The herald and news. [volume] (Newberry S.C.) 1903-1937, 1904-06-10
THE STORY OF PERD1CARIS
His Mother Was a South Carolinian
ard Ills Father Greek Refugee.
New York Sun.

!O;i pcTGlCarlS became IlSuIe III
sew York social lie after his return
rom Europe, where he spent some
lars in study. He was then hand
....c young man, accomplished to an
:i.a<v:, degree. and with a certain
":>:t; Tor writing painting and music.
:li> iather. Gregory Perdicaris,
eek refugee. who lived at that time
Ii Trenton. made his son d liberal
allowance. and Mrs. Ann Cora Mo-
watt. the ::tres=. author and woman
oi society-:he first OF the aristocratic
New York women 10 take to the stage
without losing her social Importance
had no trouble making friends 1or
him when she took the young man
,nder her wing.
As early as 1868, while he was still
living in London. Mr.. Perdicarls
had written for The Galaxy En-
gliSh and French Painters. Re
miniscences OF Parsian :Ateliers,"
The Royal Academy" and other ar
ticles on artistic topics. He was then
completing an education begun at
the I'D Trer.on academy. Mr.. Per-
dicaris entered Harvard in the class
OF 1860. but left the university at the
end OF his sophomore year In 1883
he went to Europe and studied for
several years. and then he came back
10 Trenton to visit mis- family. who
had occupied for some years a hand
some house in the New Jersey capital.
His father had married an Amer
lean from a prominent South Caro-
Ina family shortly before he was
compelled to leave Greece. He OBJ
tanned employment at Harvard as
teacher OF modern languages, and
there became the intimate friend OF
Cornelius C. FELTON, and Louis Agas-
siz. Later he moved to Trenton. and
bv fortunate speculation and invest
ment made the large fortune he left
to his son.
In Trenton, the youthful Perdicaris
was noted as a horseback rider and
an athlete. and in various sports he
strengthened his naturally stalwart
physique. When he went abroad for
the last time his parents went with
him, and the senior Perdicaris died
in Tangier in 1880.
During the days OF his bachelor
hood in New York. when the young
man was popular in society. he be-
came very much interested in occult
beliefs and was an early convert to
spiritualism when that belief was
much MOI prevalent in New York
than it is today. He was an eager
supporter OF Home. the spirituallst.
who at the time attracted SO much at
tention and succeeded in making so
many converts. Perdicaris was also
an interested student OF the doctrines
OF Swedenborg. His means were
sufficient to enable him to devote his
time to the subjects that interested
him most.
In 1880 Mr.. Perdicaris returned to
England. He was at this time inter
"sted in the study OF electricity and
made the acquaintance OF proml-
nent English electrician named Var
ley. who was married and had two
children. Mr.. Perdicaris' fell in love
with Mrs. Varley and after her dl-
vorce from her husband married her.
The two came to this country and
went 10 live at Trenton.
The parents OF Mr.. Perdicaris had
sold their residence and were living
at the Trenton house. The reception
given by his parents in honor of the
newly married couple took place in
this hotel. and was long remembered
as the most lavish entertainment OF
the kind ever given in the town. Mr..
and Mrs. Perdicaris finally fitted Up
the old Mccall mansion in Trenton
and lived there unit! the ntire family
w:At abroad togethe::. ION Perdicaris
ultimately found life il Tangler to
his liking. and in 1877 built IN the