Marie Ranke

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Marie Ranke, or Rancke as William referred to her, was a vocal performer who appeared in William's life occasionally during the last few years, most often when she was looking for a favor, like a loan or a job recommendation, or help from him in bailing her out of a difficult situation of her own creation. One could describe Marie L Ranke as "eccentric" or "highly theatrical" or perhaps simply "outrageous." She was for certain a shameless self-promoter, name dropper, and something of a charlatan.

An article in The New York Times after her appearance and readings at the Kunstlerfest, which she may well have generously supplied to the reporter, stated that she was a "brilliantly talented woman" descended from the "oldest French Noble families" and related by marriage to the noted German historian Leopold von Ranke. It ended by mentioning that classes were forming for instruction in the German language that she was soon planning to give. (5)

Mrs. Ranke's interactions with William often involved requests for recommendations on her behalf or financial contributions. In December 1890, he responded by writing to John Jasper, City Superintendent of Schools, and by seeing Randolph Guggenheimer, a Commissioner of the Board of Education, in person.(2)(8)(Diary, 1890-12-16 and 1890-12-22) By 1894, he was less accommodating and termed "ridiculous" her request for a monetary contribution and help in persuading artists to participate in her "attempt to give a concert at the Waldorf."(Diary, 1894-04-07) The prestigious Waldorf Hotel had opened just the previous year.(9)

In 1893 she scheduled and announced a series of "readings from the poets" for five Wednesdays in March at the Madison Square Concert Hall. (3) Unfortunately, on the Saturday before the first of the scheduled concerts, she fell getting out of a 5th Avenue stage coach, and though she tried to cancel, her manager insisted the readings must go on. It was under such adverse circumstances that evidently some patrons were disappointed. She rescheduled the event for a Tuesday at Sherry's, but incredibly her manager had not paid to rent the hall. Finding this out at the last minute Mme Ranke offered Sherry a check in payment of the rent, but he insisted on cash. A Times article explaining this unfortunate series of events went on to explain that Mme Ranke had announced that she was of course willing to refund the purchase price of those who had bought tickets in advance, but she was truly not responsible for any of it. (3)

She periodically appeared on the stage during the decade; in 1896 she appeared at Hoyt's for a month of readings, including those of a sacred nature during Passion Week. (7) In 1900, she made some appearances at the hotel St. Andrew. (6)

By 1901, she had moved from New York City to suburban Montclair, New Jersey where she had been a tutor of French and German in several prominent homes, having provided references from some of the most "fashionable set" in New York City. She also worked for a few months in 1901 as an instructor of German and French at Cloverside School for Girls in Montclair using references from Miss Helen Gould, Mrs. Stuyvesant Fish, and the Rector of St. Thomas Church. She was dismissed from the position, but sued the school claiming breach of contract (she had been hired for the entire school year, she said) causing quite a stir in Montclair. (1)

In January of 1903, she scheduled a series of three concerts at Delmonico's. The first was a success, but the others were canceled despite the fact that there had been advance ticket sales. (1)

In October of 1903, she hired a butler who after accepting employment was advised by his friends to "watch his paycheck". He took heed and carefully kept his clothes in a peach basket with the intention of quickly leaving her employ if need be; but while out on a trip to the store, she hid the peach basket full of his clothes, and refused to return it to him until he told her who had told him to "watch his paycheck". He had her arrested. She was released after a short detention on her own recognizance. (1)

Some of the most interesting career events took place in 1916, a few years after her Farewell Concerts of 1912, the year that she suffered a nervous breakdown. She printed and copyrighted programs for the 1916 concerts "intimes" to be given on March 1, 15, and 29, featuring Paderewski playing several pieces, Mme Schuman-Heinke, and Prince Alfred Ilma and a number of other luminaries. They were to take place in the Grand Ballroom at the Plaza Hotel and advance tickets sold at various prices up to $50, depending on the seat sold, box etc., and whether for an individual recital or the series. They were for the benefit of the Polish Children and were sponsored, according to the program, by Mrs John Jacob Astor and Mrs. Woodrow Wilson among others as well as a number of the finer stores in New York City whose names were printed in the programs.(4)

On the day of the first concert there no boxes because the event was held a smaller room at the Plaza. About half the people left the room when they learned from Mme Ranke that Paderewski would not be appearing due to a conflicting engagement that day. Substitute performers were used. When the Times reporter contacted the Paderewski's through their secretary at the Hotel Gotham, he was told that Mr. Paderewski had, when asked, refused to perform at Mme Rankes recitals. In addition, Schuman-Heinke reported that her name was printed in the program without permission and demanded to have it immediately removed. Mrs Astor, who had left town before the series began, had sent a letter to Mme Ranke saying point blank that she would not be a sponsor of these concerts. (4)

The second concert took place on a day when a very heavy snowstorm hit New York and she could not produce even the substitute performers. While a number of people showed up, the Plaza management was quite sure that Mme Ranke had telephoned to inform everyone of the problems with the scheduled performance. At the final concert, instead of the first scheduled reading by Mme Ranke as listed in the program, she "stood on the platform beside the grand piano... Leaning on a cane describing the woes of the poor Polish children. Mme Ranke's voice choked for a moment, then her eyes filled with tears." She spent the remainder of her allotted time explaining that she was under no obligation to give one half of the proceeds to the Polish children, but was doing so voluntarily, and along the way mentioned that she had made a profit of $2,000 from the listing of the names of her various commercial sponsors in the program. (4)

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Sources:

"Accused by her Butler," The New York Times, October 7, 1903, p. 6.
"Jasper Was Re-Elected," The New York Times, June 7, 1888, p. 3.
"MME. Ranke?s Readings," The New York Times, March 12, 1893, p. 17.
"Paderewski Balks at Ranke Concert," The New York Times, March 16, 1916, p. 14.
"Society Topics of the Week," The New York Times, December 6, 1891, p. 12.
"Some Happenings in Good Society," The New York Times, March 18, 1900, p. 19.
"The Theatre: Notes of the Stage", The New York Times, February 16, 1896, p.10.
"Two Women Appointed," The New York Times, November 21, 1889, p.1.
"The Waldorf-Astoria Hotel: History," http://www.historichotels.org/hotels-resorts/the-waldorf-astoria-hotel/history.php