Deseret evening news. [volume] (Great Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1867-1920, 1902-08-16

THE ERRATIC MISS VAN WICK
Nebraska Ex-senator's Daughter strs Washington
Society,"
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/ his farm OF 800 acres was one Of the
show places OF the state. He became
prominent in politics and IN 1880 was
elected to the United States senate.
He was most picturesque figure
both In Nebraska and In Washington.
He inherited large amount Of money
and Increased his wealth. He invested
largely In Washington real estate. lie
fought with his own party and with his
colleagues and constantly attacked the
administration.
Moreover. he was plain and old fash
iored and cared nothing for appear
ances. In the United states senate he
wore rusty clothes. with trousers frayed
about the bottom, His collar was al
ways awry and his black string tie rest
ed comfortably under his left ear. On
the street his Old stained SLOUGH hat
always attracted attention.
Ne bought fine house at Eighteenth
ana X streets. now occupied by senator
Fairbanks Of Indiana, and which now
belongs To Miss Van Wyek. In 1894
while changes were being made In this
home. General Van Wyck conceived the
idea of moving into the Church Of the
Holy Cross, in Dupont Circle, which he
owned. 1t was high Episcopal
church and the congregation had fallen
into financial difficulties. General Van
Nyck bought 1t and permitted the con-
giegation to occupy 1t for several years,
Then It gave up the struggle.
The auditorium was divided off into
drawing room, dining room and bed
rooms and the vestry was turned into
a Kitchen 1t was handsomely adorned,
in keeping with the architecture, and
occa sionally home concerts were given
on the church organ.
General Van Wyck enjoyed his resi-
dence In the church immensely. He
delighted In sitting In the front yard
In his shirt sleeves, smoking a corncob
pipe.
After he failed Of reelection to the
United States senate he made his home
IN Washington the greater part Of the
time. His daughter was his pride and
JOY. Three Of his children had died and
he INDUCED her everything. She fire.
quently accompanied him in the old
blackboard in which he drove about
Washington.
General Van Wyck died in 1895. Mrs.
Van Wyck was an invalid and her
daughter has been chaperoned by many
famous women, Mrs Dolph widow OF
Senator Dolph of Oregon, acting most
frequently In that capacity.
Happy isn't nickname. Miss Van
Wyck was born on New Years day.
Her eccentric father named her Happy
New Year" and she was so chrlstened.
When she grew up she rebelled against
the name anG called herself Theodore,
but the childish name has chung to her.
Miss Van Wyck has displayed some
eccentricities from time TO time. For
three seasons she has been at Atlantic
city, always under the care Of an elder
ly ch0per0n. During one of these sea-
sons she became widely known as 'the
girl with the green stockings" owing to
her preference for hosiery OF that color
when she appeared on the board walk.
She Is really a very beautiful girl,
with a protusion Of red hair, which
makes her conspicuous no matter how
quietly she is gowned. Her mother died
last summer leaving Miss Van Wyck
in absolute control Of her large for
tune, which is said TO yield an Income
OF nearly $4,000 a year. She has OBJ
served mourning closely and this was
enc OF the reasons given by her friends
for cUnsenting to informal marriage
ceremony.
Frank Mitchell Is reasonably we'll
known H. Washington. He comes OF an
old and prominent southern family, and
10 particularly nice young man who
Is rather sought after in Washington
society, where dancing men are too
fow He is. a clerk In the office OF the
southern railway at a salary Of $50
month. The Southern railway employs
hundreds OF young men of fine family
and no fortune at all save what they
can make, and many Of them are recog-
nlzed In Washington society. Several
have made excellent marriages, but
there rs no one who knows Mr.. Mitchell
who VIII not Indignantly repel the sug-
gestion that he is a fortune hunter In
deed, sympathy Is rather with him.
When Miss Van Wyck returned TO
Washington In the early part OF last
winter she took apartments at the Nor
mandie with her aunt, Mrs, II. G. Mott.
who acts as her chaperon. Some OF her
baggage went aatray and In her search
Ing for il she met Mr.. Mitchell He
was so courteous and attentive that she
came TO like him, and on his part he
succumbed to Miss Van Wycks cnarn,.
almost a, once.
Their wooing did not attract any par
ticular attention Miss Van Wyck never
gave any indication that she was es-
pecally romantic, and hirta lions never
seemed to amuse her. The news that she
and Mr., Mitchell planned to wed came
as surprise to most Of her friends.
The young woman is immensely popu-
lar with the western legislators. and
while they were totally unprepared for
the announcement that Miss Van Wyck
contemplated matrimony. they seemed
10 think that il was not at all strange
that she should change her mind at the
last moment and refuse TO 10 on with
the ceremony
Mr.. Mitchell was painfully affected by
Miss Van Wycks unexpected refusal to
marry him. lie Immediately applied at
the railway Office for leave Of absence
on the ground Of sickness and left
Washington almost Immediately When
the facts became public Mr.. Mitchell
sought secluslon even from his intimate
friends, and It Is said he viii not re-
turn to Washington but will seek EN-
ploynent In another city.
Miss Van Wyck, accompanied by
Mrs. Mott, went 10 Milford. Pa. where
she owns a place that was In her moth
er's family for years. She had planned
TO pass another summer at AtlanticClty,
and she will probably be there this
mOnfh --Naty YpYk NN.rld