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28. The Passing of Jean Darthez and Souriant III
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28 Oo The Passing of Jean Darthez and Souriant III In 1956 Belle’s friends joined her in mourning the death of her beloved Toto, Souriant III. Toto had passed thirty years of his life with Belle and Jean Darthez, loved and pampered, but all the affection they lavished on him could not stave off the ravages of age. Toto had reached the point where he could hardly stand, and on a few occasions, Jean had rigged a harness to lift the great jumper to an upright position to prevent pneumonia. Finally, a heartbroken Jean put down the beautiful animal while Belle was in Europe. Belle came home to commiserate with Jean and arrange Toto’s final resting place. Souriant III is buried beneath the spreading live oaks of Bellefield, between the stables and the house where Belle could look out the windows of the sunroom and see his resting place. On the oak tree shading his grave is a plaque that reads: souriant iii toto anglo-arab france 1923–june 25, 1956 my gallant horse and faithful friend—adieu Still mourning Souriant’s death, Belle left for New York with Ella. She joined her father on a trip to Saratoga and returned with him to celebrate his birthday The Passing of Jean Darthez and Souriant III 177 at his New York home on Fifth Avenue. Her brother also attended and expressed his sympathy at Souriant’s death. Because of their strained relations, Belle was surprised and touched that Junior would sympathize. Writing to Edith Wilson about her father’s birthday luncheon, she wrote: “Jr. appeared too and I don’t suppose you heard any resounding noise in Washington when he kissed me.”1 Belle was concerned about her father’s health early in 1957 and wrote to entice him for a visit: Dear Chick, You have been often in my thoughts as I thought it would not be long before you would be enjoying this ideal weather. Not a drop of rain and yesterday and today 65–70 degrees. George [Belle’s golden retriever, “Gorgeous George”] has retrieved ducks four or five times now in the salt water pond near the fording at Clambank. I am making the feathers fly at Hobcaw as I want it to look as well burnished and cared for as Bellefield. The hogs are plentiful everywhere—big as I am but they can run faster. Get feeling tops real soon and come enjoy this beautiful land and sunshine . Much love, devotedly, Belle2 Bernard Baruch was still active, articulate, and brilliant, but he had small illnesses and the ailments of an octogenarian. Belle worried about him, and Ella Severin said that Belle would never travel without first calling to talk to her father. If he was ill, she would postpone any trip, sometimes flying to New York to be available should he need her. She was also deeply concerned about the health of Edith Wilson, who was also in her eighties. In January, Belle was deeply touched when Mrs. Wilson sent her a set of President Woodrow Wilson’s cuff links. She wrote in reply: Dear Mam, We returned here yesterday after a lovely flight and found your wonderful gift awaiting me. I think your sweet message on your card meant more to me than anything. I am deeply grateful and honored that you should want me to have Mr. Wilson’s cuff links and I shall keep them as a very special memento. I am deeply grateful and very appreciative that you want me to have them.3 [100.24.20.141] Project MUSE (2024-03-28 22:31 GMT) Baroness of Hobcaw 178 Later that year, the first volume of Bernard Baruch’s memoirs, Baruch: My Own Story, which dealt with his career as a financier, was published and immediately jumped to the top of the best-seller list. At almost the same time Pulitzer Prize–winner Margaret Coit published her biography, Mr. Baruch, which was a Book-of-the-Month-Club selection. The eighty-seven-year-old Baruch was more popular than ever. Ella and Belle attended a summer-stock performance of The Solid Gold Cadillac at the Ocean Forest Hotel in Myrtle Beach, South Carolina. They went backstage afterward to meet one of the stars, ZaSu Pitts. Belle had long admired the actress, who had made over three hundred films. Belle and Ella took an immediate liking to Miss Pitts and spontaneously invited her to Belle- field to see...