Gilpin observer., 1899-10-19
THE WAGES OF SIN.
SOME SERMONS TAKEN FROM
REAL LIFE.
No One May Sow tho seeds Of Wicked
ness Without Reaping the Marvsst of
Death-stories Of Trials OF Three
Notable Examples.

Inc bases for sermons on the wages
OF sin could be continued indefinitely.
Philadelphians of the generation that
Is now passing away remember the
story Of the beautiful Harriet Ely,
daughter OF Presbyterian clergyman
OF that city. She was better known in
the days of her womanhood as Hattie
Blatchford, when she reigned as belle
in London, Paris and St. Petersburg.
Thirty-five years ago Harriet Ely
was one OF the most beautiful girls in
Philadelphia. She was born to COM
parative wealth and high social posi-
ton, and was surrounded by the best
OF home influences until she was 1S.
Thea her marvellous beauty proved a
fatal fascination for the men whom
she encountered. and she passed from
the straight and narrow path. 1t was
not long before she was SO we'll known
in circles where clergymen's daugh-
ter's ought not to be known tina. 1t was
necessary for her to leave her home.
Her father abandoned his pulpit in
humiliation, and the family retired
from social life to hide it's shame.
The beautiful young woman had left
a note to her parents, saying that she
would never return. She went with
schoolmate to Parkersburg, w. Va, but
1t was not long before she returned to
Philadelphia and became the wife of
Joseph Blatchford. When he had been
ruined by the extravagances of his
wife he left without the formality of
obtaining a divorce. She was next
heard of in London, where 1t was
freely said she received the attentions
of the prince of Wales among her
many royal suitors. and in his interest
for her very wealthy earl of Scotland
sacrificed his position at court. She
was always well supplied with funds.
and when she wen. &c Paris she was
able to establish herself in the most
magnificent quarters. She at once be-
came the intimate friend and at the
same time the rival of Cora Pearl, then
at the height of her sensational career.
One day in Paris Hattie Blatchford
met at the Jardin MabIlle a party of
the set of which the Grand Duke Alexis
OF Russia was a member. This young
nobleman fell in love with her at first
sight and after that time she forsook
the attentions of her royal suitor. 1t
was nearly year before she learned
who he really was, but the discovery
Of his important position in the royal
family of tho Russian empire did not
disconcert her. When the grand duke
left Paris for St. Petersburg the beau
tiful young American was his COM
panion. The duke was restricted in
his expenditures and had but compar-
Ntively little ready money. His rela-
tives threatened to abandon him II he
did not give up his companion. This
he would not do, and one day he stole
hib mothers jewels-part of the crown
jewels OF Russia-and gave them to
Hattie Blatchford. The loss was dis
covered before the jewels could be con-
verted into cash, and they were re-
covered. although the guilty ones were
permitted to go without punishment.
1t was said that the young woman
had urged the grand duke to steal the
jewels, and while he was locked up in
the winter palace in St. Petersburg
she was compelled by the emperor to
leave Russia. She then made tour OF
all the principal cities Of Europe, en-
joying the notoriety she had achieved.
ultimately returning to her old home
in Paris. But the wages OF sin were
accumulating for her. Her beauty
was fast fading, and those who knew
her in this country heard Of her with
less frequency. There came a time
when she passed out of sight altogeth-
er, and the wages were fully paid. Her
only daughter now lives in Paris.
That the wages OF sin Is death was
never better shown than 10 the case
OF the woman who was first best
known as Mrs. Beecher, and after
wards as the Countess Pourtales. un-
der which name she was beheaded by
order of the Mikado of Japan. She
was the reputed daughter OF her moth
er's second husband, and was born
near Columbia, S. C. Her mother was
s;ssa