Omaha daily bee., 1899-08-06
August 6, 1899.

mat is ner mansion. muse lOWeTS she tnCe
mounted to get the view. Those lawns
were her delight. 1t is a millionaire's coun-
try villa and she is a millionaire's wife. But
she will never set foot in that garden again.
She is the wife of Henry NJ. Flagler, Stan
dard Oil magnate, railway king, Florida en-
peror. His millions cannot buy what is the
only thing he wants in life-reason for this
woman. Last week she was pronounced
hopelessly insane. Mrs. Flagler can never
go out again into the world she loved so
dearly. So day after day she sits, lapsing
more and more into mental blindness, less
able each day to comprehend what goes on
about her, while her husbands millions roll
on and on.
For ten years the husband had hope. His
money was poured out like water in the be-
lief that he might bring back reason to its
throne. Physician after physician was tried,
there were baths and electricity and trips
here and there and everywhere, medicines,
rest-cures, everything; but all to no purpose.
Last week with bowed head Mr.. Flagler re-
ceived the news of the nevitable-there was
no hope! Each day sees his wife's weak
grasp on reason a little weaker and her
memory slowly failing. But she does not
know!
Twenty years ago Henry M. Flagler was
a widower. His wife had died, leaving him
a little boy. At that time he was no mil
lionaire. But he had risen from a very
humble walk in life and people were begin
ming to point him out as a man who would
succeed.
He married again. His second wife was
Miss Shrouds of Philadelphia. She was
young, beautiful, vivacious, full of life AMI
spirits and happy in the husband whose flu
ture looked so bright. Her father was an
Episcopal clergyman with but a small salary
to support his large family.
The bride of the Ohio oil man took her
place in another life. Hardly had she been
a wife a year when the Standard Oil COM
pany began to be a power. With the Rookie
fellers and the Tilfords and the other oil
men, Henry M. Flagler became a millionaire
almost over night.
Her husbands great wealth Mrs. Flagler
bore with ease and grace. She became mis-
tress of one mansion at Fifty-fourth street
and Fifth avenue in New York, of another
at Flagler's Point, Mamaroneck, of a third
in Florida. When she travelled by land she
had a private car: when she went by water
there was Mr.. Flagler's steam yacht, the
Alicia, with captain and crew waiting her
nod.
Unlike many of the rich, the wife of this
millionaire could not enjoy wealth alone.
Her heart was as big as outdoors. She
must have friends to enjoy it with her.
Sn III yacht, Ou liz private CdI, dI HeI
villa, at her own home, it was the same
lavish hospitality for all. The guests were
made to feel as much at home while the
Flagler money was being poured out for
them as they might in their own modest
homes. The Flagler entertainments were
as lavish as any given anywhere by even the
richest.
Ten years ago Henry M. Flagler de-
cided to attack Florida. He owned most
of the railways there. He wanted more.
The Spaniards," said he, land the
French have tried to make something out
of Florida. Now I'll show the people what
Yankee push can do.
And he did. Gardens grew where
swamps that once sent forth their MAS
matte odors. Railroads ran everywhere;
hotels sprung up like mushrooms-not typi-
cal country hotels of the north, but great
palaces more like the Alhambra than any
thing else. Who is there that has not heard
of the wonderful Ponce de Leon hotel of st.
Augustine, or of the Alcazar and the Cor
dova. Boulevards ran everywhere; the
north learned at last how pleasant a winter
might be when northern luxuries are trans
planted to southern climes. In the midst of
all this fragrance and delight lived the
wife Flagler idolized.
Summer saw her at MamarOneck; winter
in Florida; spring and autumn in New
DIRK. Besides her husband the only mem
Der of her family was her %stepson, a fine
looking lad, who one day got married and
so she was left alone without a child.
Her homes with their statuary and pic
lures, her trips abroad and to the south be-
gan to grow empty. The yacht and the pri-
vate car lost their attractions. Money lost
its power. Her cheek faded; her brows
clouded.
SO she went mad. 1t was no violent
outbreak. Just the breaking down of reason.
The husband refused to believe it. He
would do everything-take her anywhere,
give up his business, visit Mexico, Europe,
the North Pole if necessary--anything to
save her reason. But he was comforted;
he saw DR.. Shelton, the expert on insanity,
who held out hope. Perhaps perfect rest
and quiet would restore the brain to its
normal state.
The millionaire clutched at the hope as a
browning man clutches at a straw. But