Evening star., 1932-08-28
Special Dispatch to The Star.

Special Dispatch 10 The star.
CHICAGO, August 26 (N.AN.A)-
Mrs. Edith Rockefeller Mccormick,
who died here Thursday, was for more
than 35 years the outstanding woman
in Chicago.
Her position as one Of the wealthiest
women in the world. her sponsorship
of cultural and artistic movements in
the city, and the colorful events which
eminent position in the public mind.
Those who enjoyed her friendship IN
Chicago agree she was a charming
place will not easily be filled.
Harold Mccormick was % and just
out of Princeton, and Edith Rockefeller
was five months younger and private
" educated" when they were quietly
married In the parlor Of the Bucking-
ham Hotel in New York City on the
afternoon OF November 26, 1895.
Edith Rockefeller was then described
as the richest heiress in America. If not
in the world She was blond, with
mass of short ringletS above high
forehead, gray eyes end demure lit
tie smile. She was a little over 5 feet
tall. quiet and unobtrusive in manner
and studious.
Swimming. skating and bicycle rid
ing were her favorite sports. and she
sat her horse admirably. She was
noted for her sound common sense and
devotion to duty, and one OF her prin-
cipal "debutante" activities was the
teaching of a Sunday school class
which she had composed Of girl clerks
in large stores.
Lived in Council Bluffs
After a European honeymoon, Mr..
Mccormick brought his bride to the
Middle West, but not to Chicago. He
was then representative of the Harvester
Co. at Council Bluffs, Iowa, and it was
in that quiet little river town that Mrs.
Harold Mccormick established her first
household.
Later Mr.. McCormick's business in
terests brought him to Chicago and
he bought the big gray stone mansion
at 1000 Lake Shore drive.
A traditional story Is that John D.
gave this house to his
daughter for her wedding present. AS
a matter Of fact he did not, for more
than 20 years later Mrs. Mccormick
bought Mr.. McCormick's share OF the
house outright for q substantial sum
of cash.
Their first child, christened John
but known informally as
Johnny, was born the year following
their marriage, but he lived only until
his fifth year, dying Of scarlet fever.
His death concentrated the attention OF
both his parents on fight against con-
tagious diseases peculiar to children,
and their first step after Johnny's
death was to found and endow the
John Mccormick Institute Of Infec-
tious Diseases.
Twenty years later, with her char
acteristic stability, Mrs. Mccormick
was still attending meetings Of the in
stitute and contributing $4,000 year
to its upkeep.
The institute has justified Mrs. Nc
Cormick's hopes. Its scientists have
isolated the scarlet fever germ and
robbed it of its high mortality rate.
Recalls Invitations.
The first intimation that she was
seriously i'll came on September S, 1911,
when Mrs. Mccormick recalled 100 in
vitations to a cotillion which was to
have been held that evening at the
estate in Lake Forest.
Mr. Mccormick explained she was
suffering from a nervous breakdown.
The following year she went abroad,
Spending some time at Parma, Italy,
Verdi's home town. There she and Mr..
were made citizens Of the
town in recognition of their devotion to
Verdis works. Then they went to
Zurich, where Mrs. Mccormick pur-
chased the estate of Col. Voegli and
settled down to life Of studying psy-
attending concerts, play
ing tennis, dancing, and even, it Is said,
taking a course in domestic art.
Her interest in psychoanalysiS was so
intense that, after studying under DR..
jung she began to teach the new SCI
ence herself, and at one time had SO
patients, six Of whom she brought to
America when she returned. In Amer
lea she conflded to friend that three
times during her eight years in Zurich
she had been attacked by tuberculosis,
and each time she had been cured by
psychoanalysis.
Mrs Mccormick had passion for
Her opera dinners, which
preceded every performance she attend
ed, were set for 7 o'clock. If guests
were tardy they simply missed the
courses which had gone before, and
courses were whisked in and out on
schedule. A five-course dinner, with
the menu printed on cards in gold let
tering, was served in record time of
IS minutes.
Strongly Against Liquor.
No wine ever appeared on her table,
and no cocktails or other liquor was
ever served in her home, nor touched
by her in the homes Of her friends.
Consequently, 1t caused some surprise
when, on June 16 of this year, she an
nounced that she favored the repeal OF
the eighteenth amendment with the
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