Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1897-02-22

was born In Halifax. She spent her
girlhood years In Springfield. Mnss.
She was a brilliant and accomplished
young woman. She was proficient in
music and painting, for she had studied
under the best masters. She had her
crowd Of admirers, and then she was
queen.
Young Mr.. Blackstone fell ~. love with
her and proposed marriage. She accept
cd him.
The young couple were married In this
city, and made their home In Norwich.
CT. The next few years were memorable
ones IN the social history OF Norwich.
Mr.. and Mrs. j. de Trafford Blackstone
became leaders In the society-of the New
England city. He had Mayflower anccs-
try. an honored race and money. She
had beauty and cleverness. The amateur
theatricals she managed. the musicales
she conducted. the art clubs which she
organized are still the talk of Norwich
Rumors began to reach the people OF
Norwich that young Mr.. ana Mrs. Black
stone were not as happy as they seemed.
1877. Mrs. Blackstone left home and went
back 10 her relatives In New York. leav-
ing her infant son with his father.
"incompatbility of temper clause, now
repealed granted "A divorce to Mrs.
Blackstone shortly afterward.
Mrs. Blackstone was married In 1879 to
Samuel s. Sondheim of the firm OF Sond-
helm Brothers, brokers. at No. 20 Cotton
Exchange. Mr.. Sondheim was then -
years old and Mrs blackstone % years
of age. MIR. Sondhein. In his love for
her threw aside all differences OF creed.
They were married by the Rev. DIR. Got
thcll of the Temple Emanuel: They went
to Yonkers TO Live. where Mr.. Sondheim
had furnished a magnificent louise. They
did not live happily.
Mrs. Sondhcim was expected at din
ncr given by her mother-in-law In New
Il a
not come. Her husband found II brief
note on her dressing taDle saying that she
bad gone away not to return. She took
her : 1swelry and $1,000 he had ID, given her
Paris. where she mingled in the society
of arts and letters; Mr.. Sondheim pro-
cured divorce and has since been hap
PLY murdered.
Before she married Mr.. SondheIm Mrs.
Blackstone had made an effort 10 get
possession OF her son. Lorenzo. who WAS
She made a rapid sally into the town on
day in the absence OF Mr.. Blackstone and
bore the boy In triumph 10 the New York
boat. He was then years old. There
ceedings after that. and finally. after
several months of litigation. the courts
gave the custody of the boy TO his father.
In all these years the mothers affection
for the hoy has never waned.
After the second divorce she was known
IS Nine. Blackstone. She became a favor
Nr IN fIllS. tier SIfuu @dr fnfOnEea
with men and women known the world
over. She bad many admirers-artists.
authors. a Russian prince two: yet
she never married again.
She became pupil OF M5drazo ths
portrait painter. She Ii woman of un-
questioned artistic talent. Her pictures
were accepted by the French Salon in
1890. and for the last six years they have
had place in the Salon. Among her
wcll-known paintings several OF which
nave been engraved and printed In pub
Gathering" THE Flower Girl and ?
Portrait OF n Russian Lady
Several times she came over 10 this
'o,miry and made trips 10 Norwich. 20
set a glimpse of her son. She found him
he last time Il student AZ Yale.
She came back Ia New York last May
md established a studio nj No. II Union
auare. She and her son saw each other
frequently. She went tn Norwich several
months ago ard she and J. de Trafford
blackstone met face To face. Time had
iealt tenderIy with them both. She
ooked 10 tn Is years younger than she
:, and a few gray hairs about the tenn
lies We're the only evidences that the
nan who was her husband had grown
'ller.
He had been married in London to Mrs.
lnne Rich. The second wife was dead.
hey were both free. They found that
fter two decades they loved each other
othing in this world would please him
etier Than 10 see his father and mother
reunited. 1ney Dptn Were Wiling enough.
Guided perhaps by the legal instincts of
he distinguished jur.st. ]. De Trafford
blackstone looked up all the various di-
orces and saw that there was no legal
obstacle to a re-marriage In this view
ne Rev. X. S. Blanchard. of St. James
Episcopal church. philadelphia. agreed |
nth him. The wedding will take place |
ext Tuesday afternoon in the presence
+ n few family friends.
MIR. Blackstone. since the separation
rom his wife 20 years ago. has made |
rosress in the business and social worlds |
ie was one OF the original members of |
re Travellers Club. which was merged |
nto the presen, New York Club and an |
!iginal member of the New York Jockey |
Tub. He Is also member of the Algon- |
uin and Essex County Clubs of Boston !
nd of the kittemaugh Arcanum and the |
serwich Club of Norwich. CT. He is a |
iirector of the Chicago and Alton Rail- |
Dad. treasurer of the Totokett mills and |
ne Occum Water Power Company and |
acretary of the Attawaugan Manufac- |
uring Company.
Mr.. Blackstone. when | saw him last |
vening at the Waldorf. admitted that he !
nd his former wife were to be re-mar- |
red.
we have agreed" he said. ITO forget |
ne past. Mrs. Blackstone who was and |
to be. will give up her studio here and !
[ Up another in our home in Norwich |
I. She will devote her leisure to her
TT. Our son was partly instrumental in |
ringing about the reconciliation.