The Portland daily press., 1880-04-30
Ruined by a Personal.
IN. Y. Times.l

lIS. L. Ilucs.I
There is something so we'll fitted to point
moral in the suicide Tor possibly accidental
death from opium poisoning) of Mrs. Harriet
Van Burep, formerly Mrs. George +. Dutch,
that brief reference to certain facts not yet
published may be pardonable. Ten years ago
Miss Harriet Van Buren, was familiar figure
in one of the Oldest and most exclusive circles
in New York society. Young, beautiful
highly educated and accomplished although
her income at her fathers death was small
about 81 800 year-she was the pet and orna-
ment of an extremely exclusive circle. AS is
the case with most young ladies of ter age,
she was as romantic and visionary as she was
accomplished. Had there been some real work
in life upon which to wreak the superabun-
dant sentiment incident to young women
of her age, the tragedy that ultimately,
ensued might have been avoided and a long
and useful life substituted for an erratic ca
reer and an early and tragic death. Idleness,
one of the misfortunes of opulence and an
assured income, is as sure % de-
velop the latent capacity of young girl
for naorbedizza as it is to develop kindred
state of mind in a young man born to affiuence
and laziness. In an evil hour, this gay, ac-
complished and romantic GIRL with noble pos
ssbilities before her, inserted a personal in a
daily newspaper, soliciting the acquaintance
of some accomplished gentleman. The mys-
terry, the dash OF romance, about acquain-
tanceS thus formed is one of the elements cal
culated upon by designing rascals, whose PROV
erb is that heroism and desperation are so
nearly allied that few know the difference be-
tween them. The personal was answered by
man of middle age, bldse, with many expert
ences in such affairs. who should have told
this foolish girl that she was making ship
wreck of her life, instead of pursuing the ac-
quaintance and playing upon her romantic
tendencies. This was in 1873. The clandes-
tine acquaintance ripened into passion; the
man was eccentric, fascinating, of good birth,
of considerable fortune, aud possibly as scru-
pulous in such matters as the average of his
class Friends objected in vain. All the ideal
ism OF young girl, and all her hatred of hum
drum were enlisted. She refused to hear any,
thing to the discredit of her new acquaintance
In 1875 the pair took a trip to Florida in each
others society. There is no evidence of illicit
relations; but the escapade compromised the
young lady irrevocaby. 1t is to the honor of
the man that he married her in Philadelphia
on their return; to his dishonor that he allowed
her to compromise herself by romantic devo-
tion to what she supposCl to be her ideal.
Three months later, having s. an her idol shat
tered, her ideal broken, the poor girl applied
for divorce in Utah with the connivance of
the husband, who found such romantic devo-
ton oppressive. The divorce was obtained
and her life aud social position wrecked, she
tried to redeem herself. How vain such a
struggle is, every person of experience well
knows In her despair, she drowned her re-
grets in opium; few years of sad experience
followed. Her equivocal position made her a
prep to the rapacity of landladies and hotel
proprietors. Debt disgrace, disgust of life,
sickness and opium languor finish the picture.
~ attempt to break the habit was followed by
q @ ,assl dose, aud the brilliant girl of 1876 be-
Ganie r Lhe subject of coroner's inquest in 1880
lne tae is hot new one; but it is, unfortu-
hateiy, !rue story of the peril of inserting o
psrsonal III daily newspaper, and of the dis
suit of morba ideal.