The Bridgeport evening farmer., 1911-10-18
Hichborn Advises
 ''TriaI DivorCe'' Young Novelist at Black Rock Makes Odd Compact With
 Wife He Has Been Here Several Months, Practically in
 SeclusiOn

Philip Hichborn, the novelist and short story writer whose wife disap- peared from Washington, D. C., so- ciety last December simultaneously with the dropping from view of Hor- ace Wylie, has disclosed an odd com pact in the nature of 'trial divorce arranged through friends with his recreant wife, last June, which ex- plains away the unusual circumstances following the return to New York of Mrs. Hichborn from a European trip.
 Hichborn and his wife arranged a truce. Under its terms neither was to see the other for a period of six months. Hichborn admits now that he cannot forecast the future and is unable to advance any theory as to how the unfortunate affair will ter
 Hichborn is son of Rear Admiral Hichborn. With his mother and his four-year-oId daughter he occupies a cottage at Thorn Cliff, Black Rock. He has lived there since June, prac- tically in seclusion. Nevertheless he has become very popular in the exclu- sive Black Rock colony.
 Mrs. Hichborn is the daughter of the late solicitor of the State Department, Henry M. Hoyt, whose family is in close social relations with the Presf- dential household. A few weeks ago young Wylie renewed the talk of the events of last spring by deeding about $200. .0OOO worth of property to his wife. This was taken to be peace offer two unhappy couples. Wylie is a we'll known clubman of both New York and Washington.
 Until last evening MT. Hichborn has borne his grief in silence. But in view of numerous conflicting reports of the plans of the young author, he made the following statement:
 "T have not directly or indirectly communicated with my wife since her return to Washington last spring, ' said MT. Hichborn. We did not meet then-in fact, I have not seen her since the unhappy event occurred, and she has not communicated with me since last May.
 HALF A YEAR FOR REFLECTION
 '.At the time of her return, I would have agreed to reconciliation. But the judgment of my mother and my sister, while most kindly towards my wife. was that we should live entirely apart for half a year, in which period we should be able to consider our fu ture relationship with calm delibera- tion and make our final decision. It was arranged that my wife should re- main in the home of her mother, Mrs. Hoyt, at Washington, while I should come here.
 My relatives believed that if Mrs. Hichborn could forget other influences at the end of that period, and if felt as did when she returned, reconciliation would be wise and suc- cessful.
 eff my wife has gone away again, it is news to me. But I have had many surprises since last December. I do not know what is happening or what has happened.
 T understood that my wife was with her mother in Washington, but it is possible that they are out of the city. I have heard, indeed, that the Hoyts were somewhere in Massachu- setts, but whether or not my wife is with them I cannot say.
 'I intend to return to Washington shortly, and take up my duties there once more. I have found relief from sorrow, and I believe am stronger man than was before. But the future I cannot forecast. do not know how the terrible affair will end.''
 MT. Hichborn shows plainly that he is a man who has been through deep suffering, but who has risen above his troubles. He has been leading a se- cluded life for five months, and, it is said, has been preparing to return to Washington within a week or two, ready to rejoin his wife if her decision is the same as his.