Keowee Courier

GOLD AND FAME TURN HEAD
Of Armenian Girl Refugee-Guardian
Seeks Release from Position.
A dispatch from New York says:
A remarkable story of a girl whose
name became, almost overnight, a
household word in America two
years ago, is outlined in a petition
filed in the Surrogate's Court by Eleanor Gates, noted writer.
Mrs. Gates asks the court to set-
tle her accounts as guardian of Aurora Mardiganian, 19-year-old Armenian refugee, whose tales of Turkish atrocities (reaching the public
through the newspapers and the phenomenally successful motion picture
production, "The Auction of Souls")
raised $1,500,000 in a period of
three months for Armenian and Syrian relief.
Begging to be released as guardian, Mrs. Gates asserts that the girl
has become incorrigible and unmanageable, with a craving for money,
finery and jewelry, adding:
"I was obliged to neglect all of
my social and domestic affairs, at
great cost, and devote my constant
attention to prevent my ward from
misconducting herself, and was forced
to undergo hardships to save her
from the penalty of her misconduct.
Tales of Humiliations.
"I was obliged to leave my home
and travel extensively and to undergo great humiliation and suffer great
indignities resulting from her behavior."
What these "humiliations and indignities" consisted of was explained
by Mrs. Gates and her husband, H.
L. Gates, in their apartment at the
Hotel St. James. Mr. Gates said:
"Aurora was working for $6 a
week in a Third avenue kimona factory when the American Committee
for Armenian and Syrian Relief discovered her. Mrs. Gates was asked
to take care of her. She took the girl
to our apartment on Riverside Drive.
The Triumphal Tour.
"The girl was in a pitiable condition. She wore no underwear. Her
stockings were tied up with strings.
A few months later she traveled to
California in a private car, with two
maids and a chauffeur. She was
taken all over the country in the interest of the relief committee.
"Her tour was a triumph. Thousands met her at every stop. Governors and mayors gave receptions for
her. She lived in luxury and was
paid a salary of $50 per week, in
addition to her expenses. It all went
to her head--particularly after her
experience in the movies.
"She became grasping, and constantly demanded money. In gifts
and allowances she was given $14,000
in two years. The rest went in the
purchase of wrist watches, sable
coats and other luxuries.
When any of her requests for
finery were refused she flew into passions, tipping over chairs and hurling furniture about. Although of
mediocre ability, she became crazy to
star in the pictures. Mrs. Gates and
I, as well as the First National Exhibitors, who produced "The Auction
of Souls," would have aided her if
she had not become utterly unmanageable. Now there is nothing to do
but sever our connection with her.…
Aurora left the home of her guardian some time ago and went to live
somewhere in the Armenian colony.
She is practically without funds, but
has many friends among Armenians
here.