The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1899-06-26

236 West Forty-fifth street, of alcohol
ism
As Clara de Forest died, SO her sister
Agnes died. a drunkard. and yet time
was when Lord Coleridge, the Duke OF
Marlborough and Oscar Wilde were de-
lighted to partake of their hospitality
This was many years ago Agnes DIED
two years a go and since that time Clara
de Forest had lived in seclusion, DYING
by inches from her excuses, giving her
self up TO drink. as she confessed at the
last, to Doctor Acken, who attended her
TO the end and reported her death TO
the cOroner'S office
Doctor Acken. who lives at No 26l
West Forty-fifth street. said that the
woman died from the worst case OF al
cOhOliSm he had ever seen she mad Deen
a beautiful woman, brilliant and rich,
with an endless retinue of admirers She
died with no one beside her but her
physician The dead woman was the
daughter of an Irish physician, Doctor
Thomas Francis O'Shea, graduate OF
Trinity college, Dublin, and member OF
a distinguished Irish family
Her full name was Clara Teresa
O'Shea. She married an Englishman
named Hewitt, who was largely in
terested in the mines of Honduras,
where he died
Doctor O'Shea came to this country
about forty-two years ago. He opened
an office in Spring street and afterward
went into the business OF a pharmacist
When Clara and her sister, Agnes,
both of whom were born IN county
LOngfOrd ireland, were old enough they
were sent to the convent Of Notre Dame
in Montreal and there thoroughly edu-
Gated.
Doctor O'shea died soon after the
daughters returned from Canada ana
an aunt named De Forest adopted them,
the understanding being that the girls
would take her name
Clara and Agnes de Forest were not
on the best of terms with their two
younger sisters and a brother, so when
the aunt died they took house at NO
% East Twenty-fOurth street
There they lived in luxury Mrs. de
Forest having left them considerable
money They had a great number OF
servants, a butler in snow white livery
being in constant attendance at the
door.
1t was not long before New York be
gan to notice the De Forest sisters,
Agnes was a brunette, Clara blonde,
with red-brown hair. Both dressed ex-
quisiteIy.
From being practically unknown, as
the daughters of a struggling Spring
street druggist. the girls achieved DIS
tinction as the beautiful De Forest girls
Men of wealth and social prominence,
men known for their high positions IN
business and professions, and politicians.
were introduced to them and went TO
call at the Twenty-fourth street mouse
The De Forest sisters then began the
entertainments which helped to make
them famous Invitations to their din
ners and rnusicaIes were most eagerly
sought Both the sisters were accom-
plished Hnguists and musicians, ana
their house became the Mecca OF artists,
authors and the brilliant men OF the
day.
When distinguished foreigners came
TO this city they were almost sure 10 De
taken to the house and presented TO the
two young women who presided SO
charmingly there
The foreign dinners given in honor
of these distinguished visitors from
across the sea were celebrated Lord
CoIeridge and the Duke of MARLBOROUGH,
father of the present duke, were among
those entertained at the De Forest
house. There it was that the brilliant
Thirteen dinner was given to Oscar
Wilde. This dinner was the talk OF
New York. Orient lamps, thirteen of
them. were hung in the drawing room.
thirteen candles ffickered on the dining
table and throughout the lower rooms
of the house blossoms and water lilies,
Wilde'S favorite flowers, were massed-
A hidden orchestra played during the
dinner. and from start to close the af-
fair was one that outshOne any similar
entertainment New York had known
In recognition of his pleasurable even
ing, oscar Wilde sent to each OF the
visitors a turquoise ring surrounded by
diamonds.
Ten years ago the sisters gave up the
Twenty-fourth street house Clara went
abroad and added to the brilIiancy of
Paris. London and Vienna
Agnes de Forest died on February >,
1897 Clara was in New York at this
time, but had lost all trace of her sis
ter. She learned OF Agnes death in
remarkable way.
She went to church one morning and
there met a servant she had once en-
plOyed. This woman told her OF her sis
ter's death
Agnes de Forest had died from drink
committed suicide. Clara afterward
said-and left between $50. 900 and 500
90 VII =
to Clara after much litigation, and she
gradually spent it in striving to keep
up her establishment, but making no
effort to check her passion for drink.
were:
Il want to die, doctor. but give me a
pint of beer before I go Just a pint.
doctor. 1t can't do me any harm. and
it will make me feel better. Please give
me the beer, doctor."