davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The Washington herald. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1906-1939, 1915-05-23

The most romantic of all Alfred Van
derbilts adventures was his courtship
and marriage of Mrs. Margaret Emer-
son Mckim Vanderbilt, who mourns for
him in New York. Her two little sons.
Alfred Gwynne, Jr., three. and George,
eight months, are with her.
Mrs. Vanderbilt is the daughter Of
Colonel Isaac f. Emerson. OF Baltimore,
who made millions in the wholesale drug
business. and who was the inventor OF
bromo settler. She was married to DR..
Smith Hollins McKim. after a cruise
round the world on her fathers yacht
upon which DR.. McKim was a guest She
met Vanderbilt when he was president
of the horse show. through her constant
attendance at the races and love for
horses.
Soon after 1t began to be rumored
that young Mrs. McKim was not upon
the best of terms with her husband She
moved to Reno. Friends who called upon
her there saw prominently displayed on
her drawing-room table q picture Of
Vanderbilt in riding clothes. In Octo-
Der, 1910, she won her suit for divorce
After that she returned to New York
and was seen constantly with Wander
bilt. Although they denied any en-
gagement. he followed her to Paris, and
when he went on to open the coaching
season at Brighten. she went also, to
take her place beside him on the boz.
Finally came the announcement In New
York and Newport Of the marriage The
ceremony had taken place Sunday aft
ernoon at the registry ONCE In Reigate,
. pretty Surrey town half way between
London and Brighton. The age OF the
groom was given - thirty-four; that Of
his bride - twenty-seven. Immediately
The Washington herald. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1906-1939, 1915-05-23

his name was linked with that of Miss
Elsie French. daughter of Francis Or
monde French.
A month after his graduation he set
out with a party of friends for a trip
round the world. 1t was in Japan that
he was met by the news Of his fathers
death. He fastened back to New York.
He became the richest young man in
America. by terms Of his fathers will.
In January. 1900, his engagement to Miss
Elsie French was announced - and
denied. After that It was announced and
denied repeatedly. Finally in January.
were married at Newport, and their
wedding was possibly the most brilliant
affair ever staged in that city. The bride
was given away by her brother, Amos
Tuck French, father Of Miss Julia Es-
telle French. who surprised everybody
by marrying Happy Jack" Geraghty, the
son Of q cab driver. The maid of honor
was Miss Gladys Vanderbilt, now the
Countess Szechenyi, and Reginald
Vanderbilt was his brothers best man.
The bride and groom had been child
hood friends, and their life seemed to
move along happily until the celebration
of their nth wedding anniversary. Then
there were rumors Of q separation. On
April 1. 1908. Mrs. Vanderbilt began
suit for divorce. The evidence was taken
behind closed doors. But the name Of
Mrs. Agnes Ruiz. wife Of Antonio Ruix,
former attache Of the Cuban legation in
London, was. mentioned. The divorce
was granted, and the wife took the name
of Mrs. French Vanderbilt.
And 0e Vanderbilt name wasn't seen
on front pages again until Q year later
Mrs Ruiz killed herself in London.
she'd BEEN divorced soon after the
The Washington herald. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1906-1939, 1915-05-23

Vanderbilt divorce. In her case, also, the
name of the correspondent was not made
public. Mrs. Ruiz had been living in an
expensive apartment and drove an $11,-
900 automobile that had been ordered
for her by Harry Brenchly, then Wander
bits stable manager.
The news Of the inquest was suppressed
and q reporter admitted that money had
been paid to him by Webb Ware, Wander
bits London attorney, to keep the mat
ter from the press. Miss Caney. COM
panion to Mrs. Ruiz, said that she had
been depressed prior to her death be-
cause Vanderbilt had ceased his visits.
The facts became known during the horse
show in London and aroused sensation
The matter was finally brought up in the
House of Commons. but was ruled out by
the chief clerk. The affair brought the
richest young man in America for the
first time face to face with tragedy, and
he returned from the London horse show
careworn and depressed.
9 .
Not at all unworthy Of note is the bare
escape of Vanderbilt from the Titanic
disaster Of three years ago. He had en-
gagged passage on the maiden trip Of the
great liner. but cancelled his reservation
for no particular reason the day before
sailing.
At any rate. the life Of eccentric moods
and crashing climaxes IL over. Ancestry
and accident fashioned his way to run
differently from other ways. and there
was little Of the commonplace. smoothly
connected harmony-of the lack of IT.
which runs through midst lives. Sharp
staccato notes. pauses. dissonances: and
the breathless interest Of change. The
ending is fitting. perhaps. with the
whole.
The Washington herald. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1906-1939, 1915-05-23
|Tro. MITE EzT rrSHE) e1a -2AUGHZE12
R1o70C ~ ZVZERAAZLonxZ NlsbIC SERNoE

long time. When he first brought his
wife to New York from Virginia, the
$4,000 salary an auditing company Of
fered him was big enough to buy luyu
ries and an account in the bank besides
1t was almost as much again as the
Norfolk & Western railroad had paid
him before They moved into gray
cottage, with apple trees and lawns
round it. out in Elizabeth. n. ]. 1t
was their first home. They'd been mar
rled just before they came to New York
Four years later White met John w.
Masury. of the John W. Masury & Son
Paint Manufacturing Company. Masury
was impressed by Whites keen intelli-
gence and magnetic personality. as well
as by his unusual business ability. He
offered the position of sales manager at
5000. There was a celebration in the
gray cottage. Seven years ago White
went to work for Masury
Three years later baby girl came to
the cottage. They named her Virginia.
in memory of the south, and hoped their
happiness would never end
But White was beginning to wear the
puzzled, troubled look that the man with
a conscience wears when Inconsistencies
enter his life. The magnificent" salary
wasn't more than paying expenses. And
he hadn't been exactly square with the
wife and the baby girl That thought
caused him Indebtedness. for he loved
his family. Yet how the white lights
lured.
His happiness lay in the gray cottage
But the other dragged him away. At
first he dined on Broadway with Masury
who paid the bills and enjoyed his com
pany. Then he learned that as much
business is transacted in clubs and res
taurants as ever is touched in offices He
began to invite out prospective customers
and friends. They met women in the
tango halls, and he paid for taxis and
wine
Bills for more than $500 came in
finally, and he had no money.
April twilight stole over New York
Faded lights began to glow palely up
and down the streets of Brooklyn
blinking at homeward hurrying crowds
White edged along furtively keeping
close to the wall. lodging corners with
eyes straight ahead His jauntiness was
all gone: shoulders sagged, head
dropped forward. He ran up the steps
of the Crescent Athletic Club, and al
most as though he were a thief. in a
place where he belonged. peered round
the dimly lighted reception room.
James Francis Clinnin. fellow-traveler
The Washington herald. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1906-1939, 1915-05-23

afterward they left for America.
Previous to the marriage. however,
they had entered upon a prenuptial di-
vorce pact. probably the only one OF Its
kind. 1nasmuch as the divorce germ had
afflicted the families of each, they told
each other. 1t seemed wise that In the
midst OF matrimony they prepare for
separation. On the immediate Wander
bilt side there had been two divorces
and two near-divorces. Vanderbilt was
divorced by his first wife. His uncle.
William X. Vanderbilt, was divorced. his
first wife later marrying Oliver H. P.
Belmont. His cousins, Willie X. Wander
bilt and the Duchess of Marlborough,
separated from their domestic partners.
Mrs. McKim-vanderbilts sister, Mrs.
Jack Horner. divorced her husband and
married James McVickar. Her parents
were divorced, Captain Emerson marry
ing Mrs. Anne Preston Mccormack.
beautiful widow. Mrs. Emerson likewise
married again.
Accordingly the prospective bride and
groom. SO the story goes. signed d.
vorce agreement about week before
their marriage was to take place. The
pact ran like this:
Mrs. Vanderbilt was. in event Of d.
vorce, under no conditions to talk to
Newspaper people or to give out any in
formation about herself or husband. Mr..
Vanderbilt was to talk on no subject ex-
cepting horses.
While their marriage continued happy
Mrs. Vanderbilt's personal allowance was
to b approximately 100000 yearly.
Vanderbilt was to pay all house and
stable maintenance.
In case OF divorce Vanderbilt being at
fault, ea,000,0 900 was to b settled upon
his wife. Each girl child was to receive
The Washington herald. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1906-1939, 1915-05-23
So Confessed New York's Wealthy
Auto Bandit in Remarkable Statement in
Which He Begged to Be Sent to Sing Sing.

along the Gay White Way, was waiting.
They went on to the club cafe. Three
chauffeurs. figures of the underworld.
joined them. They talked about ways OF
obtaining other peoples money.
"Payrolls," White declared, ARE SAT-
est and surest. Why, 1t wouldn't be
anything at all to hold up the Masury
messenger for his $4,000 ROLL"
Clinnin had installed a cost system in
the New York plant Of the Cadillac
Motor Company. He knew they had
big payroll; he'd told the president 1t
should be insured against burglary.
We'll go after them Clinnin
planned. Then we'll send someone to
Detroit to clean up on the home plant.
The payroll is more than $4,000 there"
They made a list of business houses
that seemed promising. Later on sketches
were drawn Of the plants, with every
detail worked out carefully as though
prepared by an architect. Cashiers Of
fees, doors and windows were specially
marked. Diagrams were filed away in
an index case and so complete they were
that a stranger could have followed d.
rections. The Masury robbery was to
be pulled off at night. with an auto in
which escape might be made afterward
1t was the third day in the /hearing of
the case of the people against Philip
Tolliver White, charged with robbery and
grand larceny. White,-said his accuserS
was leader of the auto bandits who last
June robbed two messengers of the 3d.
032 Masury payroll.
Hours dragged slowly toward the
close of day. The courtroom crowd had
The Washington herald. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1906-1939, 1915-05-23
Vander Life Series of Eccentric Moods and Crashing Caxes

4 LFRED GWYNNE VANDERBILT,
~ head of the house of Vanderbilt
custodian of the $4,000, 900 for
tune, is dead. The torpedo
speeding through the sea from a German
submarine struck the final note in his
life.
Events play along the middle registers
OF most lives in commonplace. smooth
ly connected harmony-or lack OF it.
Strains lead to other strains; themes
are rounded and melt into final chords
But when ancestry and accident influ-
ence events, the music becomes Wag-
merriam. Then II is filled with color, &C.
centric moods, and crashing climaxes.
And the life of the multimillionaire who
persisted when the Lusitania went down
was series Of eccentric moods and
crashing climaxes. Only a within saved
him from sailing on the Titanic three
years ago: his marriage was an adven-
ture in Surrey. England, that amazed
his friends in America; because Of him
there was a mysterious suicide in Lon
don five years ago: divorce proceedings
brought by his first wife were spectacu-
lar and held behind closed doors; his
Grst marriage was New York's society
event of many years; he was touring ia
pan when his father died suddenly, leav-
ing him the head Of the house Hall Of
his fortune was delivered to him on his
thirtieth birthday; the other half five
years later. He won prize after prize
at New York and London horse shows
He spent $4,000 for a racing car when
auto driving was a new sport. He drove
coach between London and Brighton
each summer. He hadn't q care or
worry. His life was all quick. sudden
change.
The Washington herald. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1906-1939, 1915-05-23

100000 and each boy 100000.
Each child was to spend six months with
each parent. sons entire education
was to be arranged by the father.
In case of divorce Mrs. Vanderbilt's
allowance was to be 100000 annually.
Vanderbilt to pay all expenses for the
children.
They also agreed that he was to be
allowed to travel as he pleased and that
she was to spend as much time in Paris
as she wished. with question from no.
body: also that each was to be friendly
with the others friends
This odd agreement, it is said, is what
Kept the Vanderbilt domestic ship sail
ing smoothly. Their oldest son was
born in Surrey: the second in Newport.
According to the custom OF the Wander
bilt family. which through several gen.
erations has settled upon one son the
head OF the house and fortune role.
Alfred received on October 20, 1912,
most Of the estate of Cornelius Wander
bilt. The arrangement came about, parti-
ally through Cornelius, Jr.. the Oldest
son, having incurred his fathers dis
pleasure by his marriage
The Vanderbilt custom OF passing the
family fortuDe upon the oldest son is
leading to speculation now. Will Alfred's
wealth descend to fourteen-year-old Will
liam Henry Vanderbilt. son Of his d.
vorced wife. Elsie French Vanderbilt?
Or will little Alfred Gwynne, Jr.. be the
head Of the family?
o q q
II was after the divorce of Mrs. Elsie
French Vanderbilt that London and New
Yorkwere startled by the suicide Of Mrs
Agnes Ruis.
Vanderbilt was graduated from Yale
In 1889. While be was . student there
The Washington herald. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1906-1939, 1915-05-23
BY WINIFRED VAN DUZER.
Happiness is-Uhot?

u 'f-'1i mn nv bc<-L-Ii-
Happiness is-What?
ReUelry shimn1ering round the
grim features of reality like a ueil;
transforming scoWLs to smiles,
lighting shadows, concealine care?
Thin gold flame in thin gold
tOine, mounting high as hours drip,
drip from the fountain of Time;
drip and lose themselves in the
ocean of Eternity?
Laughter flying backward, like
gorish re m S; song tossed
lightly round?
Purring motor and skirn,ine
Uheels; lights rushing backward,
eonUerging, yielding in a white-hot
Titan sWord, piercing the dark;
Urnd soughing its ancient song?
Gray, Weary daun, pitiless as a
scornful Uon,an, and faces hae.
gard in the light?
Is this Happiness?
Or Is there more JOY in a bit of
a cottage, Uith trees BRUSHING the
gables and a rose uine round the
door? Where laughter is the
reOelry of little children and song
their mothers uoice, coaxine slum-
Der? Where gIow from, the
hearthfre lights shadows and dis
pels care, and touches the rueeed
features of reality with beauty?
Tinseled glare or the quiet
Which is Happiness?
~ HILIP TOLLIVER WHITE. New
York Auto Bandit" looks
backward from the shadow Of
Sing Sing. upon the tfnsel and
the quiet. His life ran along two wavs
Flame mounting revelry, wine and
women. And a cottage where his babies
waited for him in the evening and where
his wife was happy.
He bartered the quiet for the tinseI
He danced his measure with folly. and
gave all the days of his life in Jeopardy
to pay for the time
Now he looks back and whispers
"Forgive."
White had been living too fast for
The Washington herald. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1906-1939, 1915-05-23

White had been living too fast for a
The Brattleboro daily reformer. (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1913-1955, 1915-12-16
GRAFTON.

John Edwards of Hope, r. L., has
been in town a few days calling on
friends
Eaton Merrifeld, who was in Bur
iington hospital several weeks, is at
his home here.
Mrs. Hattie Prouty died in the home
of her son, William E. Prouty, Mon
day night She had been in i'll health
for some time.
Mrs. Helen Hamilton left town for
the winter Thursday, stopping in Sax
tons River for brief visit before 60
ing to Brattleboro. Il 49,.
Ernest Lawrence was at. home over
Sunday returning to Bellows Falls
Tuesday. Hc-has employment with the
Vermont Farm Machine Co.
Mrs. W.. l.. Eaton was generously. re-
membered on her birthday anniversary
by many beautiful cards and other
gifts, which were. greatly appreciated.
John H. Grants house at Howeville
was burned to the ground Thursday,
Dec. 9. All the stock and all household
goods were burned. The family were
away at the time.
The Brattleboro daily reformer. (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1913-1955, 1915-12-16
DIVISION OF FUNDS
FOR WAR SUFFERERS
Apportionment of S400 Raised by Phi
lanthrophy Committee of Woman's
Club Is Decided Upon.

The opportionment of the 800 CON
tributed for the relief of war sufferers
by residents of Brattlehoro in the
house-to-house canvass conducted un-
der the direction of the philanthropic
committee of the Woman s club, has
been determined upon as follows:
The sum of 5000 will be sent to the
Vermont State Commission for Belgi-
UNI Relief, 800 to aid the work of
David Willard in France, $50 to Miss
Marion Rice for surgical supplies and
$50 to the Canadian Red Cross, Toron-
to, Canada, by request of several who
gave generously.
The Brattleboro daily reformer. (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1913-1955, 1915-12-16
EVERY Three MINUTES
ONE dies IN THE u. S.

he Anti Tuberculosis Society Illus
trates the frightful toll of consumption
by extinguishing light every three
minutes, and shows that it is the man
or woman, girl or boy, who neglects
colds, whose blood is impure, who feels
weak and languid, who is the very
one to contract tuberculosis-and
none are immune.
During changing seasons, or after
sickness, blood-quality is most impor-
tant, and if you and your family will
take SCOTS Emulsion after meals it
will charge your blood with health
sustaining richness, quicken circulation,
ed strengthen both lungs and throat.
SCOTS is free from alcohol-easy to
takct cannot harm. Get bottle tN-dav.
scott & Bovine. Bloomfield. M. 1928
The Brattleboro daily reformer. (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1913-1955, 1915-12-16
BASEBALL WAR
NEARING THE END
rederals to Be Absorbed and Peace
Agreement Signed = Important
News Given Out in Chicago.

1t looks today as if the baseball war
caused by the Federal league was near
or an end than the war in Europe Ac-
Cording to statements made at Chicago
last night Barney Dreyfuss, represent
ing the National league, had made
proposals and suggestions to the Ameri
can league magnates, and these, accord
ing to President Ban B. Johnson, were
satisfactory. No definite announcement
of the text of the terms has been given
out since the meeting in Chicago.
The peace terms as previously given
out by members of both the National
and Federal leagues included the pur-
chase of a large interest in one of the
New York clubs by Harry Sinclair
the purchase of the Chicago Nationals
by Charles Weeghman and his asso-
ciates; the sale of the Browns or Car
dinals at st. Louis to Phil Ball and
Otto Steifel and the amalgamation of
the Brooklyn Nationals and Federals.
Neither Mr.. Dreyfuss nor the American
| league leaders would verify these
statements.
President James A. Gilmore of the
! Federal league and Harry F. Sinclair,
one of the principal hackers of the In
| dependent league, insisted at New York
| last night that all the Federal league
! players must be taken care of by or
: ganized baseball before any peace
( agreement can be signed.
! Gilmour stated that peace must be
reached not later than Dec. 81, since
the Federal league option on the prop
! erty for the proposed park in New York
( city expires on the 23d, and, unless
there was a complete understanding
among all those concerned in profes
sional baseball before that date, the
Federal league would buy the park
/ property and include it in the assets Of
the Federal league at such time as g
peace agreement might be reached. This
property is said to be purchasable a.
$1,250,0 900, which sum the Fedora
league hackers have agreed to pay fo1
the several city blocks included in the
site
The Brattleboro daily reformer. (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1913-1955, 1915-12-16
SWEETON STUDIES
FERTILIZER PROBLEM
Visits Amherst Agricultural College
War and Slide at Canal Create Seri-
Gus Situation.

A. w. sweeton, county agricultural
agent, was in Amherst, Mass, yester-
day at the agricultural college consider
ing and studying the problem of fer
tilizers The coming year will be one
that will put the ingenuity of crop
producers to the test, for the war and
the slide in the Panama canal have
made the fertilizer situation serious.
Potash, which comes almost entirely
from Germany, is wholly off the market.
The reason is obvious. From Chill
comes the bulk of the nitric acid, and
with the Panama canal closed the ne
cessity for shipping by the much
longer route boosts the price of that
essential ingredient.
Many of the ingredients of fertii-
zers are properties used in. the manu-
facture of explosives and just at pres
ent there is a decided demand for that
commodity, which further increases
the troubles of those needing fertiG-
zers. The problem bids fair TO have
much to do with the high cost of living
in 1917.
The Brattleboro daily reformer. (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1913-1955, 1915-12-16

TO Westminster to be a guest over Sun
day of Miss Helen Hall.
The Fortnightly club met with Mrs.
Warren Friday afternoon. Mrs Cole
gave paper on Hampton Institute and
Mrs. Warren on Women S clubs anu
their Work. Refreshments were served
Charles W. Adams of Bernardston
was in town this week. The saw mill
and small shop building on the west side
of the highway, owned by the S.owell
Mfg. Co., in which Mr.. Adams has al
interest, is being wrecked.
Mrs. Harold Bugbee gave a party
last week Thursday evening in honor
of her sisterin-law, Miss Edith Bugbee,
it being her birthday anniversary.
Whist and music were the program for
the entertainment of the guests Re
freshmcnts of sandwiches, cake and cof-
fee were served. Miss Winifred Bug
bee of Brattleboro was present.
The Brattleboro daily reformer. (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1913-1955, 1915-12-16
DUMMERSTON.

Miss Ruby Sheldon of Westmoreland,
\. H., spent Monday with Miss Edith
Dutton.
Mrs. A. p Eddy of West Brattlebo.o
visited her father, Austin Laughton,
Sunday.
Mrs. Charles Wells has sold her home
place to Albert Newton of Brattleboro.
Mrs. Wells and children will vaeate
soon.
The first snowstorm~ made it neeessarE
to break roads. 1t might be well to
keep in mind that rural mail carriers
are not required to break roads.
Mrs. Leach, who has been housekeep-
er for Lewis Boyle for some time, has
gone TO live with her children and Mrs.
Wells is to take her place in Mr.. Bo-
gle S home.
c. G. Laughton, worthy master OF the
local Grange, Lecturer Ora A. Knapp
and Harry 4. Brown. master-clect, arc
in Burligton this week attending the
Vermont State Grange meeting.
Henry H. Miller, who had been in III
health long time, died about noon
Monday. The sympathy of the com
munity goes out 70 his invalid wife. The
funeral was held Thursday afternoon Mt
, o clock