. to be the guest
o6 her sister, Mrs. Chandley An.
derson, for August. DR.. Velarde,
Of Peru. will be here most OF the
summer and 60 win the Brazilian
ambassador. Mr.. do Amorai. al
though he plans to make several
motor trips with washington as n
starring point. DR.. Cruchaga. of
Chile. is also in town and has made
no plans Tor leaving. while one
finds the Ambassador Of Mexico
and Nine. Teller. stilI at the big
comfortable embassy In Sixteenth
Street.
Italy Chooses Summer Embassy
Ambassador. de MARITIME, 81 Italy,
81 likewise here just now, but
VIII 60 shortly to New York to
meet Nine de Martina on her
return from Italy and after that
viii take possession of the camp
in the Adirondacks which he has
leased. The de Marines win be
mefghbors OF President Coolidge.
The Minister. OF the Irish Free
State and Mrs. Smiddy, the Min
lister Of Egypt and Mime. SAMMY
Pasha. and the Minister of Austria
and Nine. Prochrik are among
those who expect to be In town al
summer, and who are taking an
nctive part ii summer festivities
One sees the Smiddy girls Pearl
and Smiddy dancing or playing
&bnnfs at the country clubs on al
occasions. And both the samys and
the Prochnilks seem to be enjoying
summer in town. The Minister
oe Egypt and Nine. Samy expect to
20 to Europe IA the autumn.
The minister Of Hungary, Count
4Szechenyi. win leave town before
long for his estates in Hungary
where Countess Szechenyi Is spend,
ing the summer
Mr.. and Mrs. Edward Beale Nc.
Lean have gone to their farm near
LAesburg Va.
The Washington times., 1926-07-13

evening ~ 70
Is out 10 Ward
man 70 dinner
ana then Rave
d alp az : = =
ward. ~ d IN
duriTia dinner
you know and
very afffact
attInK and
good food.
The pool ~.
the most pop
ular plac =
ina ginabIe now
that swimming
Aava s are really