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frs. Elsie French Vanderbilt and father
rs. Wagstaff and the poqr BBnt Geraghty,
sued for divorce by Mn> French.
whose heart proved stronger than her
suing her husband for divorce because
forgive thetr daughter. •
ly") French, the obedient daughter, who
cr tra!r ,i "g by marrying the son of the
ho obeyed the dictates
honest young working
threatened to
eloped with Ger-
isrriage for Julia.
Pauline and
with jewels
How a Distinguished Newport and
Mew York Family, Relatives of the
Vanderbilts, Have Been Real
Actors in a Strange Domestic
Tragedy Quite as Surprising as
Anything in Moving Picture Dramas,,
p URELY "truth ts stranger than French, the younger sister of Amos Titian hair, who was still In the
try melodramas or tho matrl- derbilt. This carefully brought up, her mother planned to marry
montal mix-ups of the motion pic- about marriage with tho youth des- her to a man of great wealth snd^
ture films is more surprising than tinea to be ’ :n need of tho Vanuer- prominence
the domestic drama in real life of blit family raised the Fronchs' so- which her son had married. Of all
the Amos Tuck French family,
wealthy members of the Vanderbilt
set of Now York,
Tuxedo,
clal amoitloii to the highest degree, the ellglbles sho selected Alfred
) Before the real drama opened, Owynne Vanderbilt, the youth who
Newport and however, there was a prologue, In had been made the head of the Van-
which appeared tiie older members derbilt family. And this brings us to
The announcement of the divorce of the French family amt ,n which the opening scene of this real-life
proceedings brought the other day tho seeds of social ambition were drama.
by Mrs. Amos Tuck French against planted in their breasts by tho mar- This scene was E6t In ths bcautl*
her husband 13 the newest act In this riage of Elizabeth French, Amos ful Newport mansion belonging to
domestic melodrama. The curtain Tuck's older sister, to tho present Mrs. Francis French, and (n Ths
of publicity has been rung up on Major-General Lord Cheylesmore. Breakers, the magnificent home of
several previous acts and scenes This marriage had been arranged by the Vanderbilts. In her campaign to
Characters in the Amos Tuck
AMOS TUCK FRENCH.
Brother of Mrs. Elsie
.of the rich Mrs.
who is being
MRS. AMOS TUCK FRENCH,
The mother whose heart
.pride, who is suing her
he would not forgive
Pauline (“Polly") French, the
MRS. SAMUEL WAGSTAFF. •lived up to her trait''"" by
wealthy Colonel Wagstaff.
The “silly” daughter, Julia, who
MRS. JACK GERAGHTY... . .of her heart and married the
man, Jack C-sraghly.
FRANK FRENCH
The oldest son of the Frenches, who
his sister.
The first wife of Alfred Gwynne
MRS. ELSIE VANDERBILT. . .divorced just before her niece Julia
aghty. She bad planned a wealthy
STUYVESANT LE ROY....
Brother of Mrs. French and uncle to
.Julia, who showers the obedient niece
and refuses to recognize “silly” Julia
from time to time In the last few
years, and it la probable that tho
final scones of this real-life play
have not yet been enacted.
Friends of the Frenches Inslat that the
Mrs. Francis Ormonde French in or- win a Vanderbilt for her son-in-law
der to further her own social plans Mrs.’ French was aided by her daugh-
In England. Just at this time, too, ter, Lady Cheylesmore; her son
occurred the marriage of Ames with Arnold hi. wife. and.* course. ^ ^ ^ they Mt Wto^dt
The Geraghty Baby—the Lagt Straw That
Wrecked the Amos Tuck Frenches.
SCENES OF THE DRAMA—Mrs. Alfred G. Vanderbilt’s fottut and country resi
dences, the New York, Tuxedo and Newport homes of Mr. Amos Tuck French,
automobiles, yachts and clubs—and the poor little chauffeur's humble cottage.
and Very pretty Pati-
the elopement of Julia French with
Jack Geraghty, the Newport chauf-
leur, formed the opening scene of
Act I. In tnis drama oi domestic un
happiness and reality. They are
wrong. The opening scene was set
over twelve yearn age, when Ellen
U there not always great lor tn a
family when a daughter makes a
’suitable" marriage, a tnarrlags
Judy, the “Silly Sister,” Who Married Out of Her
Social Station—a Chauffeu".
search amounted to nothing. Jack
and Jod7 were legally married when
they were next heerd from—and per
fectly happy.
But there was no happiness In vhe
heme Judy had run awa7 from. The
anarfe' between the father and
mother was so Diner tnai e.ru » tern
porary reconciliation was effected
only with the greatest dlfficu'fy. Tho
father’s feelings were more Intensely
hitter than tho mother's, His masted
pride gave him suffering enough In a
way, but other instincts suffered also.
The mental picture of Ms carefully
nurtured Judy serving Jack Geraghty,
weuurus -ue cue, uuaeu-et tu- aDent on her oouemuon. duo was the ,0 * n chauffeur, as a wife and
fair of the year, and everything ?u^ttharntri^rn^danomJ
promised well for the future. how to be ft f®.
other necentrjr things.
line Le Roy, daughter of Mrs. Stuy- 0Wn request.
vesant Le Roy. one of tho proudest Opposed to them were Mrs. Van- t • 1#fc - A
and wealthiest members of New derbilt. Mrs. Harry Payne Whitney ^ch ^"otTidded .Cm the
York and Newport society. Those and Reginald. Alfred In . „»y !£!!?“ aaa, “
marriages might have satisfied Mrs. a non-combatant. Tho senior Mrs. But tho suitably married Polly la
French's ambitions, but there was a Vanderbilt had other plans for her not tho only girl In tho French
young (laughter, a small girl with hon hut Flnto nmi Alfred wore in household. There la a younger
with sen. but Elsie and Alfred were In household. Thara to a r®ang'
, . ,, „ , ... daughter, Julia. Who W S" twoivo
love, and Mrs. French wanted the yea „ ol( 5 wh on Polly married. And
match, and the Vanderbilts were now the family ambitions fettled on
beaten. This marriage realized Mrs. "Judy.” She way trained to mairy
Itench’a greatest ambition. The ’ S52h money was
wedding was the most talked-of af- apent on her education. She waa
farm for them so that Baby Jack
might have country sir and country
living. A few months ago, Mrs.
French and her mother, Mrs. Le Roy.
went to Boston to see for themselves
how Judy, the disobedient daughter,
was prospering. There waa a had
accident aiiJ Mr;. French * M
seriously Injured. During the weeks
that she was til. Judy devoted her
self to caring for her. Mr. French
did not go near her, nor did her
older sons.
And now the last act of thla do
mestie drama begins with the filing
of the divorce papers in Newport
There Is no doubt as to the 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 than many child
less women in their Newport man
sions.
Polly, Who Married a Social Equal, to the Satisfaction,
of Mr. Frenrh.
his soul that nothing could temper.
Rhe bad Every fatherly feeling waa out
But with this scene ended, a new her'tutors'and^hw’own maid, her raged as he contemplated what this
development arose. Amos French valuable dogs and her horsss. tn * ** 4 '”‘
became Infected more deeply with every way ahe waa being trained to
bis- mother's social ambitions, and he hold a high position socially. Aunt
began to build castles lu the air. Elsie promised to do aa much for her
He was aided by bis mother and his as she had for Polly. Unluckily,
sister, Mrs. Vanderbilt. There was Aunt Elsie bad teen forced to dl-
a pretty girl growing up in the "vorce Uncle Alfred, and thus Judy
French household, Pauline, the old- could not have bouae partlea at
e»t child. ..She had attended her gamP Sagamore, nor » big ball at
Aunt Elsie aa a bridesmaid, and her Oakland Ferm. But ■ £ P°,
head waa filled with vlaione of a evciyihtnge.ae. Including a London
fjture husband who should bs as 8cason w *th —f Cues urnnsna.
rich and aa Important as Uncle A1 And now we cone to the third act.
fred. Her Prince Charming must bo Judy is barely eighteen when before
of hlgn social standing, for at that her dazzled eyes are dangled all the
ported the Frenches could not afford Joys that wealth, can boatow.^BJts
to marry into any hut the best aoctal
circles.
Is told that to uphold the family po
sition and Vickie her father's pride
When Polly wa, eighteen Aunt * h " vZ^Ttohe 11 . ?“*
Elsie gavx a wonderful coming-out “
coming-out
ball tor her, and during that year
showered her with gifts and pleas-
ares. All this was done becauso
Aunt Filsio intended to marry ner
satisfactorily. The husband chosen
for Polly must be of good family,
and have a fortufto which would al
low her to have her Winter In town
and her Hummer tn Newport.
Thla act centre! around Mrs. Al
fred Vanderbilt's superb house in
Newport, and her equally superb
town house, with occasional excur
sions In the steam yacht, and In
the Vanderbilt private cor to “HI-
fred’s beautiful Adirondack Camp,
Dances, cruises on Aunt Elsie’s
yacht, trips to Europe with Aunt
Elsie, house parties at Oakland
Farm and Camp Sagamore filled
Polly's days and nights. Sho had
her own motor care, her own malda,
everything that wealth could gi-e.
And, of course she must marry aa
Aunt VltjS and Father French de
creed.
Amos French, socially ambitions
father, waa proud of bis oldeat
daughter and was just as sure aa
his sister was that Polly should
make a good , marriage. When,
therefore, young Sam Wagstaff, the
son of Colonel Alfred Wsgataff, an-
peered as her suitor, he was ac
cepted. Great delight on all sides
And what does Judy do? Poor,
foolish Judy followed the dtetatee of
her heart and ran away with Jack
Geraghty. an honest young working
man of Newport. Oh, how the
pride of her parents wis shattered!
Grandmother La Roy, a proud and
haughty matron, who felt that her
daughter had married beneath bar
In marrying Atse* Turk French, al
most died of shame and chagrin
when her granddaughter married
the hack driver's ton. Grandmother
French.- eager tp have Judy's mar
riage equal Aunt Elsie’s and Sister
Polly's, was mortified, angry, cruelly
hurt. l
Mr. French was angry with Judy
and even more angry with his wife
whom he blamed for the whole af
fair. Hla pride aa a father was out
raged. hit pride In his social Import
ance'waa tumbled In the dust, his
proud confidence In hie family's fu
ture was shattered. He blamed hit
wife for not havlnr more carefully
protected Judy. Mrs. French, whose
pride was equally lacerated, replied
that he, aa a father, waa equally
responsible for the elopement which
they called a “tragedy,"
Mr. French was not la Newport
when the elopement occurred. He
was haring a very ia» sod festive
time in bis handsome Tuxedo home.
His virtuous daughter, the wise and
—... - : . 7 a a ID viuuuug miu n iint, sue "IPV
was expressed because he was so provident Polly, and hnsband, were
“ suitable " and be- with him. They had been entertain
ing a house party for several days.
Mr. French bad just completed elabo
rate plans for Judy. 6he waa to be
sent to England the next week to
spend a fear months with Lady
Cheylesmore, and perhaps to be pre
sented at court. All arrangements
were finished, and Mr. French aat
down to dinner at the Tuxedo Club
with the Wagstaffs. extremely well
satisfied with himself and hla plans
for his family.
While explaining to bis guests bis
delight at being able to send Judy to
England, a servant whispered In Mrs.
WitrstafT* aar that aha 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 si* Mr. French's
rosy cattles tn air collapsed, and the
curtain fell on. another act of this
real life drama, just In time to pre
vent our seeing Hie lengths to which
a proud society father's despair and
rage could carry him.
Then came day* of frantic anxiety.
Mrs. Vanderbilt bertelf led the pur
suing party whlrb started hard on
the heels of the fleeing elopen. They
were In ft high power motor car. and
so was Mrs. Vanderbilt. But the
cause Polly was
wise and virtuous
enough to follow
tho teachings of
her worldy wise
Grandmother
French, of Aunt
Elsie, hnd of her
father.
Up to the time
of this marriage,
which took place
years ago. no
domestic d 1 a cord
had been notice-
able in tb? FYench
household. Mrs.
French e e e m e d
perfectly eattafied
with her husband's
plans for Polly,
couraged the good-
looking young Wag
staff in his courting.
. he marriage
was celebrated in
ahowered her
niece with
a large check to
In thla
and the
delighted fare IN "roun.
Copyright ttlk by the Star Cams an/. Onsl Britain Rights Beaarvsd.
marriage meant to Julia and to the
French family aa a nnlt. All thla
added to the bitterness of the quar
rel with hie wife. He refueed to stay
In her Newport home. He removed
h!s belongings to hie Tnxedo home.
He would not admit that hla wife's
heart might be breaking—all he
thought of was hla Injured pride and
the damage, the elopement might do
to hie social ambitions.
For the year following toe clop
meat things were at a frightful ten
sion. Whatever ha saw M* wife hie
reproaches grew more cutting.
Mrs. French, on her part, was Just
as unhappy She feared the worst
for Judy. Bhe saw her washing
dlJbes. cooking the meals, washing
Jack's clothes. Shu taw her going
without tho luxuries tc which ahe
waa used. Bhe Saw her friends smile
pityingly whenever they met her.
She overheard gossip about her
daughter and tha plain uneducated
Geraghty*. It waa ali very hard to
boar, and to rtltor* her overwrought
feellviga she threw ths biama lor the
tragedy on her husband. Juet as he
waa trying to throw It on her.
Then sew* am* that a baby waa
expected. And auddenly the mother
weakened In the attitude ahe had
assumed toward Judy and Jack. She
began 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 erec
more bitter. The baby would mean
a final and complata link betwsan
Julia and tha Geraghtys. It meant
the start of a new branch of a family
tree In which the blood of the poor
Goraghtys blended with that of the
aristocratic Le Roys and Frenches.
Mr. French by this time refused to
meet ms wire, even outside ner nome.
He had forbidden her approaching
Julia or giving her any money, bnt
the mother Ignored hla orders and
helped prepare for the baby.
Then the baby came Mrs.
French swept ths baby and Judy in
her arms and defied her husband.
This was the
end.
Amos French
raged. He kept
on his side hla
sister, Elsie
V a n d e r blit,
and his sons,
who threatened
to horsewhip
Geraghty. And
the breach In
h 1 s domestic
affairs widened
so that he com
municated with
hla wife only
through bis
lawyers. H e
would not go
to Newport for
fear of meet
ing his grand
child running
about the
streets.
But ne nask-
ed In the hap
piness of his
o hot lest
daughter, Mrs.
Wagstaff. She
•las, has no children, but ahe is a
leader socially, and what more could
a father ask?
The Geraghtys. after the oaby
came, moved to Woburn, near Bag-
ton, to live. Mr*. French bought •