The New York herald., 1870-01-18
CONNECTICUT MORALS.
saigh Daddy" In a Poets Fnmily-He
Wants to BE Severed from sstho Dream Of


uHiSh Daddy, In POETS Fnmily-He
Wants to BE Severed from ssthc Dream Of
His Youth.'
Considerable excitement was created last 1weeK
in Stamford, Conn.,, by the report that violent at
tack had been made on the person and promises OF
Mr. }. p. Edridge, the noted elocutionst and Shak.
spearian reader The excitement was intensified by
the rumor that the affair had ali the sensational ad
uncts OF love- jealousy marital inndelity ana gun
powder.
DAY evening was the elimination OF Q series OF
domestic troubles In the family Of Mr.. Eldridge-
troubles which seem to have been prncpally due TO
ter OF Mrs. .Eldridge-who mas for some time
resided in the family.
Mr. Eldrdgc took up his residence In this town q
few months ago. and has, with his wife and little
boy and girl, been living in the house known as the
"old parsonage" He Is known all over the
country as public reader OF fine talents. He IL
also, from time to time, engaged In literary labor,
and his series Of letters "0n the Wlngn have
He has Heretofore given Evennss with the
POets' In various towns ana cities OF the United
States but more recently ne has been travelling as
agent for two leading mercantile houses IN the city.
His duties obliged him to be often away from home,
and 1t appears his wife, who IL young and good
time heavy W. on r her hands. few weeks ago AGO Mrs.
Eldrldge earnestly requested her husband to
allow M. Mrs. -, Payne ~, e come and reside with
consent as he had q prejudice against the
lady, in consequence Of little irregularities Of char
uCLcT, THAT InaOe ulUl lauCy sue WAS not suitable
companion for his wife. However, Mrs. Edridge
protested that her sister had reformed, and pic
tured her lonely condition in such touching colors
that the poets heart reented and In an evil moment
he consented that Mrs. Payne should be received as
q member Of the family. From this time the
troubles commenced. Mrs. Edrldge, yielding to the
bad influence OF her sister, began TO make long ex-
cursions IN the evening. The new conner used TO
fun and jolty, and was bound to have 1t. The car
pet In the large room often taken up, the ready
hddlers services called upon, and the ladies' with
certain male friends, amused themselves IN the
pleasures OF the dance. 1t Is even said that such
vulgar beverage beer was brought into the
house, which, from being the most quiet and sedate
In the neghb0rhood, began to have reputation for
noisy orgies, which made many people shake their
heads aud declare all was not right in the Old par
s0nage.
On returning from his last trip Mr.. Eldrdge be-
came for the FIRST time acquainted with The nigh
Old dolngs that were gong on In his absence. He
saw and heard enough TO convince hEn that his
domestic happiness was forever gone and there
was nothing left but TO apply for divorce. This he
has done, and the case Is now in the hands OF COM
petent lawyer.
The incident which was the Immediate cause OF
giving the matter publicity was that on Tuesday
night Mr.. Eldrldge sitting in his room, brOooing
over the calamity that had befailen HIM, when aud
denly the window was smashed IN and pistol sNot
was 1red with the object 1t is thought to frg ht2n
him from the house. 1t Is supposed to have bacn
the work OF the rowdles who had already inlicred
Treparable Injury on the much-abused man.