Grant County herald. [volume] (Lancaster, Wis.) 1850-1968, 1899-10-12
New York Letter.)

Colorado Springs, Colo, in the goth
year Of his age.
II was plain ordinary announce
ment and meant but little except to
the immediate friends and acqualnt-
arces OF Mr.. Chauncey; those that had
known him well In life were grieved at
his death. The world at large knew
little Of Mr.. Chauncey.
The world Of finance knew him fair
ly well, for he was a prominent mem
her Of the New York Stock Exchange
The world OF society sought to know
him better. but he steadfastly refused
TO be society man. although his wife
might easily have made him a social
success BY his marriage he had re-
moved her from social circles, and II
Is quite possible society never forgave
him for It, for in a single season. east
and west, she had charmed everyone
by her presence and surprising beauty
In that one season she had won for
herself the title OF the most beautiful
woman in the land, and wherever she
went It was freely acknowledged.
Today she Is unquestionably the
most beautiful widow in the world. for
during the five years OF her married
life she has become more distinguished
and more cultured, more fascinating,
than she was when Mr.. Chauncey, en-
We'd OF all his fellow men, led her to
the altar.
Then she was poor and struggling.
Now she Is the possessor OF fortune
OF at least a million and half, and
young enough to have the fullness OF
her life before her. The story OF her
obscure childhood, the romance of
her marriage to the wealthy New
Yorker and the almost tragic shade
cast over her welded life, will now
we'll bear the telling.
It was in the little Hoosier town of
Leavenworth, Ind. that Alice Louise
Carr, the future Mrs Chauncey, was
born 26 years ago It was in the
humblest surroundings that she first
saw the light, and there was no prom
ise then OF the great success that was
to come. Her father, George Montgom
cry Carr. was a poor man, his living
depending upon political preferment
and although he held some Office or
Other during 81 the time the Republi
can party was in power IN the land, il
was always in some small place. and
with not enough definite insurance OF
continuity to make his life easy.
There was little attraction In Leav-
enworth itself, a queer community in
the southern part Of Indiana, which
gained lasting notoriety as being the
first place in which a White Cap or
ganizatlon was effected Hundreds of
wife beaters and other offenders
against the sentiments of the people
we're publicly whipped in Leavenworth,
and 1t was among such scenes as these
that Alice Carr passed her first few
years.
When the father obtained an APP
pointment as pension agent at Louis
VILE the family moved to that city.
Two other children had been born af-
ter Alicia daughter, Grace, and
son, George. Grace had some preten-
sions to good looks, but Alice was the
beauty of the family. even as child.
She was the prettiest little one in
Louisville, and at an early age gave
promise OF that which was to be her
fortune thereafter.
Even with the improvement in his
fortunes Alice's father found Ii no
easy matter to maintain his family in
Louisville, and they were denied many
OF the little things that would have
tended to make them happier. Ance
received a common school education
and that was all the advantage she
ever enjoyed in her girlhood. Her as
Rociatlons were not of the class of So
clety to which her beauty might then
have gained her entrance. as 1t did af
forwards. While she was yet at school
her father died, and the widow, left
with three children to rear. found her
self with no possessions beyond an in
surance OF $4,000 on her husbands life.
II was impossible for her to remain In
Louisville, so she returned to Leaven-
worth, and there began the struggle of
life anew. 1t was a brave fight she
made, and when the son was old
enough he was sent away to a military
school in the south. He was the pet
or the family and all the others de-
MED themselves all they could in order
that his education should be complete
II was while they were in Leaven-
worth that Alice's beauty, now devel-
Oplng. attracted the attention OF DR..
George Griffith, leading physician of
Louisville and one of the most promi-
nent citizens. DIR. Griffith had known
her father and when he learned the
Identity OF the young beauty he hap
pened to see while In Leavenworth. he
Immediately became interested in her.
This was the beginning Of bright
light in her life. She was invited to
visit DR.. GrifIiths daughters at their
home in Louisville.
II was no easy matter for her to ac-
cept for the Misses Griffith were fash
ionables and in the natural order Of
events there were few fancy dresses in
Alice Cars possession. But her moth
er's wit helped her out. The mother
relied upon her daughters beauty to
carry her through. and prepared for
her the s!mplest dresses she could de-
wise 1t was a happy thought. for in
her plain white frocks she was emil
nently more beautiful ard attractive
than she could have Seen in the crea-
tons Of the most fashionable dress
makers.
The first visit was followed by 9TH
ers, and the Misses Griffith treated Al
fee Carr almost as sister. She was
made to be at home in the Griffith fam
lily, and wherever the daughters Of the
family went she was sure to be their
companion.
1t was her first taste OF new and
strange life. but she took It innocently
and demure,y. Beneath her exceeding