Baroness of Hobcaw: The Life of Belle W. Baruch

14. European Friends and a Fleeting Betrothal

14 Oo European Friends and a Fleeting Betrothal Belle had developed an international coterie of close friends, some Europeans and other Americans who, like Belle, lived in Europe several months of the year. Nearly all shared her passion for riding. There was petite, blonde Eleanor McCarthy, born of American parents, reared in France. Eleanor and her family lived at the Ritz where Belle frequently stayed. Eleanor rode like a small whirlwind, whether in pursuit of a fox or over the high jumps. She was an excellent pilot, high-spirited, and great fun. She had a passion for American Indian jewelry and had a magnificent collection in both turquoise and coral. She married a Frenchman whom she later divorced, then married Geoffrey Cuthbertson, brother of Belle’s good friend Munro. When war threatened, Eleanor went home to New Orleans and was a frequent guest at Hobcaw Barony. Danish-born Louise Hasselbalch and her daughter, Varvara, were very close to Belle. Born Baroness de Plessen, Louise was the granddaughter of Baron Otto de Plessen, minister of Denmark to the court of St. Petersburg from 1850 to 1876. He married Princess Varvara Gagarine, who was closely related to the court of Czar Alexander II. Through the Gagarines, the family traced its origins to Rurik, the founder of Russia. Friends speculated that it was her Russian blood that caused Louise’s wild mood swings from deliriously happy to tragically depressed. Louise surrendered her title to marry Erik Hasselbalch, a wealthy textile manufacturer with factories in Denmark, Sweden, and Norway. European Friends and a Fleeting Betrothal 71 Hasselbalch died in 1925 leaving his thirty-three-year-old widow with a fiveyear -old daughter. Louise assuaged her grief and loneliness with a fanatical interest in horses. She lived mostly abroad, participating in international show jumping. Vivacious and popular, she was one of Belle’s most successful, and friendliest, competitors. Guy Arnoux was another of Belle’s favorites. A superb rider, he rode mostly in the Camargue in the South of France but lived in Paris. He was a member of France’s Deuxième Bureau (similar to the FBI in the United States), had a devilish wit, loved practical jokes, and was excellent company. Arnoux tickled Belle’s sense of fun and was a frequent visitor in her home. Arnoux was also a painter whose murals decorated many restaurants, including La Belle Aurore, where Belle gave many dinner parties. He once teased young Varvara Hasselbalch by asking, “Why don’t you go to bed with me?” Shocked, Varvara managed to mumble an embarrassed refusal. Arnoux laughed and said: “You are silly because then you could brag about having been in bed with the whole French army because I have been in the marines, the cavalry, the infantry, and the Goumiers [North African regiment].” Hunting at Pau, Belle met Eugène Blocaille, a French gentleman of no particular occupation. Blocaille was well-to-do, though certainly his income did not approach that of Belle. He developed a passionate admiration for Belle and was determined to shepherd her about, whether she liked it or not! He was a rather quiet, shy man, very nearsighted with thick-lensed glasses. His hobby was painting on china, and Belle displayed many examples of his excellent work at Bellefield. Blocaille created a complete set of china with hunting motifs as a tribute to Belle. Varvara Hasselbalch Heyd said of Blocaille: “I never understood why he should always be around, but his admiration for Belle was beyond limits! I gather he didn’t have much money. Maybe it was just another of Belle’s gracious gestures.” Belle’s affection for Blocaille was genuine. Belle was generous and openhanded with her friends, always the first to pick up a restaurant or bar check, even paying travel expenses for many of them. But she could not abide anyone who attempted to take advantage of her. She might succumb once, but never twice. Blocaille would never have been a “hanger-on” if Belle had not wanted him there. Belle was fond of the Meunier chocolate family, of which several members were frequent hunting companions. There were many titled Europeans in her circle, but Belle was never impressed with titles, preferring to judge her companions as individuals. Belle’s father had always used a man’s behavior while Baroness of Hobcaw 72 shooting as a yardstick of character. Belle judged a great many...