austrian

Gustav Renker (born October 12, 1889 in Vienna , died July 23, 1967 in Langnau im Emmental, Canton Bern, Switzerland ) was a German-speaking journalist and writer who was known for his novels about mountains an homeland. de.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gustav_Renker (german entry) see also data.onb.ac.at/nlv_lex/perslex/R/Renker_Gustav.htm (in german)

A NEW GERMAN SOPRANO Mme. Melanie Kurt Appears at the Metropolitan Opera in "Tristan" The Metropolitan Opera House has acquired a remarkably fine artist in Mme. Melanie Kurt, the German dramatic soprano, who made her first appearance here last evening in a performance of "Tristan and Isolde". — The New York Times, February 2, 1915   Melanie Kurt (1880–1941) was an Austrian opera singer (soprano). She first studied to become a pianist in her native City of Vienna before starting to take singing lessons. From 1897 to 1900 she only appeared as a pianist. Later she went to Berlin, and London where she studied and performed with renowned opera singers. In 1914 she was at the peak of her career when she joined the Metropolitan Opera in New York City, where she succeeded Olive Fremstad as the company's leading Wagner soprano for three years. When America entered World War I in 1917, Wagner operas were banned as being too German. Torn by the war, Kurt remained in the US until 1919 before returning to Germany. — Excerpted from Wikipedia.

Her wikipedia entry: en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Melanie_Kurt

Maria Christina Prinzessin zu Salm-Salm "Archduchess Maria Christina Isabelle Natalie of Austria, full German name: Maria Christina Isabelle Natalie, Erzherzogin von Österreich (17 November 1879, Kraków, Grand Duchy of Cracow, Austria–Hungary – 6 August 1962, Anholt) was a member of the Teschen branch of the House of Habsburg-Lorraine and an Archduchess of Austria and Princess of Bohemia, Hungary, and Tuscany by birth. Through her marriage to Emanuel Alfred, Hereditary Prince of Salm-Salm, Maria Christina was also a member of the House of Salm-Salm and Hereditary Princess of Salm-Salm." en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Archduchess_Maria_Christina_of_Aust... She and her husband were held as British prisoners of war. In February 1916 it was reported that they were exchanged for Colonel Gordon, see e.g. The Democratic banner., February 11, 1916, Page 5, col. 5, "SPANISH KING WINS PRINCESS' LIBERTY".

Thanks so much for your research, B-59. We'll add some of the information to the record the next time we update.