HEIRESS WEDS POOR POET.

Taranaki Daily News, 4 June 1921, Page 12

HEIRESS WEDS POOR POET.

ROMANCE OF SIR J. ELLERMAN’S DAUGHTER. THREE-DAY COURTSHIP. Tne old established custom by which penniless English aristocrats have sought rich American heiresses as brides is reversed in the latest Anglo-American alliance.

It is announced in New York that Miss Annie Winifred Ellerman, the only daughter of Sir Jonn Ellerman, the shipping millionaire, has married a penniless American poet and athlete, Mr. Robert L. MeAlmon. ’The bride is said to be the richest woman in England.

The couple arrived in England from America recently. According to the New York World, this romantic marriage took place after three days’ courtslii-p, and the new naper says the bridegroom was so poor that he had posed to artists at 40 rents an hour.

The news of the wedding eame as a surprise to the brides’ parents, at whose house in South Audley street, Park Lanes the newly-married couple are now living.

Mr. MeAlmon is a footballer-of Michigan. and at one time was a star player in the University team. But he is not only a footballer. He has written—and is writing —poetry, and has edited an aviation paper. It was while Miss Ellerman was making a tour in America last year with Mrs. Richard Aldington (the pqptess known as “Hilda Dolittle”), that she met Mr. MeAlmon in New York. She is 26 years of age and her husband is 30. The bride is both intellectual and beautiful. Just over a year ago she caused a sensation in literary circles by her-Jiook. “Development.” The book was published under the name of W. Bryher, but after a period of mystery the identity of tne author leaked out.

“W. Bryher” attacked many accepted ideas, particularly the character-formtog effect of school on a child who has developed freely until the age of 15. She was really writing of her own experiences. Mrs. MeAlmon travelled widely as a child, read advanced books rather than novels, and has an imaginative, sensitive nature.