The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1875-10-02
MRS. BAkER's ELoPEMENr.
An Ola Husband Easily Discarded and Me-
One Tahcn-And Plenty OF Ready Cnsh

n
One Tahcn-And Plenty OF Ready Cnsh to
Make Life even in Philadelphia Happy.
A hospitnble, tasteful, and widely-lsnown
home In West Forty-fourth street is suffering
the severity OF social earthquake, In the iisht
OF lts mistress, mother and wife, Mr.. Mary Ba-
ker with three cart loads Of furniture, pictures,
and books. She Ia over ffty and her lover Ia over
sixty years Of age. The step was woll premcdi-
tated, and had been a subject Of extended con-
sultatlon with her many friends. Mr.. s. p.
Case, wealthy railroad capitalist, Ia Mrs.
Bakor's choice. "were he poor man." said
Mrs. Baker, II know this hard world too well to
take such step. But his ability Is equal to his
earnest and daily wish to make me happy His
wealth will be my shield, his noble breast will
be my lifelong rest and my life-longed-for re-
pose."
Alfred Baker, formerly aud for fifteen years a
Fire Marshal Of New York cit y looked upon his
barren parors, and then went out and engaged
n housekeeper-Mrs. Barlow-at 80 much
month. 1t IL even said that she was an old
fame; At least the hot haste Of a husbands ven
geance ~ bringing In the hnusekeeper before the
wife had tlkon leave, confirmed h2r half formed
determnation, and precipltated its fulnmcnt.
Mary Baker a woman Of charming personal
presence, n loving heart, and n hand that was
always open to the poor had for tNcnty-nine
years been the Hight Of his house and borne his
name. IL was IA love match al the st9rt, and the
union was twice fruitful
Tho son, young lawyer, Alfred Bsker. Jr.,
lives under the rlternal roof; the daurhtcr,
Jennie, was carly married to Col IllfV ROcka-
fclar Of the SeNcniy-hrst New York Regiment.
About eight years ago NJ. and Mrs. Ba-
oning Of ts master and mistress 10
an interest In spiritualsm, ana the house
became a favorite social centre for whoever.
pecially the more comfortable classes, believed
or were iuquiring about the new convo sltOn
of the living with the dead. Nearly every me-
dium Of note hos becu their guest. On Monday
evening Mrs. Baker had special select sennces. 80
large that her visitors filled a room extending
across tho house, back OF the parlOrs devoted
to this use only. and furnished bchttingly. the
furniture was from the iadN'3 own, not very
ueep but ever open, purse. and the tre as ured
ornaments were those that gnges were sup
posed to have suggested. There was plano TO
lead the chora songs that aro necessary to
tranquilzo n seances and unily It's individuals
until thoy are like row uf Leyden Jlrs IN amag-
neic battery; there was an easel on which
stood n picture OF Raphael. painted 10y himself,
la charmed closet. Mrs. Baker having the key
In her pocket. Tue door Of the famous closet
was open or closed only az the bidding
Fox Kane came To this city, an epoch
came in the history cf these circles ana
OF the family. Alfred D,ker, the son of an Eng
lish artist, himself artistic, handsome, ana re-
hned enough to have been adOred by Mary H.
kcr and to have loved her with a Jealous fond
ness, whether he had been or was now a believ-
ing Sprituast, gave now the greatest at ention
20 the spir ltuastic inN estigation. Margaret Fox
supposed that she had hred the heart Of the dis
tlugulrhed Arctc explorer. and WAS timldly
~
the Polar SHOWS.
Mar,arct Fox made an impression and now
began the nutterngs Of the earthquake. Up to
this dine II u said the married life of the Iakes
was "A happy life. Maggie had homo for n year
or two In the hrown-stono mansion and was tho
pad high priestess Of the extension room sane
tuary. The phases Of her mediumship were as
various as the demand. She could rap, move
furniture. write messages mechanically. mate
riAlize figures, play musical instruments, pro-
duCe lghts. and paint pictures or have the paint
ine done nv spirit cree alone. In all these the
Fire Marshal y rticipated with zest.
At last the sacred closet door was 10 be un-
fastened at Christmas and each member Of the
circle was to invite two guesta their names
subject to the decision of the Prestess Margaret
Fox. Ihcy were also AL to present them selves
In full dress, worthy OF the momentous occasion
ON which a nateriaiized object or objects would
be found ON the unfGs .ening OF the long locked
door. The Prlestcss tahOoed nearly oil the
names proposed, the CIRCLE began to dcmur at
the long delay, there wrath-the door was
suwmarly opened, and tAoy found, emptiness.
About year and n half ggO the angel Of the
threshold stepped 9cross, in the shape Of the
tall, handsome. manly man waO came, saw, ana
intensified. and after many litter words five
weeks ag1 Mrs. Bak + went, but only 10 Ihirty-
thiri street. tQ domirile iu another bFOwn-stun
house durns the completion bt dlvOrce papers
side Of that tweniN-nine yeats household
hAs told It's long covered secrets - r..
Baker di.owning Mr. Baker for q husb nd,
and the two separated. Subsequently tne wife,
TO the familiar door, but IL was slammed in her
face. She was told by hor many friends o" they
that be for you are more than they that be
against YOU" and "Why walt sixteen months
Alr. Case wiped away Mary's te rs, showed her
the new divorce papers, and married her d4v
before yesterday in Jersey city, on the way to
their nsw home In his own house IA Phiadel-