The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1897-05-02
MRS. BASIL HALLS CAREER.
ONE OF ALMOST CONSTANT STRUGGLE
And DISdPPoINTME
Her social Ambitions Fooled. Her Husband
ana Children Dead. Her Money Gone-Hcr
Dresses. Her Dinners. Her Diamonds. Her
InnrncnInrn Tn md Ern. mud Her Suicide.

ana Children Dead. Her Money Gone-Hcr
Dresses. Her Dinners. Her Diamonds. Her
JourncJinEs To and Fro, ana Her suicide.
Tho life of Mrs. Basil Hall. who shot and
killed herself In Greenwood Cemetery on Wed.
ncsday afternoon, was a long struggle for social
success. When she was married to Basil Hall,
in 1870, she had little to recommend her except
good looks and good nature. She may not have
boon illitcrato. but sho was not considered n
woman OF much cultivation. Her marriage
opened n new world to hor. Her husband was a
Wall street man of good standing, and in
addition to that was an English gentleman
some of whose kin were titled. When he
succeeded to an estate in England he took
her to that country with him. With her
husbands standing In society there was nothing,
It would seem, TO keep her from achieving her
highest social ambitions. But before she had
hardly begun n career in England her husband
died. 1t is said that his family did not take
kindly to the American wife, and his death
blighted her ambitions.
She had one hope left, her son, who had suo-
cecded to his fathers estate. After her hus-
bands death she took him and her daughter to
the Continent and led a rowing, nimless life. At
that time the money loft them by Mr.. Hall. his
personal property, which was considerable, was
divided among the three. and Mrs. Hall was not
able to crafty her luxurious tastes as she did
later. They went from watering place to water
ing place until tho boy died. a few years after
his fathers death.
His death put an end to whatever hopes Mrs.
Hall may have had Of winning social success
through him. for the real estate left by her hus-
band went to his nephew. Early in the eighties
she came back to this country with her daugh-
ter. She had come into possession of her sons
money, and, enjoying now n very good income,
she began to dress as she had always wanted to.
She had a fine figure and wore clothes well. Her
gowns were made in Paris. She spent large
S"ins t tHr Of l%'e Costly sne clothing lihau"ihf Her gowns We're
always striking, and she always made a figure
on the streets that caused passers'byt to turn and
look at her.
shortly after her sons death she began to como
to this country with her daughter once, a year.
Staying at The Mnrr rnS Hill Hotel. Il I" was from
this hotel she began her later social campaign
her a hcteroSeneous Collection Of persons Who
alto her elaborate dinners. She was in dead
earnest and indefatiRablc in her struggle. Sho
sought men and women out and carried them
Off to her dinners almost by main force, but no
matter how unwilling her guests may have been
to accept her Invitations. they were always sol.
aced by n nearly perfect dinner.
She WINS forced to give this up by the failing
Whatever her faillngs may have been, she, was
daughters life Mrs. Hall devoted herself to her
entirely, Wherever the daughter wished to go
the mother went. and wherever the daughter
wished to stay. there tho mother stayed. Her
Mrs. Hall brought her to this country and buried
her in Greenwood. and was near her grave
that It, she Gs eH% bGaimS suicide En three days ia S ago. yor.
after her daughters death. She then branched
forth into all kinds Of cxtrayagances She be
greater carnostness. The clothes she wore were
OF the most cxtravagant kind, both in cost and
and she gave most USafi lavish dinners to almost iesio" any
one who would, eat them. Those persons who
n mac STr hnr sr ABOUT co mfGGGepti ping her aospiit 5
away. II they should plead another engage
ment in order to, refuse one Of her invitations
she would straightway arrange for another when
they could come. She sought the singers at the
opera, especially Plancon. and she never saw tho
Mr.. "Plankon.' Her entertainments were not
confined to dinners. She gave Japanese tea
once, fitted up her parlors in the hotel with Jap
anese performers. got Japanese and Chinese
food from San Francisco. and had hardly as
to Egypt on the Fnrst Bismarck two winters |
ago. and lived most lavishly all the time. There
But all this began to tell upon her fortune.
She saw that she could not live at that rate very
as far away ms ever. She looked about for a
way Gc;d by Which WI fh to Increase g, her income; and she
firm Of bear brokers. She met with some sue
cess. and then the fever of speculation took full
She made $4,000 at one stroke. She imme,
diatcly declared her intention OF putting that
money into a diamond necklace. She went
abroad that summer. but instead OF spending
the $4,000 for the necklace she left that money
with her brokers and took the money for tho
The end that awaits all amateurs who dabble
In margins to make their fortunes awaited her.
spring she found that practically all her money
and sold her diamonds. With the money sho
fster asain to T 1fis G Gotnn!liy qasult eoSf olioM 10 dspG nnd
Mrs. Hall went to White Plains to live in a
boarding house, practically ,penniless.
was left hut the tragedy. All her friends save
or two were gone. Some had deserted her
when she entertained no more; Others she had
to let them know OF her changed circumstances.
To those who asked her why she had chosen TO
translations from the French and needed
seemed to FEEL at sT last that all was s. sonenhns'
90 poor that a friend, one Of the few
fa4f bea stG2% un SS hoFhi 4 tRas hsa bee to ms sGlI
by the c~leverest French needlewomen. and her
llaces in order TO get her some ready money.
In order that she might support
herself in a gelteel way: To this last PROPOSE.
she intended to do. how she was going to live,
she simply answered that she did not know.
Although for a long time she kept q brave face
change in her was noticed. She became morose
and Respondent. avoided persons she knew, and
IT was whispered about that she was taking
70 her felt that the end was near. and when on
Thursday the body OF the woman who committed
suicide IN Greenwood was identified as that of
1t is supposed that her lawyers will see that
she is buried at hor daughters side. Il not,
there are some women in this city who will con-
tribute the necessary money.
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