The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1899-07-25
MRS. FLAGLER'S CASE.
Her Mind Broke Down Because She
Had No Children.

New York Special.
In a big, comfortable armchair in the
Pleasantvle sanitarium, just across the hill
from White Plains, N. Y, there sits day
after day a woman, tall and stately, of
kindly visage, almost motherly. There Is
little gray In her hair and a wrinkle or
two on her cheek. but she is in the prime of
life. She wears an exquisite gown. 1t is
never the same two days in succession. Two
maids answer her every call. The Waldorf
Astoria could not serve her a more dainty
dinner than the one she takes each day
alone. Across the green hills she can see
the towers and turrets of a country man.
sion whose green lawns are Tapped by the
Sound. That is her mansion. Those towers
she once mounted to get the view. Those
lawns were her delight. 1t is millionaire's
country 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.
Standard oil magnate, railway king, Florida
emperor. 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. The physicians have said it. 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 poured out like water in the belief
that he might bring back reason to its
throne. Physician after physician was tried,
there were baths and electricity and trips
rest cures, everything; but all to no pur
pose Last week with bowed head Mr..
Flagler received the news of the inevitable-
there was no hope. Each day sees his wifes
weak grasp on reason little weaker and
her memory slowly fading. But she does
Twenty years ago Henry NJ. Flagler was
widower. His wife had died leaving him a
| little boy. At that time he was no million
| aire. But he had risen from a very humble
| walk In life and people were beginning to
| point him out man who would succeed.
He married again. His second wife was
young n beautiful. vvacous. full of life and
| spirits and happy in the husband whose
future looked so bright. Her father was an
airy to support his large family. The bride
of the Ohio oil man took her place in an
other life. Hardly had she been a wife a
| to be a power. With the Rockefellers and
the Tifords and the other oil men. Henry
M Fiagier became q millionaire "a. almost mos
| Flagler bore with ease and grace. She be-
| came mistress of one mansion at Fifty
York. of another at Fiaglers Point. Mama
rome, of third in Florida When she trav-
eled by land she had 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
nave friends to enjoy IL with her. On the
on home W Se
| pitality for all. The guests were made to
feel as much at home while the F1agler
| money was being poured out for them as
they might in their own more modest homes.
| The Flagler entertainments were lavish
as any given anywhere by even the richest.
Ten years ago Henry NJ. F1agler decided
to attack Florida: He owned most of the
railways there: he wanted more. The
n span az ne SAID ano t the ETen ,d have
I'll show people what Yankee push can do!''
| And he did Gardens grew where swamps
| had once sent forth their miasmatic odors.
Railroads ran everywhere: hotels sprang up
| like mushrooms; not typical country hotels
Of the, North but great palaces more like
| that has not heard of the wonderful Ponce
de Leon Hotel in st. Augustine, or OF the
everywhere: the North learned at last how
| pleasant winter might be when Northern
luxuries are transplanted to Southern
| chimes. In the midst of all this fragrance
and delight lived the wife Flagler idoiized
Summer saw her at Mamaroneck: winter
In Florida; spring and autumn in New York.
Beside her husband. the only member Of her
family was her stepson. fine looking lad.
who one fine day got married. and so she
was left alone without child. The stork
had never come to her. Not that she had
| not wanted its visit little one. she often
said, would make her the happiest woman
| in the world.
Why can / not have a son, with so much
! TO give him as have? 1t seems so cruel"
/ Her homes with their statuary and pic
| lures. her trips abroad and 10 the South
began TO grow empty. The yacht and the
| private car lost their attraction. Money
| lost Its power. Her cheek faded; her brows
clouded Her mind could dwell on but one
topic-a child. So she went mad 1t WIS
no violent outbreak: just the breaking down
| OF reason. The husband refused 10 believe
It; He would do everything-take her any
| where. give up his business. visit Mexico.
Europe. the north pole. II necessary. any
thing 10 save her reason: For moment.
| when he realized the truth, his faith in the
| religion of his fathers-he was a devout
| Presbyterian-was shaken. But he was
comforted: he saw DIR. 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 q
drowning man clutches for . straw. But