The Bridgeport times and evening farmer., 1919-08-30

awful act of self-destru ction
 committed by a woman whose
 beauty was the rage of three
 reigns It may be meroiful, but
 10 my mind 1t is not true. l will
 never believe that poor Manic"
 Athertop was mad, even in the
 mNdest sense Of tho word, when
 her foot pressed the trigger of
 tho weapon that shattered her
 peerless beauty, and hurled her
 soul into eternlty.)
 London, Aug. 30 -- knew Mrs. Atherton-Mrs. Eliot, as I ought to call her-from the time of her first marriage in 1892, and my firm con- viction ia that her last deed, dreadful as l. was. was entirely in keepiny with the philosophy that ruled her brilliant, If wayward, life.
 I was introduced to her at gar den parry in London, and, on learn iug who she was, wished her every happiness.
 "Bapoy," she said and fixed he- eyes on mo with that steady, direct gaze which her friends knew so well. "Of courze, ] shall be happy! Do you think I should choose a husband T happy?" It was very womanly, of course. and very illogical; but that was Mamie" Atherton the whole time. She had a law for herself. and wanted everybody else to obey it. 1 can see her now as she turned away, a slim figure Tn a brilliant blue gown. I met her again surrounded by a bevy of young men. obviosuly E ,l ara h monstrated with her for keeping these swains from the sides of other girls. They can gO," she said with a touch of anger in her voice. If they stay, they stay because I amUse them and make them happy. Other girls bore them. Why should they be bored?"
 Married, Not Married.
 It was then I began to understand sonethin- of the curious ideas of life held by unusually beautiful women Remember at that Mime. Manic" Atherton was little more than a girl But already she had outmatChed other girls in her ideas of right and wrong, and of what was fair and unfair. On another occasion she said to me, "Oh, the fact that I am married does not mean that I am married. I am going to live every hour of life. and I want all my friends to live as I do. Be happy all day and every day"
 That, indeed, was the life pursuit of my dead friend. And for a good number of years she chased happi- ness very successfully. For a Brit ish girl she matured early, and in her middle twenties possessed a fig ure that was the admiration of every woman whose eyes rested on her. In dress as in all other things she was a law unto herself. Once, when I frankly admired her toilet, she said T never follow fashion, because I never need dressing. I am beautiful enough to need only a plain gown, no trimming, and very little Jewelry. Other girls need beauty in their clothes to make them attract atten- tion." Then she blushed, and add ed, Yes, really am very beauh- full"
 There is no doubt that the early years of her first marriage were her happlest Ever after she was strfv- ing to find something she had lost. I was present at her ordeal in 1908, when Colonel Atherton divorced her after the Cape Town incident.
 "South Africa has ruined me"' she exclaimed as she heard the decree pronounced would I had never left England. Things will never be right again. People will never let you be happy in your own way. Ones hap piness hurts hundreds of others" were some of things she said to me on that occasion.
 I Cannot Win Happiness.
 sIvrsr1 ', advice of her many other true friends, she brought the action for breach of promise against Captain Yarde-BuTer. "I have endured so much cruelty, I will suffer a little more." she said in reply. 'If have sinned. then the world shall know did not sin lightly. As for reputation, what Is that compared to happiness" Always. you see, it was that tragic craving for happiness that spurred her from one indiscretion to an other.
 But what, to my mind, Is the sad dest part of my friends nl-fated story is that she never realized she committed indiscretions. In her own heart she believed she was simply striving after something she thought was hers by right, but which con- stantly eluded the grasp of her out stretched hands.
 .Tsn't 1t funny? My friends tell me I make them wonderfully happy, but I cannot win any happiness for my self. I suppose it's my own fault l don't try hard enough. But I'll go on irving, or die in the end"
 Poor woman! She tried, and she died! Unfortunately she tried in the wrong way. It was simply this mis- guided striving that resulted in the scandalous Stirling divorce suit.
 That was the only time ''Manie's' friends were really angry with her. "You are ruining yourself, and caus- ing your friends the deepest anxiety and pain,'' said one. We believe in you" said another, Tbut you ought to be more thoughtful.1 You owe a duty to society"
 You arc utterly wrong," she re- torted. turning upon us, With heaving breast and indignant eHes. Society owes me a duty-to make 1t possible for me to be happy. As for all the rest, what does 1t matt9r? Does the A---a<--> t-@A~--~~l> -~'--faAS z.a@ ss t~ ...-. Al ..lI ...