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About Omaha daily bee. (Omaha [Neb.]) 187?-1922 | View Entire Issue (Nov. 23, 1913)
The Omaha Sunday Bm Magazine Page Adodrana in ARed-Life How a Distinguished Newport and New York Family, Relatives of the Vanderhilts, Have Been Real Actors in a Strange Domestic Tragedy Quite as Surprising as Anything in Moving Picture Dramas, SURELY "troth is Rtrnnrjcr than fiction." Nothing In tho Bow-, ry melodramas or the matri monial mix-ups of tho motion pic ture films Is mora surprising than tho domestic drama In real life of tho Amos Tuck French family, wealthy members of tho Vandorbllt set of New York, Newport and Tuxedo. Tho announcement of the 'divorce proceedings brought 'tho other day by Mrs. Amos Tuk French against her husband is the newest act In this domestic melodrama. The curtain of publicity has feeen rung up on several previous acts and scenes from time te time in the last few years, and it hi probable that the final scene ot thl real-life play have not yet bea enacted. Frlende it tho Frenches Insist that the elopement ef Julia French with Jack Geraghty, the Newport chauf feur, formed tho opening scene, of Act I. in this drama, of domestic tin happiness and reality. They art wrong. Tho opening scene was set rer twelvo years ago, when E11g French, tho younger sister of Amos Tuck, married Alfred Gwynno Van derbllt This carefully brought about marrlago with tho youth .des tined to bo tho head of tho Vander bllt family ralsod tho Frcncho' so cial ambition to tho highest dogreo. Deforo tho real drama opened, however, thero was a prologue in which appeared the older members of the "French family and, in which tho seeds of social ambition were planted In their breasts by the mar riage of .Elizabeth French, Amos Tuck's older sister, to the present Major-General Lord" Cheylesmore. This arrlage had boon arranged by Mrs. Francis Ormondo French in or der to further her own social plans, in England. Just at this time, too, occurred tho marriage of Ames with tho very rich and very protty Pau lino Lo Hoy, daughtor of Mrs. Stny vesant Le Roy, one of the proudest and wealthiest mombors of New' York and Newport society, Thpia marriages might havo satisfied Mrs. French's ambitions, but there was a young daughter, a Bmall girl with Judy, the "Silly Sinter," Who Married Out of Her Social Station a Chauffeur, IbHbbH 5b. '' $ j3b'm bbbbbb ' ' "bbbbbb1bHb(bhbbbhL bEb8bHL Iwik 1 .: v.j bbHbHHiV i BBBBvBHIPi - Mi BEHh Mi f bbbbbH bPbHbT ''t!QXj&KKEBKw&?uilKBm ' BHHBBhVlBBBBBHBV Kjb J3UBajjHHHHy(nHHB BBBBbMbBBBBBHbW bbbHMBbOW' ' ''&n&BEmtKKn iGt&B&BK- bIBbbbBbbVHkbbIbbbbbW SftjBBHHBEapBBlfi 'ijff-ffi jSftrPlB3lBrJMBM BHBBHBBBBBBSKiflBBBBBBBV flBBBBBP rSSi WbbIbbHkbHBbbI& SXBSmivfSKmlSKk KBKsBmKL Vm!BVB0LHlS'BBVHwnBBVBKlBBHBl jft BTaTaraHBTaBTarJlBBBwKHBKS& ;HbbKs1S J&SbI bBKbGBHbbbPatatataT BTBTBTB V-SpJHCbBw SHJpHBBySJp' JBBBBWiCTiaMSBSJiSSSSSSSSB .frBT Titian hair, who was still in the nursery. As this girl, Ellen, grew up, her mother planned to marry her to a man of great wealth and prominence in tho society Into which her son had married. Of all tho oligibles she selected Alfred Owynne Vanderbllt, the youth who had been mado the head of tho Van derbllt family1,. And this brings us to the opening 'scene of this real-lite drama. .This scene was set in the beauti ful Newport mansion belonging te Mrs. Francis French, and in The Breakers, the magnificent homo of the Vanderbllts. In her campaign to win a Vanderbllt Jer her son-in-law Mrs. French was,a4ded by her daugh ter. Lady Cheylesmore: her sen Amos and his wife, and, of course, J , ,, ., x by Ellen, now called Elsie by her nd. why Bhu,d. Hot b ?! own ran..n J5 "joro Pl wayn greai joy in Opposed to them were Mrs. Van derbllt, Mrs, Harry Payne Whitney and Reginald. 'Alfred was in a way a non-combatant. Tho senior Mrs. Vanderbllt bad other plans for her son, but Elsie and Alfred wero in love, and Mrs. French wanted the match,, and the Vanderbllts were beaten. This marriage realized Mrs. French's greatest ambition. The wedding was the most talked'-of af The Geraghty Babythe Last Straw That Wrecked trie Amos Tuck Frenches. Fshionableociety f Characters in the mos Tuck French Divorce -s AMCiK' TlW ropiuru Brother of Mrs. Elsie French Vanderbllt and- father AMOS TUCK FRENCH. . . . . .f the rich Mrs. Wagslaff and ihe poor Mrs. Geraghty, t who is being sued for divorce by Mrs. French. iise AMnc Tiirv mm Tll.e. mo,.h.cr whose heart proved stronger than ficr MRS. AMOS TUCK FRENCH, .pride, whb is suing her husband for divorce because . - , he would not forgive their daughter. unc qAMIlFI wArcTArr Pauline ("Polly") French, the obedient daughter, who SAMUEL WAGSTAFF . .lived up to her training by marrying ihe son of the wealthy Colonel Wagstaff. i mdc 'tapk- PFDArirrv TH "V 1dallShlcr' Jul!a' wh obeyed ihe diclales . mrU. JAUts. Ufc-KAUril I. . . . ,pf her heart and married the honest young Working v man, Jack Geraghty. ro.Vtf. rDC:,ru 7110 oltlcst son of Ihe Frenches, who threatened to fKAWrV trKCIMUl .horsewhip young Geraghty and who refuses lo forgive . . his sister. .,. MRS. ELSIE VANDERB1LT. . .divorced just before her niece Julia eloped with Ger- aghty. She had planned a wealthy marriage for Julia. ,T,niMix.JnA Brother of Mrs. French and uncle to Pauline and STUYVESANT LE ROY Julia, who showers the obedient niece with jewels ni 1 Knfuriii In wtAMs t tl1..tt '..1 1 r . uiu luiuata iw ittu(juuu amy Julia uCragniy. SCENES OF THE DRAMA Mrs. Alfred G. Vnnd - - w wvr uiiu if inr y l rJi deuces, the Neiv York, Tuxedo and Neivpdrt homes of Mr. Amos Tuck French, - automobiles, yachts and clubs and tht poor little chauffeur's humble cottage. family when a daughter makes . a "suitable" marriage, a marriage which Increases her wealth and which reflects added glory on the family Itself. But tho suitably married Polly is not the only girl In tho French household.. There . Is a younger daughter, Julia, who was twelve years old rwhen Polly married. And now tho family ambitions settled on "Judy." She was trained to marry a rich man, preferably one In the Newport colony. Much money was speni on ner eaucauon. one was - spent on ner eaucauon. one wa fair ot the year, and everything taught French, the modern dances promised well for the future. OBut with this scae ended, a new devetopment arose. Amos French became Infected mere deeply with bib Hflinsr s social ambiuons, and he how to be a gracious hostess and nthnr nncAsoarv fhtneo flhn hori her tutors and her own maid, her valuable dogs. and her horses. In every way she was "twine trained to hold a high position socially. Aunt nmuiuuiia, at) boiq a Bigu posuion sociauy. Atint DeSan tO' bUlld G&BtlAa n th ilr "UMol nmmloiul n An mt..t. . mw ... " luiv (oiiiuiuu ij v. vy an iumiu iui tifJt He was aided by his mother and his as she had for Polly. Unluckily. jHSter, Mrs, Vanderbllt. There was Aunt Elsie had been forced to dl- a pretty girl growing up In the vorce Uncle Alfred, and thus Judy French' household, Pauline, the old- could not have houso parties at est child. She had attnnrimJ bap CflmD Sasramore. nor a hie hall At search amounted te nqthtng. JncTc and Judy were legally married when they were next heard from and per fectly hnppy. But there was no happiness in tne home Judy had run away from. The qunrre' between the father and mother was so bitter that even a tem porary reconciliation wns effected only with tho greatest difficulty. The father's feelings were more Intensely bitter than the mother's. His blnsted prldo gave him suffering enough In a way, but other Instincts suffered nlso. The mental picture of his carefully nurtured Judy serving Jack Geraghty. the town chauffeur,' as a wlfo and housekeeper brought a bitterness to hlo soul that nothing could' temper. Every fatherly feellug was out- raged as he contemplated what this marriage meant to Julia and to the French, family as a unit.' All this added to the bitterness of the Quar rel with hla wife. He refused to stay In her Newport homo. He removed his belongings to his Tuxedo home. He would not admit that his wife's heart might be breaking all he mougni or was ms injured pride and the damage the elopement might do farm for them so that Baby Jack might havo country air and country living. A few months ago, Jtlrs. French and her mother, Mrs. Lo Ttoy, went to Boston to see for themselves how Judy, the disobedient daughter, was prospering. There was a bad accident and Mrs. French was seriously Injured. During the weeks that she was 111, Judy. devoted her self to caring .for her. Mr. French did not go aoar her, nor did her older sons. And now the Jast act of this do mestlc drama begins with the filing of the divorce papers In Newport There Is no doubt as to tho out come of the suit. When the case is settled there Is every evidence that the tie between the mother and her stupid but happy daughter Judy will grow stronger. For Judy, In her humble little farm house, with her baby, is happier thnn many child less women in their Newport mansions. Polly, Who Married a Social Equal to the Satisfaction or nir. rrri-n Aunt Elate as a brWeimald, and her Oakland Farm. But she could have the damage the olopen head was filled with visions' of a everything elBo, .Including a London t0 social ambitions future husband -who should ha season with Lady Cheylesmore. 1-or tho year follow future husband -who should be as rich and as Important as Uncle Al fred. Her Prince Charming must bo of high social standing, for at that period the Frenches could not afford to marry into any but tho best social circles. When Polly was eighteen Aunt Elsie gave avwonderful coming-out ball for her, and during that year showered her with gifts and pleas ureB. All this was done because Aunt Bile Intended to marry her satisfactorily. The husband efeoBen for Polly must be of good family, and have a fortune which would al low her te have her Winter la town and her Summer in Newport. ThlS het ntrOB B Mil n A IT . m n.vuuu iwre. Al- fred Vanderbllfa superb house la. KtwiisrL J V.V .iuv -IS when "er granddaughter married KrLrwifhro,TS, &J!! LT Grandmother And now wo como to the third act. Judy Is barely eighteen when before her dazzled eyoB are dangled all the joys that wealth can bestow. Sho Is told that to uphold the family po sition and tickle her father's pride she must marry In accordance with her family's wishes. And what docs Judy do? Poor, foolish Judy followed tho dictates of her heart and ran away with Jack Geraghty, an honest young working man ot Newport Oh, -how the pride ot he parents was shattered) Grandmother Lo Roy; a proud and haughty matron, who felt that her daughter had married beneath her In marrying Amos Tuck French, al- . . A. Jl 71 . . . muni uieu oi sname ana cnagnn Mess'la the tm yacht, and la iih vBBerBMt private oar to Al fred's, beautiful Adirondack Camp. Paaeeo, . cruises on Aunt Elsie's yacht, trip to Europe with Aunt Elsie, feeuM parties at Oakland Farm and Camp SagamorA filled Polly's days and nights. She had her own motor cars, her own maids, everything that wealth could give. And! of course she must marry as Aunt Elsje and Father French de creed. Amo French, socially ambitious father, was proud of his oldest daughter and was just as euro as his slater was that Polly should make a good marrlago. When, therefore,-young Sam Wagstaff, the son of Colonel Alfred Wagstaff, ap peared as her suitor, he was ac cepted. Great delight on all sides was expressed becauso, ho was so "suitable" and bo- cause roily was wise and virtuous Freaeh. easrnr tr hnvn Tiirtv'a man. rlage equal Aunt Elsie's and Stster Polly's, was mortified, angry, cruelly hurt Mr. French was angry with Judy and even more angry with his wife whom he blamed for the whole af fair. Hla pride as a father was out raged, his pride In his social Import ance was tumbled In the dust his proud confidence in his family's fu ture was shattered. He blathed his wife for not haying more carefully protected Judy, Mrs. French, whoso pride "was equally lacerated, replied that he, as a father, was equally responsible) for the elopement which they called a "tragedy." Mr. French was not In Newport when tho elopement occurred. He was having a very gay and festive time in his handsome Tuxedo home. His virtuous daughter, the wise and provident Polly, and husband, wero with him. They had been entertain ing a house party for several days. nr. V. . 1 1 . i . a i i enough tp follow Tato ulann for Judv. Rh w tn fc the- teachings of . . B B.U .B lllh IU AAlB uin III' A i n H f B spend a few months with Lady Cheylesmore, and perhaps to be pre sented at court. AH arrangements were finished, and Mr. French sat down to dinner at the Tuxedo Club with the; Wagstaffs, extremely well satisfied with himself and hla plans for his family. , While explaining to his guests his delight at being able to send Judy to England, a servant whispered In Mrs. Wagstaffs ear that she was wanted at the telephone. She left the table, all smiles and composure. She re turned shaking like a leaf and hardly able to speak. "Judy has run away with that Geraghty," she gasped. With these words al Mr. French's rosy castles In air collapsed, and the curtain fell on another act of this real life drama, just in time to pre vent our seeing the lengths to which a proud society father's despair and rage could carry him. Then came days of frantic anxiety. Mrs. Vanderbllt herself led the pur suing party which started hard or. the heels of (ha floolntr nlnnprn Thnv were In a high power motor car, and so was Mrs. Vauderbllt But the her time her worldy wise Grandmother French, ot Aunt Elsie, and of father. Up to the ot this, marriage. which ' took place years ago, no domestlo d i s cord had -been notice able in the French household. Mrs. French teemed perfectly satisfied with her husband's plans for Polly, and, In fact, en couraged the good looking young Wag staff In his courting. he marriage Wbk .-AlaKi-atnit I Newport Aunt Elsie showered her obedient and complaisant niece with jewels and added a large check to her other contributions. In this scene virtue was rewarded, and the curtain rang down on a most har monious and delighted famtly group. Copyright. ISIS, by the Star Coraoany. Qrat Britain Sights ReirvcL fftllntuthD' -n nlnn - ...f, otwjr mum tilings were ai a rrlghtful ten sion. Whenever he saw his wlfo his reproaches grew more cutting. Mrs. French, on her part waa just as unhappy. She feared tho worst for Judy. Sho saw her washing dishes, cooking the meals, washing Jack's clothes. She saw her going without the luxuries to which sho was used. She saw her friends smile pityingly whenever they met her. She overheard gossip about her daughter and the plain uneducated Geraghtys. It was all very hard to bear, and to relieve her overwrought feelings she threw the blame tor the tragedy on her husband, just as he was trying to throw It on her. Then news came that a baby was expected. And suddenly tho mother wcakoned In the attitude she had assumed toward Judy and Jack. She becan to study ways to approach her girl. But the logical result of the runaway match did not weaken the father, nor young Frank French, the brother. They were made even more bitter. The baby would mean a final and complete link between Julia and the Geraghtys. It meant the start of a new branch of a family tree in which tho blood ot the poor Geraghtys blended with that ot the aristocratic Le Roys and Frenches. Mr. French by this time refused to meet his wife, even outside her home. He had forbidden her approaching Julia or giving her any money, but the mother Ignored his orders and helped prepare for the baby. Then the baby came Mrs. French swept the baby and Judy In ner arms and defied her husband. inis was the end. Amos French raged. He kept on his side his sister, Elsie V anderbllt, and his sons, who threatened to horsewhip Geraghty. And the- breach in his "domestic affairs widened so that he com municated with his wife only through his lawyers. H e would not go to "Newport for fear of meet ing his grand child running about, the streets. But he bask ed In the hap piness ot his o b e d 1 ont daughtor, Mrs. WaestufT Rha alas; has no children, hut aha leader socially, and what more could a father ask? 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