The Anaconda standard. [volume] (Anaconda, Mont.) 1889-1970, 1898-03-31
VANDERBILT HEiaEss INSANE.
Pathetic Condition of "a Sensational New
York society Figure.

hoTh S0esetN StSuEe-
Young Mrs. Jack Wilmerding, great
granddaughter of the old Commodore
Vanderbilt. and daughter of Colonel VAN
derbilt Allen. was recently quietly COM
mitted to the Bloomingdale insane asy-
lum. New York's famous madhouse. 1t
is possible that n period has thus been
put to the short but sensational career
of "a society figure. Mrs. Wilmerding Is
suffering from wcll-deflned symptoms of
paresis. She has decisions that enemies
are pursuing her; at times she is unable
To recognize her friends: often she loses
her own Identity. Since her commitment
the delusions have increased. though the
physicians Of the asylum will not admit
that her case is hopeless.
Mr.. Wilmerding has not visited his wife
since her return from Europe. They
separated last summer. after "A mar
rifd life of discord and unhappiness. The
causes of Mrs. Jack W~ilmerding's in
sanity are explained in various ways. The
physicians say that IL might be the re-
suit of some hereditary faint. Her rel
atives say that domestic troubles brought
IT on. and the gossips add that excessive
smoking and the designations of a fast set
OF society added their penalties.
The ~best-known member of the Allen
family In the male line IL Colonel VAN
derbilt Allen, grandson of the old COM
mouoIcs lnt IatntG OF MfS. NllnetulnS.
Colonel Vanderbilt Allen has been thrice
married. His first wife was Miss Helen
Mount. and their daughter. and The Col
onel's fourth child-favoritc until she
brought suit against him-was named
Marie Fatimet. She was "A charming.
beautiful girl. Her father graduated at
West Point, and made n fine record I'm
the war. When peace came he was
brevetted major. but resigned his commits
sion and n.enmnnnfsl G.narnI Stone IN
Egypt. where he served with distinction
In the khcdivc's army. Stone was made
a pasha. and his friend and comrade.
Vanderbilt Allen, was gazetted
err of the order Of Mediidie.
While her father was experimenting In
various matrimonial adventures little Ma
RTE was at school and under the care of
relatives. In 1892 she had grown TO wom-
anhood. She had a petite figure. great
l%ustrous. dark eyes and very dark brown.
wavy hair. Her complexion was fair. and
her beauty brought admirers galore. But
besides her beauty she had wit, "A viva
cious manner and the magnetism that
wins men. when Jack Wilmerding be-
came her accepted sutton the gossips
called him IA lucky fellow. But young
Jack was n good catch in the eyes Of
ambitious mothers.
The bride was - years of age and the
groom three years her senior. TIL quiet
marriage took place i'm 1892.
But rumors Of discord ripened INTO be-
lief before many months had passed. For
instance. IL was said that the young hus-
band objected To his wife's gowns. She
was always dressed In the extreme of
fashion. affecting mannish gowns. and IL
was rumored that the husband objected
To the bills. though his wife had an IN
dependent fortune, inherited from her
mother.
A few weeks ago Mrs. Wilmerding
walked down the gangplank of n Euro
pean steamer between "a physician and a
nurse. She was as smartly dressed as
ever: she was the picture of physical
health. but her brain-the quick. appre-
hensiVe brain that had charmed men and
women-was clouded. Her condition was
quickly determined by DIR. Allan McL.ane
Hamilton and DIR. DE Forest Smith, and
the commitment to the Bloomingdale asy-
lum followed.
She has a private apartment I'm that in
The surroundings are as lux
urious az money can provide. She has
private attendants, and yet is always con-
fined under rigid restraint.