Milestones, Mar. 12, 1951

Divorced. George Hearst, 46, eldest son of Publisher William Randolph Hearst and dabbler in the affairs of his father’s newspaper empire; by third wife Sally Alvarez Kirkham Hearst, 40, onetime actress; after 13 years of marriage, three of separation; in Los Angeles.

Divorced. C. Day Lewis, 46, Irish-born British poet-critic, new Oxford professor of poetry (TIME, Feb. 26); by Constance Mary King Day Lewis, fortyish, who charged misconduct; after 22 years of marriage, two sons; in Southampton, England.

Died. Alberto Augustm Dodero, 64, Italian immigrant’s son who became one of South America’s wealthiest men and freest spenders; of a heart attack; in Montevideo, Uruguay. Aided by loans and contracts from Argentina’s Dictator Juan Peron, to whom he had given such thoughtful gifts as a Rolls-Royce, Dodero expanded his shipping business to 382 vessels, the continent’s biggest merchant fleet. In 1949 he sold his Compania Argentina de Navegacion Dodero S.A. to Peron’s government. For pleasure, Don Alberto had a small land, sea & air fleet all his own, kept hotel-like establishments on Long Island and the Riviera, habitually spent about $50,000 a week on wine (two full-time bartenders), women (showgirls, models) & song (music all night from a 45-piece orchestra).

Died. Sir George Oliver Colthurst, 68, owner of Blarney Castle and its famed Blarney Stone; of heart disease; in Blarney, County Cork, Ireland. Scholars are uncertain whether the Stone’s ability to impart eloquent persuasiveness to all who kiss it began as a folk legend or a pressagent’s idea. Whatever its source, the story spread until it gave a word to the language, a handsome yearly revenue to the castle’s owners. Likeliest story: legend was inspired by Cormach McDermod Carthy, an early iyth Century occupant of the castle, for his verbal skill at harassing Queen Elizabeth’s English.

Died. Henry W. (Harry) Armstrong, 71, who at 17 wrote the music to Sweet Adeline; after long illness; in The Bronx, N.Y. Called My Old New England Home when written in 1896, the song was not published until seven years and several revisions later, eventually spread through vaudeville, tavern, and singing society to become the nation’s favorite drinking ballad. Composer Armstrong, who also wrote / Love My Wife, but, Oh You Kid, made close to $100,000 from Sweet Adeline.

Died. Mrs. Ray Wilner Sundelson, 76, pioneer career woman, who came to the U.S. from Russia in 1891, three years later fought convention to set up shop in Manhattan as the first woman life-insurance agent, became one of the leaders in the field ($250 million, covering 34,000 families) ; after long illness; in Manhattan.