The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1926-08-26


were the rewards he expected
opportunity.
As Rudolfo} del Marchesi Gugli-
elmi he appeared on the first-class
passenger INST Of the American
liner Cleveland-this youth who
was to become world-fau10uS ag
/ Rudolph Valentino. As "agricul.
tur1st" he appeared on the records
Of the immigration authorities.
To q casual observer meeting
the liner that crisp December day
he was only q darkly handsome
brown-eyed boy, speaking no Eng
lish and obviously frightened by
this hulking, noisy city.
II was as q scientific farmer that
Rudolfo planned his conquest Of
America During the long voyage
from his sunny homeland, even ss
the liner crept up the harbor
toward this forbidding city whose
huge bulk doomed through the
grey mist, he dreamed Of establish
ing himself on q ranch In the West
or Midwest and there speedily
winning fortune by his knowledge
Of agriculture.
This was his rosy vision. He
AOouN = 1S0A~J Sn0S wa m AdSo
contrast.
Money Soon EzlAaas6od
lie had but little money when
hs landed. ana that went quickly. .
He cast about for q position
which would make use OF his de-
gree a. scientific agriculturist.
Blu he learned, as No afterward
expr1essed It with a rueful smile:
Americans thought all Italians
were fruit vendors or Iaborers. I
was determined to be neither, 30
I got no work"
It was one Of the darkest per.
iods In the LIE Of the young ad.
venturer who, seven years later,
was to rise TO the peak Of screen
success.
But If he longed for the gentle
Italian town Of his birth, and
looked back with heavy heart on
his happy days at the Royal
School OF Agriculture at San Liario
Lagure, or his mad escapades in
Paris on Monte Carlo, he never
once despaired Of the unequal fight
in the metropolis Of q strange land.
Sleeping on park benches, getting
what work he could at odd jobs,
sweeping out, shining brass-what-
ever came to hand-he never once
thought Of giving up the fight.
Nor did the impulse TO appeal
to his family ever overcome his
pride.
Although his bed might be
nothing better than O wind-Swept
bench and his purse nothing but
a lonely coin in hiA pocket, he
always Kept up the pose OF sue
cess. for his family in Italy.
WHIT part Of his wardrobe had
net gone to pawnshops enabled
him to look the gentleman. how.
ever Door he really was. And
with the air Of one who be-
Ionged. he would enter an ex'
elusive hotel, sit down in the
writing-room, and on impressive
stationery there provided would
pen a cheerful letter back to
his mother telling her Of his sue
cess in this new land.
Met Cornelius Bliss
The Spring came and with it
renewed hope. Valentino met Cor
nelius Bliss and persuaded the
wealthy New Yorker to let him
undertake the planning Of the
gardens for his beautiful Long
Island estate. then being made
ready for Summer occupancy. Here
was the chance for the scientific
| gardener
Here was the first stepping
stone toward that success in gar
| that h0
had dreamed.
He planned a sunken garden re-
calling the beautiful estates ad'
Joining Rome; he recaptured IN his
fancy the beauties OF the italian
Riviera.
He pictured the sweep Of great
lawns bordered with verdant hedges
brilliant with a profusion OF flowers
But, alas, for dreams!
His vision was shattered when II
was learned that Mrs. Bliss pre-
ferred a golf course to the elabor'
ate gardens young Valentino had
planned. Rudolph again was look
ing for work.
At Work In Park
He found It as assistant land
scape gardener at Central Park
He was cheered for a while. blu;
when he sought to make his posi-
ton permanent by applying TO the
Civil Service Commission, he founC
that he was not eligible as city
employee because he was not al
American citizen.
Back again to drudgery. the DAILY
battle for food and a place II
sleep.
No inlEling Of the eaEAAE In -stnrI