Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1894-08-30
THE VANDERBILT TROUBLE
What is Said to Have Caused Marital
Differences.
Much Interest In Society Circles Over
the Recent Publications Who
Nellie Neustretter In.

The New York World today says:
The rupture in the domestic relations OF
Mr.. and Mrs. VIM. K. Vanderbilt, which
has reached the point of separation, with
talk Of a divorce, is discussed by a gentle
man claiming to be familiar with the facts
and the gossip in the case, who has made a
long statement, which is given in such de-
tail as to indicate that he knows whereof
he speaks. He says that the first serious
break was in Newport, in 1892, but that
trouble was patched up. When they start
ed on the cruise on the Valiant with Oliver
p. Belmont, Fred. Beach and several other
friends. everybody thought that they had
come to a thorough understanding. Mrs
Vanderbilt's presence on the yacht seemed
to prove that.
Continuing, this gentleman says: Mrs
Vanderbilt Is a woman with a very strong
WILL She objected to members of the yacht
ing party going ashore and staying all
night, or even later than 10 o'clock in the
evening. When the gentlemen wanted to
play poker Mrs. Vanderbilt always insisted
that one of them should stay out of the
game tc entertain. They used to cut the
cards for the sacrifice.
Mr.. Vanderbilt did not like this conduct
on the part of his wife. Then the yachting
party was broken up, and Mrs. Vanderbilt
went to Paris, where apartments had been
secured for her accommodation. The house
was handsome place, but Mrs. Vanderbilt
did not like it. At first she said she would
not occupy 1t, but finally said she would
II 1t was altered. The alterations she or
dered were so elaborate that they cost Mr.
Vanderbilt 100000 francs. Mr. Vanderbilt
'obJected to this, and there was another
row.
After that row Mr. Vanderbilt rushed of
to London to see the Derby run. He re.
turned to Paris and witnessed the Grand
PIX on June IL last. The turning point
q n of
wife was reached at the Grand Prfx. Al
that race he won 10000 francs Almost
Immediately after receiving his winnings
he was introduced to a woman celebrated
for her beauty and for her following OF
wealthy swells She is Nellie Neustretter
She Immediately fascinated Mr.. Vanderbilt
and, as an appreciation of her beauty and
society, he presented her with the 10000
eral Of his friends demonstrated with him
Tor making her such gift, but he insisted
and of course. she yelled to his demands
that she should accept it.
The story of how he fitted up a magnii-
cent establishment for her in Paris, and
subsequently gave her a residence at Deau-
vile, with servants and every luxury she
oesire1, Is true. 1t shocked and surprised
the American residents at Paris. but Mr..
vanderbilt was so open in his attentions as
to puzzle everybody. One of the most sur
prising things he did was to allow the SER
wants of Nellie Neustretter to wear the
same livery as those worn by Mrs. Wander
bits servants. This fact has been noticed
and commented upon by every person who
saw her and her equipages in Paris and
Deauville.
Talk of a Divorce.
when this news reached Mrs. Wander
bilt she Immediately communicated with
her friends in America end set about to
procure a divorce. Mr. Cornelius Wander
bilt went over to Paris hastily to patch up
matters. and the story is that he met Will
liam X, his brother, with whom he has
great influence, end. hearing his story, Sc
cured from him promise lot to make the
story Of his differences with his wife pub
lie.
Mr.. Cornelius Vanderbilt also saw Mrs.
W. X. Vanderbilt and heard her story. He
made every effort to bring about a recon-
citation, but failed in everything except
the stopping of divorce proceedings 1t was
at this time that Mrs. w. X. Vanderbilt
During the illness it is understood that she
changed her mind about going to the courts,
and was willing to do anything to avoid the
publicity that must follow suit for d.
vorce.
"Col. and Mrs. William Jay, both friends
Of Mr. and Mrs. VIM. X. Vanderbilt. then
went over, and they are even now trying
to effect a reconciliation and save the pub
licity OF scandal, but are not meeting
with exceptional success.
Il have found that Mrs. Vanderbilt has
made propositions to her husband to pro-
vide her and her children with an income
and the use of their town house at 18th ave-
nue. and sd street and the Islip house. The
marble mansion at Newport is hers and in
her name. That William K. Vanderbilt
gave her outright.
1T is the general impression on this side
Of the water that Mrs. Vanderbilt will not
seek a divorce, and 1 have heard that Mr.
Cornelius Vanderbilt has a promise from
William X. that he will not attempt pro-
ceedings Of that nature on his own behalf.
who Nellie Ncustretter is.
Nellie Neustretter is one of the most no.
torious women of the upper class Of her
kind in Paris. She is acknowledged to be
one of the handsomest women in Paris
and has been for some time one of the gay.
est of the gay set. Who introduced her to
Mr.. Vanderbilt l do not exactly know.
have heard. but that does Bot matter.
There has for years been more or less
talk in society here and Newport concern
ing both VIM. X. Vanderbilt and Mrs.
and pleasure generally. and naturally
would excite comment on account Of his
great wealth and habit Of travelling from
place to place, sometimes with and often
without Mrs. Vanderbilt. Mrs. Vanderbilt
is fond of society and greatly admired by
women, as we'll as men. She found pleas
ure in entertaining, and at times in travel
Gossip did not amount to anything, how
ever, until TWO years ago, WneH IL was cur
rently reported in Newport that Mr.. Van
derbilt had decided to leave America and
reside abroad, away from Mrs. Vanderbilt
AT that time a friend of Mr.. Vanderbilt
in explaining his determination, said that
Mrs. Vanderbilt was too exacting; that she
demanded too much of him, and that he
did not care to create a scandal, IL they
could not agree. How the matter was
patched up at that time ! cannot say. But
Col. Win. Jay and Mrs. Jay are being de-
pended upon by the Vanderbilt family to
make an amicable arrangement. Mrs. Jay
has beer an intimate, confidential friend OF
Mrs. Vanderbilt for years. while Col. Jay
has been on equally good terms with Will
lam K Vanderbilt.
1.-The intimate friends of the Vanderbilts
are looking for successful results accruing
from good offices of the Jays. / think
eventually, both will view the matter in the
proper light and agree to a reconciliation
OF course it may be some time before this
end is reached, but 1 think that BOTH even
now, wish they had escaped the publicity
earned thus far"
Mrs. Vanderbilt.
Mrs. Vanderbilt was formerly a Miss
Smith of Mobile. Her family was not
v ealtny, as the Vanderbilts would consider
wealth, but what the Smiths of Mobile
scked in money they made up in aristo-
cratic lineage.
nna Of Nrc VapIarbilt,S C;Starc