PASSIONATE POLA.

Timaru Herald, Volume CXXV, Issue 18499, 21 February 1930, Page 3

PASSIONATE POLA.

A SECOND HONEYMOON. RECONCILIATION IN COURT. As romantic as any screen drama in wnion sue n«s played tne leaan.g iuie is a new episode in the life of Pola Negri. Exercising a woman's privilege, the famous film star, who recently arrived in Paris intending to secure a divorce from her husband, has decided to remain the Princess Mdivani. She became reconciled to Prince Serge Mdivani in the court where she had intended seeking a decree, and, having received the blessing of the juuge the couple intend going on a second honeymoon. When Pola Negri appeared • before 1 the judge she found her husband there She had not seen him for eieht months. As the judge went through the formula of trying to bring about « reconciliation, he asked the Prince: "Don’t you love her ary more?” “Yes. I do,” was the re^v. “And what about you?” the judge asked, turning to Pola Negri. “I love him, too, but he wants me to lead a social life. That would interfere with my career.” Puzzled, but still judicial and judicious the judge retired while the Prince and Princess talked the matter over He returned to find that they had forgotten ail about divorce. “We are Both Very Happy.” “It is quite true,” declared Pola Negri, with a flash of her luminous eyes, when she was subsequently interviewed. "My husband and myself have now banished the word ‘divorce’ from our vocabulary, and we are both very happy. We are on a second honeymoon. We shall go shortly to St Moritz for the winter sports, and enjoy ourselves as a young married couple. You can imagine that for the present I am not thinking about work.”

Pola Negri added that when she and her husband return from Switzerland they would visit London together for the premiere of her latest film, ‘The Street of the Lost Soul,’ which has sound effects. She also intends going to America to settle her affairs, and after -that she will start work on another film, either in London or Berlin. “He has always loved me.” added Pola Negri, referring to the Prince “He worships me, and he never, never had the slightest intention of marrying anybody else.” A piquant situation had, however, been created. Miss Mary M'Cormick, a member of the Chicago Opera Company, and protegee of Mary Garden, announced publicly in November that she was engagede to Prince Serge Mdivani. and would marry him as soon a# he got his divorce. Prince Serge had been having thirty-minute transatlantic calls with Miss M'Cormick, but they broke off the engagement. It is reported that when she received the news of the reconciliation Miss M'Cormick stated: “I think they have drme the rip’ht. thine in making if. up, and I wish them the best of luck.”

An Authority on Love: For many years Pola Negri has been quoted in many parts of the world as an authority on love. ‘Men I have Loved and lost’ was the title of a series of articles in which she once laid bare her heart to the world. Her first husband was Count Dombski, but she secured a divorce from him within a year.

In 1922. soon after the film star went to the United States and sprang into fame as a film actress, it was stated that she was to marry Mr Charles Chanlin, and their engagement was formally announced in February 1923. “Besides taaing one

man in a thousand,” she stated on that occasion, “Mr Chaplin is the greatest artist that has ever lived. We not only love each other, and understand each other, but we have also a new feeling about our lives and our work now because of this love. Where there is love there is complete happiness.” In the following montti it was announced that the engagement had been broken off. Then in 1926 came the romance ot her life, her engagement to the late Rudolph Valentino. She fell in love first with his portrait, and write: “It was love at first sight—love, romance, delights untold. ..." Then they met, and. describing her feelings, she continued: “I surrendered my soul to him. He was so manly he knew so well the delicious art of love. In Rudy I founu utter happiness, all too precious to last. Then fate stepped in, mocked us snapped the links that our love hau forged ” “Reconciled for Ever.” Valentino's death prostrated Pola with grief till a few months later she met Prince Serge Mdivani. Then she said: “He is mv erreetest love. I did love m» first husband, Count Dombski. I adore* -1 v- v h*io p*-* j grew very fond of Charlie Chaplin. But Serge means more to me than them all. I think that a woman can have more than one love in her life, but this is the biggest of all.” It was announced subsequently that Pola Negri had failed to take che opportunity to withdraw her divorce suit np-pinst her mbr. tudo-e had fixed a period in which she should either renounce the proceedings or furnish better grounds than incompatibility of temperament. She had asked, it was stated, that the period should be extended.

A newspaper correspondent later talked with both Miss Negri and her husband fron London over the telephone. Miss Negri said that they had decided op a three months nrohotmn. but Prince Mdivani said afterwards that there would be no probation. They were reconciled for ever!