Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1880-05-15
A Fatal 'CrsouaI"

Tho recent death Of Mrs. Harrie. Van Bl,,1
in Now York, by an overdose Of opium, cl,s,,
career c,oudad by a sill romance. Ton yas-.
ago, says letter from tina. Gty, Miss Marie.
Van Buren, was q familiar figure in one Of II,
oldest ard most exclusive circles in New Yo,,
society Young, beautiful, highly educated
and accomplished although her income y, her
fathers desth Was smnll-abOut 81 eco yo,r-
she was the pet aad ornament Of sn extremely
exclusive circle As is tho cases with most yoDrr
ladies OF hor sGe. sho was rs romantic ami vi.
ionery as che was accomplished. Had tho.r hora
somo real WORK IN lls upon w.ich - w.cal; Tie
suTe7tbundant sortImont incdcnt ~ you7.
women OF her ago, the trsgniy that ultimately
onsucd might haya been avoided, AMI a loay
and useful life substituted ior an crate c,r,rr
and An esrly ard Tragic dC&!G. llloness, oaaol
tho misfortunoa o! opnlonco and an assured H..
como, is rs sHro 10 develop the latent capacity.
y young girl for marhite:z. it is to devcIn,
kindrt state OF mind in young man born +,
ailluonce and lt@idcsr. In An evi! htu. this gay
accomplished and romaatiG girl, with no. bio ~.
sibiliLies before her Inserted u persona IN n
daily newspaper, soliciting tho acquaintance ..
some accomplished gentleman. lho mystofy,
the dash Of romance abou: acquaintance thu,
formed. is ono Ct the eiemonLs calculate
upon by designing rascsls, whose provern
ia that horosm and desperation FRO SO Near.
~ allied that low know the difference be-.
tween them. Tho personal WAS answered
By q man Of middla sgo, blsse, with many
experiences in su ch affairs, VINO should have toll
this foolish girl that che was making shipwro,s
of her life, instead Of pursuing the ncqusntanrn
and playing upon her romantic fAncies The
was in 1873. Tho clandostina &c Iusint.nre ~
pened into passion; tho man was cccGatrlt.
fascinating, Of good birth, Of consideration for.
tuGe and possibly as scrupulous in such mat.
ter as the average Of his class. Friends otjac.
cd in vain. Ali the ides!ism Of young girl
ald all her hatred Of huu:-drum were eni:t.!
She refused to hear anything TO tho discrodlt vi
her now acquaintance. In 1875 tho pair took
trip to Florids in each others society. There's
no evidence Of illicit relations; but tho tscapsIo
compromised the young lady lrrevocabiy. I.u
TO the honor OF the man that he marroi her il
Philadelphia on their return TO his diahrnor.
that he allowed her TO compromise herself BY
romantic deyotion TO what she supposed TO b.
her ideal. Three months l.ter, having seen her
idol shattered, her ideal broker, the rooy gti
applied for divorce in Utah. with tho ccuni-
devotion oppressive. Tho divcrc, YVES vbt,;0,d
and her life and social position wrecked. IN;
tried to redeem herself How vsin such slrut
gle is every person Of experience well know.
In her despsr she drowned her regrets in opium;
q few years Of sad experience followed Her
equivocsl position made lie. d prev to the r..
psciLy of lsndladies and hotel rropris:ora. neb!.
disgrace. disgust Of life, eickness. md upiun
lsnguor flashed tho p!ctura. An altcmp. /,
break the habit WAS followed by fatal doae, sni
the brilliant girl Of 1870 became tho Eat &c! &C
coroHers irqaesl in 1870