Herr Leopold Wolfing (ne Archduke Leopold of Austria) has begun divorce proceedings against his wife, Wilhelmina Adamovics, a "one-time concert singer," who is now living at the "Nature's Children" colony on the shores of Lake Maggiore.
The London correspondent for the Chicago Daily Tribune reports that "surprisingly little" information has appeared in print about this cult, "surely one of the freakiest in existence, and its queer history," despite Frau Wolfing's "wholesome adoption of the 'new life' principles made between her and her aristocratic husband."
The former archduke has learned that in Europe, a man cannot divorce his wife "because she chooses to model her life after that of Mother Eve before the fall."
Leopold "sacrificed his rank and all his august titles," and took the name Leopold Wolfing in order to marry Wilhelmina Adamovic, a singer, "famous for her good looks, if not for the quality of her voice."
The marriage was going well until Mrs. Wolfing persuaded her husband to visit the colony, "which she was highly curious to see."
The colony is located about 30 minutes from Locarno. Twenty-five men and women live in the settlement. A "primitive board fence, broken down in many places," surrounds the colony. Visitors can pay 2 francs to go inside the colony.
The residents live in small wooden huts, and own very little in "the way of household goods and chattels."
The men have "long flowing hair and a band of ribbon across their foreheads, with mystic characters inscribed upon it." The "main feature" of their dress is a coarse shirt. Women wear a long "chemise kind of dress."
No one wears shoes or stockings. When they "engage in their chief labor in the gardens," the men and women are "said to be more scantily attired."
The main diet includes bread and fruit. Vegetables are eaten on "special occasions." Salt and other condiments are prohibited, as are animal foods.
For Frau Wolfing, life in "Nature's Children" seemed "idyllic." She was convinced that if she and her husband joined the community and adopted the lifestyle, "they would be as happy as turtle doves."
Wilhelmina also believed that Leopold "would never again yearn for the enervating and debasing luxuries of an archducal existence."
Leopold, however, did not share his wife's enthusiasm. He had a "healthy but decided carnal appetite," and could not adapt to a diet of bread and fruit. He also had an "aristocratic aversion to coarse shirts." But he was willing to give the cult a try and hoped that a brief trial would cure his wife.
But to Leopold's "astonishment and dismay," Wilhelmina thrived, and "became more enamored" of the lifestyle.
She gave away all her "pretty gowns," and "adopted the single garment style of dress." She stopped using her toothbrush and "threw away all her hairpins."
Leopold demanded that she would have to choose between him or the new life. She chose her new life.
The archduke returned to his home and filed for divorce in Geneva. But Swiss divorce laws are "not as elastic as those of some of the American states." The judges ruled that Mrs. Wolfing's lifestyle did not "constitute sufficient grounds" for divorce. Leopold then moved toward a mutual separation. Wilhelmina, who had renounced "all the pomp and vanities of this world," still retained an appreciation of money.
She demanded a huge settlement before agreeing to a separation. Several of Leopold's family contributed to the settlement money.
Several of Leopold's friends said he married the singer only after an "unfortunate love affair," which he had eleven years ago. He had fallen in love with Donna Elvira de Bourbon, the daughter of Don Carlos. They became secretly engaged, but his parents, "for political reasons," did not approve of the marriage.
The ever-fickle Donna Elvira "put the finishing touch on Leopold's despair" by running off with an artist.
Leopold was devastated by Elvira's behavior, and he spiraled downward toward a dissipated lifestyle. He flirted with socialism. He wanted to marry a waitress. Eventually, his family took action and placed Leopold in an asylum for six months. Not long after his release, he met and fell in love with Wilhelmina Adamovics. There was a huge family row when he announced plans to marry her. Only his younger brother, Archduke Joseph, supported him.
Now that he has rid himself of his wife, Leopold has made it clear that he wants to be an archduke again, heir to his father's estates, and has "opened negotiations" with Franz Joseph.
His brother, Joseph, however, is against any restoration of Leopold's titles and honors.
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