Iowa County democrat. [volume] (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1877-1938, 1880-04-23
HARRIET VAN BUREN'S SUICIDE.
A Beautiful and Accomplished Girl
Whose Life was Wrecked.
Now York Times

There il something 81 well fitted to
point moral in the suicide Tor posi-
bly, accidental death from opium poi
sonine) of Mrs Harriet Van Buren,,
formerly Mrs. George +. Dutch, that
brief reference to certain facts not yet
published may be pardonable. Ten
years ago Miss Harriet Van Buren was
n familiar figure in one of the oldest
and most exclusive circles in New York
society Young, beautiful, highly edu-
Gated and accomplished, although her
income Mt her fathers death was small
about 81 800 n year-she was the pet
and ornament Of an extremely exclusive
circle. AS il the case with most young
ladies' Of her age, she was rs romantic
and visionary rs she was accomplished.
Had there been some real work in life
upon which to wreak the superabund
ant sentiment incident to young wo-
men of her age the tragedy that ulti-
mate1y ensued might have been avoid
ed and long and useful life substituted
for IN erratic career and an early and
tragic death. ldleness, one of the mis-
fortunes Of opulence and an assured in.
come, il Ms euro to develop the latent
capacity of u young girl for morbdezza
III it is to develope kindred state of
mind in " young man born to ailluence
and laziness. In mn evil hour this gay,
accomplished and romantic girl, with
noble possibilities before her, inserted u
personal in n daily newspaper, soliciting
the acquaintance of some accomplished
gentleman. The mystery, the dash OF
mt ilNt.I
formed is one of the elements calculated
upon by designing rascals, whose pro.
verb is that heIoism anu desperation
are 80 closely allied that few know the
difference between them, The personal
was answered by u man of middle age,
| blase, with many experiences i'll such
affairs, who should have told this
foolish girl that she was making
shipwreck OF her life, instead OF
pursuing the acquaintance and playing
upon her romantic tendencies. This
was in 1873. The clandestine acquaint-
ance ripened into passion; the man
was eccentric, fascinating, OF good birth,
of considerable fortune and possibly
as scrupnlous i'll such matters rs the
average of his class. Friends objected
in vain. All the idealism of young
girl ami all hatred of humdrum were
enlisted. She refused to hear anything
to the disoredit Of her new acquaintance.
In 1875 the pair took u trip to Florida
in each Others society. There is no
evidence of illicit relation; but the es.
capade compromised the young lady
irrevocably. 1t is to the honor OF the
man that he married her i'll Philadel-
phia ON their return; To his dishonor
that he allowed her to compromise her
self by romantic devotion to what she
supposed to be her ideal. Three months
later, having seen her idol shattered,
her ideal broken, the poor girl applied
for n divorce in Utah, with the connl-
vance OF the husband, who found such
romantic devotion oppressive. THE di,
yorce was obtained, and, her life and
social position wrecked, sue tried to re-
deem herself. How vain such strug-
gle il 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 landladits and hotel
proprietors Debt, disgrace, disgust OF
life, sickness and opium languor finish
the picture. An attempt 10 break the
habit was followed hv fatal dose, and
the brilliant girl OF 1870 became the sub
jeot of coroner's inquest in 1880. The
tale is not new one; but il is, unfor-
tunately. Il true story 81 the peril Of IN.
sorting personal III daily newspaper,
aud the disaster that may follow the
impracticable pursuit Of \ morbid
ideal.
Cor. ETHAN ALLEN favors cremation,
opposes viyisection, and has very little