There is something inescapably fascinat-ing about celebrity gossip. "Jessica Simpson dates John Mayer!" "Kid Rock and Pamela Anderson wed!" But gossip is really fascinating when it involves one of the original creators of the University.
Stanford White was a pretty popular guy back in the day. He was hired to rebuild the Rotunda after it burned down in 1895, and he was the one who closed off the Lawn with Cabell, Cocke and Rouss. But the most interesting story about Stanford White is really just a bit of old-school celebrity gossip.
Not only was Stanford White a good architect, he was quite the ladies' man. What other guy is historically known for roping his mistresses onto a giant plush velvet cushion in his love nest? But, despite his womanizing ways, White finally met his match in a chorus girl named Evelyn.
In his traditional manner, White invited Evelyn back to his place for some champagne and conversation. After giving her a tour of his glamorous home, he showed her the pièce-de-resistance -- his red velvet swing. White invited Evelyn to swing and, as expected, they flirted as he swung her back and forth.
Exhausted, they sat down to "chat," and Stanford White continued to sweet talk her. Like the stud he was, Stanford White won Evelyn over by promising to have his dentist fix her teeth first thing in the morning! To seal the deal, he sent Evelyn home with his dentist's card and a promise to see her tomorrow.
Evelyn, apparently not as sensitive as most girls, was delighted. The only problem was -- you guessed it -- her mother.
Evelyn's mom was a smart lady, and she refused to allow White to pay for Evelyn to go to the dentist. Evelyn pouted, saying, "But Stanford said that the only thing ruining my smile was my bad tooth!" So finally, Evelyn's mom gave in, and quickly after the dentist appointment, White set Evelyn up in a nice hotel.
What happens next is a little confusing. Evelyn relates several versions of the story, but regardless of what the real version is, it is clear that Stanford White took advantage of Evelyn. She decided to remain his mistress, later stating that she believed no other man would have her.
Though this story is shaping up to be a tragedy, in the end, White gets its just desserts. You see, Evelyn was still the sexy, smouldering lady she had always been (only now with a great smile), and she attracted the attentions of multi-millionaire Harry K. Thaw as well as the young John Barrymore. Flitting among the three was difficult, and it eventually caught up to Evelyn, who was struck with "appendicitis" and forced to enroll in an all-women's school for nine months.
Thaw continued to see her, and he ultimately proposed, believing her "appendicitis" to really be appendicitis. Yet, he asked her, "Are you really pure?" Evelyn wanted to begin their relationship with the truth, so she told him, "I've been seeing Stanford White." Thaw was furious, and in his anger, he murdered Stanford White. It became the trial of the century, and was on the cover of newspapers everywhere. Thaw was only able to get acquitted by declaring his insanity, and you can bet that he had no chance of reconciling with Evelyn by then.
The University has had its fair share of scandals, but White truly brings in a whole new dimension. At the very least, it gives you something to think about while sitting in discussion in Cabell Hall.
Maryann's column runs bi-weekly on Tuesdays. Shecan be reached at maryann@cavalierdaily.com.
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