Rensselaer Republican, Volume 12, Number 46, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 6 August 1880 — A True History. [ARTICLE]

A True History.

Poor Blanche Bennett Is in the calaboose awaiting transfer to the insane asylum. No one would recognise in the wretchedly-clad, unwashed, stolid, stupid-looking maniac in her prison-cell, the young woman who, ten years ago, was abe je in Oi> cinna'L Her father was knd tn as the prince of insurance men, andf,>Tor a long time held the western agency of the JStna, retiring from the position to establish the Andes and Amazon companies. He was reputed to be worth S I,OOO,000, and lived with his family ie lifton, the world-famed suburb or the Queen Oity. The fete# given at Bennett place were events to be remembered for years. The father dearly loved toe girl, and spared no expense on her education, sending her to a fashionable convent, fir m which she emerged a highly finished , roung woman. She was an expert Trench scholar, a fine singer, <4 very pleasing address, and the life of the social gatherings at her fether's palace. Cincinnati was one morning startled by a rare scandal. Blanche Bennett had eloped with a young man named Frasier, who was penniless and without valuable social connection.

The yonng couple went to Chicago. They did. not live happily, juxd ia less than three months Chicago was regaled with the racy details of a divorce suit Blanche was very nretty at this time, and after the divorce was obtained she found no difficult/ in securing a large number of sympathizing male friends. She drifted to St. Louis when in the very heyday of her womanhood, and became at* once the sensation es the world in which she choee to move.

A well known saioon keeper, not now a resident of St Louis, took her from a house of ill-fame and supported her in ; irincely style for a long time But her i else and feeble nature led her to be untrue to this man, and the became the mis tress es a young man of fortune and sporting proclivities. At this period of her life sbe began to drink heavily and take morphine. Her mind, one of the brightest of the bright, became unsteady, and she attempted suicide one day. Her fri nd had her remove! to the insane asylum. Wh«n she was released she made her way straight to the room of this young man and, after making an attempt upon his lire, shot herseft In the breast In his presenoa Since then her decline has been rapid. Her mind has grown cloudier day by day. Her wardrobe, once worthy of a princess, has been replaced by the castoff clothing of negroes, aad she has walked through too streets the most pitiable of wrecks. People who knew her yean ago have passed her on the street without dreaming of her identity. Shortly after her elopement her father met with financial reverses, and was utterly ruined. Then the world openly talked about what they hod respected for a long time, and tort was, tost the mother of tire girl, % glorious looUng Monde, was untrue to her husband, sod had long been carrying ana Uasun with a celebrated minstrel performer. The family dropped out of uto-

broh—* hcisitart father is now occupy lag a miner position la connection with toe western agency of a great iaonraace company, which he eooe feiriy controlled. —St. Lmi* Pott-Ditpmtek.