Detroit evening times. (Detroit, Mich) 1921-1958, 1942-11-15

That Is a brief synopsis Of the
play which marked an important
chapter in my life. Overnight j
became famous.
had been 1.-THE toast Of War
saw" Now i was a sensation,
with every critic throughout Eu-
rope praising my talent!
I'll never forget the expression
in Max Reinhardt's eyes and the
glory in his voice when he came
backstage after the premiere.
While the audience was still
standing, cheering and applaud
ing. after / had taken my bows,
and with the theatre still ring
ing with my success, Max Rein
hardt held my hands.
when / saw you in Warsaw
l felt that l had discovered not
only a great talent but a person
atty who some day would be-
come a world sensation. Now !
know, because your performance
tonight will be applauded around
the world"
Now ! was convinced that
had done the right thing! This
was my place. in the theater. /
believed it was my heritage, that
/ must never allow anything TO
make me forsake IT again.
Later that night went TO Max
Reinhardt's palace, where an elab-
crate party was given I'm cele-
bration Of the plays success. /
was. as star, guest Of honor.
Everything combined TO make
that night one of the gayest and
most delightful!
The palace was every bit as
large and pretentious as my hus-
bands castle - yet, here the at
mosphere was in extreme con-
trast. Here was JOY, laughter,
freedom. / was happy among
my Bohemian companions.
The celebration contin ue d.
There was singing and dancing
and much laughter. No one
wanted 10 leave and no one did
until quite late.
II was almost daylight when !
let myself into my hotel apart
ment and switched on the lights.
An unexpected sight met my
eyes. The apartment was tum-
bled in confusion.
had been robbed! Everything
OF value had been taken--even
my sable coat
What a climax TO triumphant
and a happy evening"
I ran TO the phone TO call the
hotel manager. But there was no
answer. l then went out into the
corridor and cried for help.
A door opened and a man,
wrapped in a dressing gown,
came out to me.
What's happened? Can ! do
anything for you?" he asked.
tried 10 tell him what had
taken place, but as I looked up
at him, towering head and
shoulders over me. before could
explain, something overwhelming
happened.
knew this man, even before
he was near enough for me to
see his clearly chiseled features,
that his eyes were deep blue,
that his hair was blond. l had
the sense of having looked for
him, waited for him. In that
peculiar second as we stood in
the corridor, with the light cir
cling his head, my fascination
was so great 1 could not speak.
Even while he discovered that
the cord on my telephone had
been cut, while he called the
manager and police and detec-
tives, while he took on the task
of attending TO all the other
necessary reports and directions,
l was aware that this man was
going TO be my Fate.
From then on my life took an
entirely different route, a new
lit. / became complete.
l felt as IL / had suddenly
come from the shadow TO the
light. My heart was gay.
was content just TO be
with this man, whom l called
"Petronius" because he was as
l had imagined the hero of that
name in the novel, QUO Vadis."
And his character was to me the
personification of Petronius, who
risked everything, even his life,
for the woman he loved. With
him there was always a promise
Of happiness. which l had never
known before with a man. /
could talk 10 him of the things
in my heart, and / soon told him
about my unfortunate marriage.
He helped me to think. in
spired me to work, kept a flame
Of happiness burning brightly
about my heart. He took a