The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1895-12-11
MADE LOVE TO BOTH
YOUNG SMITH COURTED MRS. HIG-
GINsON AND HER DAUGHTER, TOO.
Latter's Heart Is Said to BE Broken
Because the Gay Harvard Man
Ran Away with Her Mother.

BOSTON, Dec. 1O.-The social circles Of
Boston have not yet recovered from the
shock of the elopement of Mrs Francis L.
Higginson with young James Wheatland
Smith. There are number Of phases Of
the story that have not yet been given
much publicity, although they are the talk
Of the clubs, and the gossip Of the upper
ten here.
1t is said that the dashing young Harvard
man left behind him broken heart in the
Higginson family, and it was not the mil
lionaire bankers, either. If report be true,
the beautiful young daughter of Mrs. Hig-
ginson, though only seventeen, and one of
the city's most notable buds" was very
much in love with the gay young cavalier,
and that, while he was presumably calling
upon her, he was in reality seizing every
opportunity to pay court to her handsome
mamma The feelings of the daughter. if
this be true, can better be imagined than
described
Many who know Mr. Higginson wonder
what fascination caused his handsome wife
TO marry him. He never was regarded as
q particularly lovable man before his mar
up in his business affairs that his family,
it is said, received comparatively little of
his attention. Mrs. Higginson was always
been a leader in Boston's exclusive society.
Her husband, on the contrary, was so
wrapped up in business matters that he
gave no time or thought to his wife's
social pleasures and triumphs. Young
Smith, however, appeared to worship the
popular society woman and her pretty
daughter. He was tall, well built, and no
better dancer whirled round the parlors of
Beacon Hill. He was quite popular with
the women and had quite number of
friends among the men. Although Mrs.
Higginson is fourteen years his senior, she
does not look more than thirty-two or
thirty-three.
Mr.. Higginson occupies the tremendous
brown stone mansion at 247 Beacon street,
built by Gen. C. A. Whittier several years
ago, and known Whittier's folly. He
also has fine residence at Beverly Farms.
Notwithstanding their beautiful surround
ings and immense wealth, the Higginsons
were not happy. Both were ambitious, but
in directions Numerically opposite The
husband planned and schemed in the great
struggle to accumulate money, while his
wife had only social aspirations. There
were, it is said no manifestations of affec-
ton between the two, and several months
They dwelt ct such extremities of the great
mansion that they were as far apart as If
they had lived in two separate houses.
They seldom saw each other and as seldom
Perhaps this was the reason that the
elopement was not discovered until the es-
Gaping pair were far out on the Atlantic.
When Mrs. Higginson said she was going
to New York to the horse show no one
thought much about it. She did go to the
ward man, was ever at her side. When the
Hamburg-American steamer Columbia
sailed for Genoa on Nov g. the two Bos-
tonians were among the passengers regis
tered under the ample disguise of Mr.. and
Mrs Smith. Immediately upon hearing of
her desertion, several days later, Mr.: Hig-
ginson, 1t is said, drew his check for $780, 900
and mailed IL to Genoa to his wifets credit.
This statement has been received every
where with a great deal of surprise To
those who know all about the family af-
fairs it is not amazing. They know that
when Mrs. Higginson was the acknowl-
edged belle of Boston. and the daughter of
wealthy DIR. J. ". Borland, president of the
aristocratic Somerset Club, young Frank
Higgnson was just starting in the bank
ing business without much money. What
ever persuaded the popular Miss Borland to
bestow her coveted favor on Mr.. H.gginson
nobody could tell. She did, however, and
she was bestowed 100000 a wedding
dowry and a start in business as well. If
Higginson was plain of feature and curious
of disposition, he knew finance and invested
the comfortable nest egg wisely. 1t grew
and grew until after his careful manipu-
lation, it has become many times a million
dollars Now the multi-millionaire gives
back her little fortune that laid the foun-
dation to his immense wealth So Mrs.
Higginson commences her new life with
the same sum she started on her first ex-
perimSnt.