Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1930-04-24
The Truth About Rudolph Valentino
WIFE
Crowds and Pets Color Trip to Europe With Actor.

When I think of our first trip to
Europe, two things stand out pre-emi-
nently In my mind: First, the crowds
that followed us wherever we went, and,
second, the dogs We bought.
The. crowds are an unpleasant MEM
DRY. In England we had to fight for
our lives To be the wife of famous
man is not all that 1t is supposed to be
by those who have only dreamed OF that
role.
AS for the dogs-they were great fun.
We bought three darling Pekes in Lon
don, six more in Nice, a Dobermann
Pinscher in Paris-not to mention the
coterie Of police dogs wolfhounds, bull
pups and Great Danes presented to
Rudy along our route by ardent ad-
mirers who knew his weakness for the
canine species. On our journey home
It was as though we were travelling with
Q menagerie.
But to start at the beginning:
We sailed from New York on the
Aquitania in August, 1928. The pas
sage over was uneventful. We kept
largely to ourselves, taking most OF our
meals in our private suite. The only
passengers with whom we mingled were
Mr.. and Mrs. George Arliss, with whom
we became excellent friends.
Chaperoned Honeymoon.
Auntie travelled with us. We were
both so fond of her we wanted her,
even though, with our marriage legal
lied, we no longer required her as chap
eron. She left the ship at Cherbourg,
while Rudy and went on to Plymouth.
Here we fought our way to the London
train through mobS that battled for
glimpse Of Rudy and at London through
worse mobs to the Ritz Hotel.
Here, to our amazement, the man
agement refused us rooms. Just few
weeks earlier Charlie Chaplin had stop
ped at the Ritz and, in the publicity
that attended his sojourn, every win
smashed and the entire lobby demol-
ished. The manager meant us no Of
tense, as he politely explained, but he
wanted no more screen stars.
So we went to the Carlton, where
for three days we were literally i'm
prisoned by reporters and photogra-
pliers. Every journal in the British
obscure Irish weekly, sent a represent
alive to interview Rudy. Forty-five
called the first day, 500 the second and
go the third. They lined up in the hall
outside our rooms and made 1t impos-
sible to escape. Each one in turn asked
this question:
what do you think of London?"
Finally we said: eff you don't let us
out, we'll never be able to answer that
question. We haven't glimpsed the
streets of London except from the hotel
windows"
So the fourth day We lodged them
and went sightseeing.
Loved London's Age.
Rudy loved London because 1t was
50 old. He was wild about history;
not modern history-he had no inter-
est in that, but he quite wore me out
investigating every old ivy-grown castle
and tower significant of the days from
the Crusader King Richard to the Viz
gin Queen Bess. This was the era he
loved.
Had he lived in those days he would
have been hailed a greater man than
he was-a knight like Launcelot. per-
haps. who could ride valiantly to bat
tie and fight duels for Queen Guine-
we're or Elaine. Thus he would have
satisfied his romantic imagination. AS
it was, he had to satisfy it playing roles
on the screen.
Through letter of introduction from
INV parents, in London we became the
guests Of Mr.. and Mrs. Richard Guinness
In their spacious home on Great Cum
berland place. Mrs. Guinness maintains
one Of the most interesting salons in
London, always filled. with interesting
people, geniuses from every walk In life.
Among the guests our first night at din
ner were Arthur Rubenstein, the pianist,
and Lord and Lady Birkenhead.
Eyens Scooe with Peer.
Rudy and Lord Birkenhead. both
men of international fame. had never