CARUSO WIDOW ROMANCE.

Auckland Star, Volume 55, Issue 22, 26 January 1924, Page 30

CARUSO WIDOW ROMANCE.

WEDDED TO WEALTH". SCOT. For the second time within a few years Madame Caruso, widow of the great Italian singer. Is the heroine of a romantic lore affair, her marriage t» a wealthy Scotsman, Mr. E. A. Ingram, haTing just taken place at the Brampton Oratory, London. The union has created more than ordinary interest In society and musleaj i-ircles, both ln Britain and America, for ■ lie bride, as .the wife of the great singer, was known to everyone and was a favourite with all. llcr popularity has in noway diminishes in tbe intervening years, for Madame Caruso—or Mrs Ingram, as she now is lias wonderful charm and personality, as the story of her life has clearly evidenced. Sic is a typical American, with oil the enthusiasm, grace, and originality of her race, and, lite most of her American sisters, she possesses a highly strung, yet very independent nature. This independent trait, It will be recalled, was shown In no undecided manner when the first intimation came of her en.agoment to Signor Caruso. She was then cut off with five shillings in the will of her father. Mr. Park Benjamin, who stated that he would ncTer forgive his daughter If she married "a man ln a frivolous profession." Her reply to the parental a_____tum was Just what might have been expected from one of her temperament. She chose love rather than lucre, and was ultimately wedded to man of her choice. The marriage was an ideal one !n every way, and 'the sudden death of __r husband at the height of his fame came as a terrible blow. When the first shock was over It was hi their only child tlhat she found a new interest, and she made up her mind that the little one should have every opportunity of becoming, if possible, as famous ln *he world of art as her husband. •' I am sure there is a great future for my child," she has said, will not be my fault If that future is. not an accomplished fact as soon as it eaa be." It Is stated to have been the wish of the great singer that his young wife should marry again, in the event of hie death, if she so desired. This subject was one on which he had strong and definite views. " No woman," he once remarked, " however much she loves her husband, is justified In shutting herself up Jo his tomb after his death. There are the children to be considered, and it is not right that youth should be surrounded by the atmosphere of the grave and dwell for ever in the shadow of widow's weeds during the mast impressionable years of their Uvea," Happiest Woman in World. That aspect of the matter Madame Caruso would not. of course, discuss even with her most Intimate friends. But of her new venture in matrimony she has spoken frankly enough. " I am convinced." ehe says. " -that my choice is a wise one and that we are going to be happy. In fact, I feei that I am the happiest woman in the world, and that the future offers mc all that any woman could desire." The second choice of Madame Caruso Is, es .slated, Mr. E. A. Ingram, an AmericanScot and a business man, with whom she has been acquainted for some time. Mr. Insnim was training to be an engineer when the war broke out. He at once obtained a commission, was wounded ln the Somme battle, and was afterwards attached to the E.A.P. Mr. Ingram and Madame Caruso met during one of her first husband's tours, nnd both soon discovered that they had the same interest in music. Caruso and Ingram became wnrm friends, and it is understood that the great singer expressed the wish that in business affairs, at least, his v.-Idow should always allow herself to be guided by Mr. Ingram. For her own future, the Slgnora, as she ts usually called, has no definite plans as yet. She will return to her American home and there will interest herself In the social and business life of her husband, and will develop her plans for the future of Caruso's child. She is convinced that the little one has Kenlus of a high order, and that this genius will be manifested in one or other of the artistic professions, but as yet, is not certain which it will be. " It Is a matter that must be left to time alone to determine," she said. " I om quite convinced that forcing a child's mental development in any way Is a great | mistake, and I will not be party to it. The development must be along natural lines. " Our little one may or may not be suited to the concert platform, but should it appear that ithcre Is any hope of the father's great gifts being Inherited we shall certainly not rob art of its manifestation by attempting to malic the child a mere ornament of society in the sense that so 1 many girls are to-day." j One Interesting point brought out ln con- ( nectlon with the career of the great Italian 1 singer, was that he was always a believer < in the possibility of communication from •beyond the grave, and had promised many of his friends that If he found, after his own passing, that such communication was possible, he wonld certainly lose no time ln trying to establish touch with them. So far, he has not been ln communication with any of his friends, so It would seem that his hopes in this direction have not been realised. Part of the (honeymoon is to be spent In London, after which the happy couple will en 11 for the States, where, It is understood, Mr. Ingram's business Interests are now centred. The Slgnora hopes to return to England later on and to visit the ancestral borne of her second husband. She confesses that the romance of Scottish history has always appealed to her, but the " strongest appeal of all comes from the old ballads, with their charming blend of romance, lore, war, and heroism." iiiamat Interest in the Caruso Estate. Caruso himself was passionately food of the. music of Scotland and devoted considerable time and attention to mastering the Scottish dialect so as to enable him to sing the baJlads that appealed to him most. Tbe arrangements for the wedding ln London, It may be stated, were carried through with as much ceremony as though It were a royal marriage. Since the announcement was made the bride has been tbe recipient of many congratulations from some of the most exalted ones of the world. But it cannot be said that this Interest in her has ln any way affected the most modest bearing of this charming American woman. She takes It all aa a tribute to the genius of her dead husband and does not Imagine for a moment that any ot the homage paid Is meant for her, though her friends know that her womanly ways and her sympatheUc insight hare won her places in the hearts of those gifted with discernment. It may be of interest to add that, accord ing to reports from America, the Slgnora has asked the Chancery Court there, through her counsel, to release her «a an administrator of royalties doe her husband's estate from the Victor Talking Machine Company. She has also asked the Court to approve the division of the Caruso estate made by the Italian Courts. Apparently these moves were in preparation for her wedding to Mr. Ingram. ewtt la " C ° Urts her » "aoelghth rfterest In the Caruso estate. Her taSS £>"? 7™L **"** "00.000 carter to -herelf