The Anaconda standard. [volume] (Anaconda, Mont.) 1889-1970, 1898-11-20
Special Correspondence Of the Standard.

Special Correspondence of the Standard.
Denver. Nov. 1.-THE first time
I yer heard Harold Frederic
talked about. in respect to his
personality. was when I met h late
Mr.. Lyman. who was then the editor
Of the Helena Independent, and one Of
the members of the Standards editorial
stan in a pleasant corner where several
people who have a name and fame in
the newspaper world were discussed. I
remember hat Frederic's work was
very highly spoken OF In that
sation and 1 was interested in the ac-
count of his modest start in a newspa-
per Office i'm Utica. N. Y.
After that, while 1 was on mining
business in Boston I occasionally saw
the Harold Frederic letters from Lon
don in the Boston Herald. and I read
them with interest. A few weeks ago.
when l was in London, on mining bust
ness, L felt a particular interest In the
case when i read there the
ment of Frederic's death. and i was
she more surprised when l found out
afterwards that he was the victim OF
christian science.
To my regret ! also learned that some
years ago Frederic departed so far
from the habits that had made his
modest little home in New York an
ideal n that he had turned from the
wife who had been dear to him in his
early literary struggles and taken up
in London with a woman with whom
he lived but. of course, not in legal
relation. 1t may be that there was
retribution in II. At least IL was this
woman's influence that induced Fred
eric TO try christian science.
Two rather celebrated cases were at
tracing attention in London about the
time I was leaving there. The first
was the case of a Major Lester. very
prominent in high society life and In
in the Prince of Wales Own" He
died under christian science treatment.
The death created a great stir. Then
came Frederic's.
Frederic was attended. at first, by
men skilled in their profession and ami
mated in their efforts to save him by
the personal esteem in which they
held the author. They were excluded
from the case, IL is now learned.
through the influence OF Frederic's
mistress. who processes to be a believer
in christian science. When they were
recalled. after Mrs. Mills christian
science experimenting for q month. II
was too late to save him. The Mills
woman Is an American.
IL transpired at the Frederic hearing
that he had been persuaded to dispense
with doctors and take VI with Chris
tian Science by Miss Kate Lyons. with
whom he had lived nine years. She tes-
tilted that h was a firm believer In
the Christian Scientists and had one of
them called In to give Frederic mental
= treatment"
When the coroner asked her to ex-
plain the treatment. she said: They
believe IN following Jesus Christ liter
anv aaEnnurlaAotn1 Cod m the An-nn--
erful n relying upon Him entirely"
Further questioning brought out the
fact that Frederic had a proper dietary
under the care of the physicians. but
when Mrs. Mills appeared on the scene
all drugs were thrown away, and the
sick man was allowed to indulge his
appetite in champagne. whiskey and CT
gars. Nor were the doctors sent for
again until he had collapsed. Miss
Lyons admitted having been under Mrs.
Mills treatment at the same time. so
that she might be made strong to bear
up"
The testimony OF Mrs. Mills is COM
mented on by the London journalists as
most extraordinary" She In described
as a tall American lady of striking pres
ence. with a sauare chin. hard firm
mouth and steel-gray penetrating eyes.
She was attired in a black dress and
lark blue jacket. with large lappets
faced with blue silk. Around her neck
Was a profuslon of white tulle or silk
fastened with a gold brooch. and each
earring was a large diamond in gold
setting. h also wore a feather boa.
while her hat was OF speckled straw
trimmed with black silk bows and
feathers. with a spray of vtolets under
the brim at the back In her evidence
Mrs Mills admitted that both her hus-
band-described as a musician before