Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1891-07-13
MRS. SALTUS FREE.
She is Divorced From the ErOtic
Novelist Very Secretly.
A HIGHLY SENSATIONAL AFFAIR.
Tha Author Of n Transaction in Hearts" Judicially
Held Guilty Of Acts Unbsccming in q
Husband--Did He 0onnivs at ths
Decree Against Himself?


Saltus' wife has obtained her divorce.
The author of ''The Pace that Kills"
and numerous other erotic novels has
been declared by the Courts to have
been guilty of conduct unbecoming
husband, and decree of absolute d.
vorce has been granted. The proceed
ings were secret, and although the de-
cision was rendered on June 18th, no
inkling of the matter has leaked out
The only public step in the affair was
the serving of the notice OF publication
when the suit was begun in December,
1889. Mr.. Saltus was at that time In
Europe, and his address was not known
to Mrs. Saltus. When the novelist
sailed he told his wife that his address
would be scare Of John Munroe & Co.,
bankers, Rue Scribe, Paris" She
afterwards received letter from him
bearing the Paris postmark, and noti-
fying her that he was going to London.
He did not give his address In the lat
ter city.
Mrs. Saltus made affidavit to these
facts, and also submitted an affidavit by
the hack driver who took Saltus from
his home, No. 33 West Nineteenth
street, to the French Line La Bretagne,
Judge Lawrence OF the Supreme Court
thereupon granted the order for notice
by publication. This was on Dec. 10,
1880
1t seems that the writer OF lurid
fiction had been something OF a man
about-town for some time. His conduct
is said to have been worthy OF the
author of transaction in Hearts" and
other realistic tales. When he appear
ed at Saratoga or Richield Springs
all the girls were anxious
to meet him, as they thought ne
must be a very bad man to write such
suggestive books. He was lionized for
a time, and the sudden popularity OF his
unconventional books made him the
centre of attraction wherever he ap-
peared. He is in appearance somewhat
dudish-looking, and affects the English
style. He is about thirty-fve, little
under the average height, and has q
thick-set figure. His complexion is as
dark as that of s. Spaniard. His hair Is
TOT hie.~ r--s---@ Il as--,no 80 . rroup -hi~eS
mustache.
As a writer of books the first became
prominent In 1884. At that time eroti-
cism was not in vogue, and his works
created more OF sensation than they
would If issued now. The critics
pounced upon his works and declared
them naughty, very naughty. Giddy
girls smuggled the books into their
rooms and gloated over them in secret.
In public they blushingly declared they
had never read line that Edgar Saltus
wrote.
The first books found fair sale, and
Saltus ground out more OF the same
kind, except that they were more sug-
gestive and more ZolaesQue. 1t Is said
that all OF Saltus' books have been prof
table, and the ones more glaring In their
departure from conventional ideas OF
what was right and proper are said to
have produced the best financial result.
Some of his best known works are 1.-The
Pace that Kills." ''Eden," "Tristem
Varick," ga Transaction in Hearts,"
"The Anatomy of Negation," "The
Philosophy of Disenchantment," and
ga Transcieut Guest" Some OF the
novels appeared in ReJord's Magazine,
and others were published by the Bel
lords in book form. When his pub
fishers failed, it was rumored that they
were owing Saltus $4,000 After the
firm resumed business Saltus sailed for
Europe.
just before his departure there was
dramatic scene at his home. 1t Is said
to have been as intensely interesting as
the most thrilling episode told In any OF
his writings. There was storm, . con-
fession by the erratic Edgar. and a rapid
drive TO the steamer. All this occurred
on November 2, 1889. Since that time
husband and wife have lived apart.
Edgar went to Paris and Mrs. Saltus
consulted her lawyers. The result was
the filing of papers in suit for absolute
divorce. The papers were filed In Su-
preme Court, aud the fact only became
public when Judge Lawrence granted
the order to serve the notice by publ
cation.
Mrs. Saltus openly accused her hus-
band of undue intimach with certain
young ladies whose reputation had
never tarnished. The names of Miss
Elsie w. Smith, young lady of high
social standing, and Mrs. Fanny Cir
van, Western widow, were mentioned.
Mrs. Saltus accused her husband OF
having been indiscreet with Miss Smith
at his own hone, No. SO West Nine
teenth street, at No. rs Fifth avenue,
and at several other places. She
charged that he made trips to Mamaro-
neck and Richfield Springs, accompa-
MED 5y the young lady, and behaved as
no husband should. The gallant Edgar
is said to have induced Mrs. Girvan to
accompany him on Sunday trips to
Coney Island during the Summer OF
1889.
WhSh Saltus was informed that his
wife had sued for divorce he is said 70
have remarked: "By Joye, ye know. l
hope she will get it." 0a thinking the
matter over, however, he announced
that he would return to America and
oppose the granting of the divorce, In
order to shield the ladies' whose names
he had mentioned. he protested most |
strongly that the ladies were innocent. |
He admitted accompanying them 10 |
places of amusement and on various lit |
tie trips out OF town. but vowed there |
was nothing wrong in it. He did re-
turn to this country, but there is no re-
cord of his seeking to vindicate the |
young ladies by disproving the charges.
Instead Of doing this, be is faid 70 have |
offered not only to make no defense, but
to furnish evidence on which an abso-
ute divorce could be obtained, provided |
the names Of Mrs. Girvan and Miss |
Smith were removed from the petition. |
The case, like most others that would ]