"My Battle for My Child”

Sun (Auckland), Volume III, Issue 768, 14 September 1929, Page 20

"My Battle for My Child”

Count Ludwig Salm, Divorced From Wealthy American Wife, Writes Memoirs For His Son. HE confessions of Count Ludwig Salm. set down for the future oonteniplntion and possible de- ' lectation of bis son. Peter, under the title, • My Battle’ for My Child.” are now being served up in daily instalments by a Berlin newspaper. After having recorded in a cynical yet debonair and occasionally swashbuckling manner liis peregrinations along tlie great white way of Europa. liis halcyon days as a tennis lion and his experiences as an Austrian officer in the World War, the confessions have now reached his American debut, which led to his marrying Millicent Rogers. The chronology of the narrative, which he also designates as "a legacy to my son,” is interrupted at this stage through the interpolation of a pathetic admonition to little Peter, adjuring him to beware of gossiping and mendacious tongues which in later years might seek to poison his mind against his father. “If anybody ever tries trickle poison into your ears, then whack him over the head with this, my legacy,” the father instructs his son. He Tells of Meeting Bride This prelude to that part of the confessions which tells the story of how he met Millicent Rogers teems with paternal heart throbs, and attemts to explain to little Peter “just why papa cannot come along home and play with you,” and how it comes that “papa and mamma remain separated. Lawyers looking for fat fees, and persons who did not understand your mother, separated us. A husband and wife who loved ond another were torn apart—that is why your daddy cannot come to your home. You do not know him and he does not know you as a father should know his sou, and that is why your mamma and daddy have not a common home. It was wrecked for all of us.” Count Salm writes in a personal note, which he hopes the son will some day understand. He says that he himself does not know the real reason for the break with Millicent Rogers. What finally brought about a separation. he says, was a subtle campaign of slander, espionage, systematic propaganda, threats and representations of a dire future in store for the wife and child because of his inability to support them. All America Against Me” “All America was pitted against me,” he writes. “Public opinion opposed me on the ground that I was in pursuit of a dowry; that I was an objectionable foreigner—an Austrian at that—for the war psychosis was still rampant. The fact that I was a nobleman and broke, to boot, was a double crime in the eyes of democratic United States, which was suffering from a prosperity complex. “Marriageable youths were after my scalp because I had carried off an heiress, and marriageable girls scorned me because I passed them byHypocrisy turned a double somersault ” Resuming his running narrative. Count Salm arrived at that period of his chequered career which inaugurates his American debut and subsequent meeting with Millicent Rogers. “I first met Millicent in the Monday Opera Club.” he says. “Her pretty and interesting face, her magnificent poise and her elegance could not fail to arrest attention. We had only a

few dances and our conversation no more than casual. * 5 “Days went by. and 1 thought . longer of her. any more ihanTdw of the Queen of Sheba, when o Ue nl “s 1 rediscovered her in the Palm r den of the liitz. she offered cigarette and asked me to remain her until she was called for. "I found her conversation witty fascinating. My first impressions her were definite, for my eye did ’ deceive me. and my critical judgm™| of her. too, was lasting. Later too. she showed that she could be , good scout.” * This is the Count’s early apprai«i of the girl he was to marry UE Lr difficulties. . On the question of wealthy girls dowry hunters his philosophy assume, that it. is not difficult to fail iu w with a pretty, young and intelligent girl even if she is wealthy. “As long as this infatuation remains a one-sided affair, wealth play s no part in it.” he explains. “It only

becomes a hindrance when both parties fall in love with each other, although this rarely happens with heiresses because they have an enormous number of men to choose from and invariably are well coached in the trick of scenting dowry hunters. They automatically are on the defensive. Sees Trouble if Both Love “If, on the other hand, both parties love one another, the poorer of the two is up against it, because he is bound to be timid about professing his love, even if convinced that it is reciprocated.” Count Salm then reveals that after a brief period of heart anguish he found his love requited, and soon after ward he was married. When publicity became too copious Countess Salm proposed a trip to Europe, which Count Salm admits had to be financed on a rather precarious basis, as his family jewels, which he had given to his bride, could not be hypothecated or sold. But his young wife disposed of enough securities to finance the trip. Discussing his exchequer. Count Salm said:— “My wife knew to a penny how much I possessed and could eventually count on. Our union was one of pot luck—for good or evil days. We believed we could live better and cheaper in Europe with our limited funds anti that it would be easier for me to find employment there. “It was a cold, a very cold day when we sailed.” the Count observes iu concluding this chapter of his confessions.