The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1885-02-27
REAL LIPERoMAINcE.
story of a once Rich ANA lseautltul Woman
Who Died In n Hospital. i't

Who Died In n Hospital. * sli /
NEw YoRk, Feb. 20 One Of the 70,
mantle phases of life intlarge cities has
been exempliaedlin the case Of Miss Vii.
ginia Gertrude Stevens, who died at the
New York Hospital Monday, and was
buried by Lawyer shelbourne at Wood
lawn yesterday. Miss Stevens was once
the rage Of Partisan society. She was the
daughter OF Abraham Stevens, who many
years. ago was the Mayor Of Houston,
Texas. He came originally from Texas,
went into the business Of cattle
raising, and in a few years accumu-
lated a. large fortune. he married
the mother Of Miss Stevens on
his death.bed. by his will heleitliislarge
estate to his wife, and imposed upon her
the dutyof maintaining, supporting and
educating her daughter, Soon alter the
dealt, of Mr.. Stevens, the mother and
child, who was then ten years old, cameto
this city. They remained here short
time and then went to Paris, where Ger
tfude spent several years ata fashionable
school. She was bright mentally, and a
great iavorite socially attended strictly 10
her studies, acquired several languages,
and then launched upon the gay world Of
Paris captivating every one by her wit
intellect and beauty. She travelled extern
siyely abroad, and was admired every:
where. ri 4, !, ~, : Z ! !
DR.. Marion Sims met her In Paris,
where he was studying medicine, in 1868,
and spoke OF her as having the reputation
ofbeing the most beautiful woman in Eu.
rope. After leaving Paris. the Doctor heard
nothing from her until he received alett
ter, In Franch, signed by her, on sunday
last, asking him 70 call upon her, at her
boarding house. When he got TO the
house, he found The beautiful girl, who
had capiYated the hearts Of many OF the
noblest families Of Europe, lying IN bed u
perfect wreck mentally sand bodily, the
result Of long-continued morphine habit
and dissipation. Mrs. Stevens and Ger
trpde came back To this country Id 1871,
and went TO live upon Staten Island,
where she became acquainted with Hen.
ry ], Fiske, tine looking and
snrilppl plopsly neat young man who wasla
clerk In the wholesale drug honse of Me.
KessonS & Robbins. There was an appar-
entity mutual falling in love between the
young couple, and HGertie'r was Tie
theme Of conversation OF Mr.. Fiake. "a fter
ashort coprtsbip they were married; ard
by her fathers win Miss Stevens became
heir u $500 Mr., ,Fiske obtained con.
troll Of his wife'sfortune, and the two went
70 live in Montreal, whereghe invested
largely inf4rs and lost q large part Of The
money. Their tempefs were not sui led 10
each other, and when Mrs Riske inform;
ed her husband that he married her only
TO get her fortune from her fathers estate
there was an opap rupture between them,
Mrs Fiskewentto thescene Of herearlyhap;
pine@ in Paris and entered upon a gay and
reckless career, thatsoon caused thefespect
able eleipent in the American colony to
turnits back upon her, and TO refuse to re;
cognize her. She sank deeper and deeper
into the whifl Of q dissipated Partisan life
and waslost TO sight by herfornef friends,
and lost her beauty 81 mind ana face Of
former days, Herinientl lon in coming to
this country was TO get possession Of d
portion Of her estate from her husband,
from whom she was divorced about six
months ago, and 90 back to the III solities
OF Paris and spend II. Her husband lives
still in Montreal and pays aihyipg visit
once In awhile to this city, II ~ 4