The Washington times., 1918-12-07
LADY IN PURPLE"
GETS W|FE'S COIN

NJ" YORK, Dec. AT 4 70 CLOCK
in the morning Albert .Houghton
Pratt, wealthy young editor, would
arise and go into the yellow room for
would stroll over the hills to greet
the first flush OF dawn. From 6
o'clock to breakfast he and Nine. p.
Mildred Parma, the Lady in Purple"
would study the mysteries of life in
the violet room.
Asked to state his schedule of daily
life in the bungalow which Nine.
Parma fitted up at Atlantic High
lands, Pratt sketched the pre-break
fast plan above mentioned for the
benefit of Supreme Court Justice
Davis. The jurist is listening to the
testimony in the divorce action of
Mrs. Katherine Sloan Pratt against
the editor. Both of the Pratts are
members of wealthy families. of social
standing.
How were you clothed while in the
bungalow with Nine. Parma?" his
lawyer inquired.
Flowing silk Gown.
I always wore a flowing silk gown
over my clothes" he said.
Pratt, who was formerly a director
and stockholder in the book publish
lhB VI SOHh-
pany, admitted he had sold his 5000
interest and given a great deal of the
money to Nine. Parma. He also bor-
rowed $4,000 OF stock from his wife,
pledged It for $500, and gave the
cash to Nine. Parma. Checks from
himself to Nine. Parma. varying in
amount from $4,000 to 800, were in
troduced in evidence.
Mrs. Pratt's loan to him. he said.
was obtained after he had communi-
Gated to her messages which his
father had transmitted over the Ouija
board. He asserted, reassuringly:
81 never intended to influence my
wife. I just laid the facts before
her and let her do as she believed
she should"
"Never So Much Alive"
AT the same time he admitted he
had not repaid the loan. although he
knew it was all she had.
"Your father is dead. isn't he?"
Pratt was asked.
"Never so much alive as now" he !
declared proudly.
But he's been buried" remarked J
Justice Davis.
"Oh, yes" said the witness.
His meeting with Nine. Parma came /
about while he was sitting at his !
editorial desk in the book publishers |
office. Nine. Parma came in to talk |
about publishing a beck. He testi- |
fed:
81 arranged luncheon with her at a |
hotel. Later l visited her in her |
apartment. Yes, ] used to stay there |
over night. When she went to Allan !
tic Highlands. became her pupil. 1 |
used to spend about three days and /
nights a week with her at first. I !
kept in touch with my wife by tele- |
phone. but didn't tell her where ] |
was at first. My instructor thought /
t best that way. Later I lived in |
her home for several months"
Sold $1,000 Baths.
Pratt said he and Mime. Parma |
v orked together in the Lavender
Room. the Sanctum Sanctorum OF the !
The result OF their CO.
operation and study was a book called
MY Tussle With tho Devil by
O'Henry's Ghost" and several unpub-
lIshcd manuscripts.
Pratt summed up tho Madame's
teachings as character
He said she gave him
priceless lessons" to the practice Of
which he would devote the balance of
his life
she teaches what would say were
the scientific interpretations of Christ
as expressed in His Scrran on the
Mount" he said. "Onc of the cardinal
OF her philosophy was that
thoughts are things had never
known this befote. and il opened up
n new mental vista for me. The idea
is that every time you think you Gre
ate something definite. and that it is.
therefore. exceedingly important to
guard ones Thoughts and think only
The things that would create beauty
and things that are worth while"
yes" he admitted. 81 bought Nine
Parma fowers-roses. Yes. I bought
most of those SI65 worth of theater
tickets to give her relaxation. Yes. i
took her on automobile rides. I even
let her draw the checks for me-" n
lie told OF a medicinal bath" which
The madame sold to rich clients. The .
baths cost about $4,000 ench. He said
he invested some money and made
about $500 profit from the sale of /
so, 900 worth OF the baths.