Staunton vindicator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1860-1896, 1880-05-21
A Fatal Personal. %

The recent death of Mrs Harriet Van
Buren,, in New York, by an over dose OF
opium, closed a career clouded by sad
romance. Ten years ago, says letter
from that city, Miss Harriet Van Buren,
was familiar figure in one of the oldest
and most exclusive circles in New York
society. Young, beautiful, highly educa-
ted and accomplished, although herlncome
at her fathers death was small, about 81.
500 year-she was the pet and ornament
of an extremely exclusive circle. AS is the
case with most young ladies of her age,
she was as romantic and visionary as she
was accomplished. Had there been some
real work in life upon which to wreak the
superabundant sentiment incident to
young women of her age, the tragedy that
ultimately ensued might have been avoid
ed, and long and useful life substituted
for an erratic career and an early and trag-
lc DEATH Idleness, one of the misfortunes
of opulence and AN assured income, is as
sure to develop the latent capacity of a
young girl for morbidness, as it is to de-
velop kindi ed state of mind in a young
man born to aff1uence and laziness.
| In an evil hour this gay, accomplished
and romantic girl, with noble possibilities
before her, inserted a personal in a daily
newspaper, soliciting the acquaintance of
some accomplished gentleman. The mys-
| terry, the dash of romance about acquaint-
ance thus formed, is one of the elements
calculated upon by designing rascals, whose
proverb is that heroism aid desperation
are so nearly allied that few know the diff
ference between them. The personal was
answered by man Of middle age, blase,
with many experiences in such affairs, who
should have told this foolish girl that she
was making shipWreck of her life, ir-
stead Of pursuing the acquaintance and
playing upon her romantic fancies. This
was in 1878. The clandestine acquaint-
ance ripened into passion; the man was
eccentric, fascinating, of good birth, of
considerable fortune, and possibly as scru-
pulous in such matter as the average of
his class. Friends objected in vain. All
The ideaIism OF d young girl and all her
hatred OF hum drum life were enlisted She
refused to hear anything co the discredit
Of her new acquaintance.
In 1875 the pair took u trip to Florida in
each others society. There is no evidence
of illicit relations; but the escapade com
promised the young lady irrecoverably. It
is to the honor OF tine man that he mar
riad her in Philadelphia on their return: to
his dishonor, that he allowed her to CON-
promise herself by romantic devotion to
what she supposed to be her ideal. Three
months later, having seen her idol shat
tered, her ideal broken, the poor girl ap-
piled for divorce in Utah, with the conni-
vance of her husband. who found such ro-
mantle devotion oppressive. Tho divorce
was obtained, and her life and social posi-
ton wrecked. She tried to redeem her.
. self. How vain such struggle is, every
person Of experience well knows
. In her despair she drowned her regrets
in opium few years of sad experience
followed. Her equivocal position made
her prey to the rapacity OF landladies
and hotel proprietors. Debt, disgrace, dis
> gust Of life, sickness and opium !anguol
: finished the picture. An attempt to break
, the habit was followed by d fatal dose, and
: the brilliant girl OF 1870 became the sub
ject of 4 coroners inquest in 1880.