Watertown republican. [volume] (Watertown, Wis.) 1860-1906, 1879-02-19
HER STEPS TOOK HOLD ON HE'LL.
The First Career Of Beautiful Blanche
Bennett.
Cincinnati ENQUIRER,

Cincinnati Enquirer.
Miss Blanche Bennett was bet
ter known to her old friends and play
mates in this city as Emma Bennett.
Her early life was one of luxury to the
greatest degree. Her father, Mr.. JOS
eph Bennett now q resident Of Chi
cago, q few years ago was one of the
most prominent insurance men in the
city or III the west. He was the general
agent of the Htna Insurance company,
Hartford, Conn.,, then and now one of
the wealthiest and most extensive in
surance companies in the world. Mr..
Bennett had the uperintendence of the
business of this company throughout
vast extent Of western territory. He
was man Of unbounded ambition, in
dustrious, Jealous and thoroughly nm
derstood his business. His own individ-
ual efforts and his fine executive abili-
ties, added to his perfect knowledge of
the insurance business, built an i'm
mense revenue to the AItna company.
He had supreme control Of the western
division, and his acquaintance and
friends for years before he severed mis-
connection with the HItna had come to
look upon Bennett as being the sole
proprietor of the Etna. His removal
from this important position by the di-
rectOrs of the company many of our
readers will remember, on account of
its suddenness and the surprise it gave
everybody, Mr.. Bennett included. 1t
is said that the income of Mr.. Bennett
at one time was about $4,000 Several
years ago Joseph Bennett purchased
the magnificent home Of the late Judge
Mclean in our handsome sub
urb, Clifton. The Mclean mansion,
with its broad acres of hill and dale,
its grand old forest trees, its conserva-
tories and greensward is familiar
place to many Cincinnatians, especially
young men who were once SO generous
" entertained and Toasted by Mrs. Ben
nett and her then beautiful young
daughter Emma. The Bennett man
sion, as it was known, was one of the
most attractive homes, SO far as money
could make it, around or in our city.
Its grand halls and stalrways, its spaci-
GUS drawlng-rOOms, its splendid library
and its fine conservatory, in which roses
bloomed and sweet-scented flowers gave
forth their perfume all the year round,
were unexcelled by any of the many
luxurious homes around Cincinnati.
In all its apartments it was furnished
in the richest STYLE Velvet carpets of
the most exquisite patterns and softest
texture covered the floors; real lace
curtains, as fine as the spiders web,
were suspended at the windows to ex-
clude the rays of daylight; costly and
brilliant chandeliers flooded the house
with artificial light at night; paintings.
engravings and works of art and uirtu
hung upon the walls or were distribut-
ed throughout parlors, bed chambers
and Railways in the most profuse but
artistic manner. The stables were full
Of prancing steeds, carriage, saddle and
wagon horses, and servants by the half
dozen were ready to do the bidding Of
the mistress of the house. Such was
the home of the childhood and girlhood
of Emma Blanche Bennett, whose soul
has ere this, perhaps, taken its flight to
the unknown realms of futurity, sped by
the bullet from her own hand, or, if not
dead, who lies poor, bleeding, wound
ed woman, on the verge of eternity.
Her life is a sad comment upon the
false ideas that some mothers have as
to the duty they owe their children, es-
pecially their daughters, and the train
ing and example they should receive
and have. Her father was engrossed
with business cares, and spent but little
of his time at home; and when at home
he seldom saw his children, but buried
himself in his books and his library.
Her mother was devotee of the giddy.
fashionable world, giving it her entire
time and thought, leaving the children
to be trained and cared for by their gov
erness or housekeeper. Growing up in
such an atmosphere, is it any wonder
that poor Emma Bennett should have
been so easily duped by treacherous,
vlllainOus man, and that her life Of
shame should be ended by her own
hand
AS little girl Emma Blanche Ben
nett Was bright, pretty and unusually
willing in her childish ways. She was
a pretty child, affectionate, tender and
loving, and the same traits grew strong
er as she developed into womanhood.
AS young girl, a schoolgirl. attending
school at the Mount Auburn seminary,
she was exceedingly popular among her
companions, and her amiability and
generous nature made warm and true
friends. She left school at the instiga-
ton Of her mother when about Is, and
at once entered society. Her head was
soon turned by its giddy whirl, and be-
ing of susceptible nature, soon fell
willing victim to the hattery of men.
She was exceedingly we'll developed for
a young girl: had swelling, voluptu-
Gus form, added to grace of carriage and
handsome face. Her girl firtations
were many; like those of most young
girls, resulted in no harm. However,
at an early age she had been taught
that there was no harm in strong drink,
and tippled about at home and abroad.
This tipping, perhaps, more than any
thing else, led to her final downfall. 1t
soon came, and at once her compan-
ions Stunned her, and her life had to
be either one of desolation or with the
fallen. She appeared for about one