The Bridgeport evening farmer., 1913-05-03
ONCE WEALTHY, SHE TOLLS IN SECRET TO KEEP POVERTY VOW
Mrs. Lanman, Norwich Social Leader, Who Gave Away MiI-, lion to Be a Nun AbandOns
 Her Purpose

New Orks May S.-MrS. GertruOe Halle Lanman, once the undisputed social leader of Norwich, Conn.,, and long prominent in the society affairs of New York, who gave away her for tune of nearly a million dollars to en- ter the Roman Catholic Sisterhood of the Preparation, is now supporting her. self by daily toll.
 While Mrs. Lannlan apparently fail ed to carry out her intention of be- coming a sister she is said to be fui- filling her VOW of voluntary poverty.
 Hidden from her friends and rela- tives and trying to forget the pleasure that were hers in a fine home, with wealth at her command, she is now working hard for wages to support herself. She has not communicated with her old friends, who were her guests many times in her great rest dence, Gh1aubower, in Washington dinners and receptions she gave at the Waldorf-Astoria, the Astor and other hotels in this city.
 It was intinated last night that in her daily toll, dressed as a working woman. she frequently sees her old acQuaintances pass her in their auto mobiles. but they do not recognize her in the humble character she has as~ stunned.
 Inherited Large Fortune.
 Mrs. Lannan is the widow of Will liam Camp Lanman- She inherited her fortune from her father. pr. A. B. Halle, of Norwich. who died sixteen years ago. She is descended on her mothers side from the Mays, of Sa- vannah, Ga, a family of wealth and social prominence.
 The news that Mrs. Lanman Is not leading a cloistered life was a sur prise to her old time friends. They had. believed that, after giving away the fortune two years ago, she enter ed the Convent of Marie Reparatrice, 16 East Twenty-ninth street, New York city, and was now a nun, with her identity hidden to the world.
 Mother Mary of St Matthew, su- perfor of the order, said yesterday that while Mrs. Lannan had not join ed the order she was on friendly terms there. that she desired seclu- sion and had no intention of return ing to her old circle of aequaintances. The Mother Superior said that tho one time society leader is now earning her own living and by her wages from daily toll is living as comfortably as she desires. She is not destitute. It was intimated that she calls at the Convent quite frequently and that she is acting under the advice of the Sis ters of the Preparation.
 Keeps Whereabouts Secret.
 Mother Mary, of St. Matthew, refus- ed to say at what work Mrs. Lanman Is employed or to tell where she could be found. All of that is a, secret, and Mrs. Lanman is reported to have but one fear, that her friends will try to find her. reclaim her for the life in society which she abandoned
 Mrs. Lanman was Presby terian un- til five years ago, when she became an Episcopalian. Three years ago, while touring through France and Italy, she adopted the Roman Cath ollie faith Upon her return to Amer ica as Catholic her lavish enter tainments ceased and she devoted her self to the study of religion.
 When she announced two years ago that she would enter a convent she sold her home in Norwich, with it's ma gnificent collections of tapestries, porcelains, old faces and art objects and disposed of her jewelry. With some of the proceeds she established the Halle Club for working Girls in Norwich, giving a fine building equip ped with a library and a gymnasium. Until her fortune was entirely gone she gave to various philanthroptes and numerous individuals were beneficial ries of her bounty
 Left Convent Year Ago.
 Bereft of fortune and with hardly suit case of clothes, she came to New York city and entered the Convent of the Sisters of the Preparation to pre- pare herself for the white veil of a postuIant Her novitiate was to have continued for two years and at about this time 1t was expected she would have been accepted into the order as a sister.
 Mrs Lanman left the convent year ago. however, and since then she has been supporting herself by work. She is still in sympathy with the convent, according to the Mother Superior. and has not the least intention of return ing to her old position in society.
 Why she left the convent the Mother Superior would not say, but at the time she changed her mind it was an nounced that Mrs Lanman would en- ter the mother house of the order in Belgium. Mother Mary said yester- day, that Mrs. Lanman did not go to Belgium but returned to this coun- try. She said Mrs. Lanman is not in i'll health.