Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1903-01-03


Jay JAN q q ElIY 5, 13t
word when he reached n the tail piece.
j His occupations have been very numerous
since that time He wrote a book on the
/ resources Of Virginia, which 1as publish
! ed by the Norfolk and Western railway
Land has a place in the Gate Library.
HE is also credited with other literary
efforts.
near relative said last night that Mr.
\ Bruce had been living, as far as any OF
them knew. solely by his wits for num-
Der of years. That this mode OF existence
was sometimes satisfactory seems to be
evident from the fact that a. short time
Iago he was a guest at one of the leading
| hotels in Washington with woman
whom he introduced as his wife to frienas-
| and relations in this city.
Has Been No Divorce.
He is said to have appeared in different
parts of the country, at different times,
| with different women, under different cir
cumstances. Mrs Thomas Bruce. who
was a Mrs Louisa Howard, daughter Of
Robert and Louisa Howard, and very
| highly connected. numbering among her
prominent relations Professor Glider,
sleeve, Of Johns Hopkins University. was
seen by Dispatch reporter at her home
on South Third street yesterday. Mrs.
| Bruceswas very much ayerse to any dis
cussfon Of her husband or the situation
in which he finds himself. She stated that
there had been no divorce. She had not
taken the initiative. and no papers had
ever been served upon her to indicate
that her husband sought his freedom in
any court. For many years she has heard
nothing of or from Mr.. Bruce.
The marriage between Miss Howard
and Mr. Thomas Bruce was solemnized
in the home of Mr.. James n. Boyd on
November 10, 1879. The Rev. DR.. Moses D.
Hoge performed the ceremony, and the
| marriage license, secured in the Hastings
Court, on .ovember 18th of the same
year, was duly returned to the court,
signed by DR.. Hoge as the officiating min
lister.
Thrown On Her Resources.
Miss Howard was one of the bellies OF
Richmond in those days. She is a wo-5
man of strikingly handsome appearance.
and is known for the sweetness OF her
disposition, her gentleness, and her
charm. After Mr.. Bruce left this part
Of the country, his wife entirely unpro-
vided for, determined to fight out The
battle OF life for herself, and to this
end she entered upon q life of literary
endeaVor. Her writings were published.
and attracted much favorable comment.
She also taught in Newport News, and
filled in every. moment of her time, even
working at night as a book-keeper. She
had lived in the height of luxury before
she was married, and after the destruc-
ton of her hopes she bravely started out
and conquered the situation for herself
against the most fearful odds.
Relations OF Mr.. Thomas Bruce, out
ragged by the frequency of his peccadil-
loes, looking always for some public dis
grace at his hands, declared that when
the time. came to protect the honor OF
the familythey would undertake to prove
that he was morally oblique and mentally
irresponsible.
The court records show that Mr.. Bruce
was % years old when he married Miss
Howard. He is now, therefore, in his
46th year.
Bruce,s Career in Roanoke.
ROANOKE, VA. January 2.-(Special)
Thomas Bruce, arrested on the charge of
bigamy IN Newark, cut quite prominent
figure in Roanoke and in this section
some twelve or fourteen months ago. He
was in a way connected with the Nor
folk and Western, and for awhile is said
book Of considerable merit, and rather
unique in it's nature. It was entitled
THAT Bruisin' Lad O Greystone Lodge
He is also the author of $50 page book
'
the Shenandoah Valley Both publica-
tons We're largely circulated throughout
this section of the State about the time
of issuing, but little has been heard
of them lately. The last named work
contains the following in his "dedicatory"
notice: Not on account Of its merit, but
the sincere gratitude a, affection of
the author is this work inscribed and
dedicated to one who, though a moving
power behind the throne, is none tie less
entitled to the credit of having swayed
the potent influence that led to the con-
ception Of the undertaking In the begin
ming, as, by her love. fidelity, and en-
couragen1ent, she assisted materially IN
the execution of it.
AS the name implies, the work is purely
histo ical and treats entirely OF the
Southwest and the Valley of Virginia. 1t
was ;arded by many as meritorious
work , hen first published in 1891. but
has been antedated by the marvellous de-
velorment of this section in the last de-
cad.. Bruce is the author, also, of Cupid
and Luty," historical sketches of Roa-
noke city and of Radford.