Edward Julius Berwind, Susie's Lost Love?

On March 6, 1876 Susie wrote:

“I have said ‘Yes’ to J and Berwind thinks I love him above all others. Now that he has been away, I shall commence to a new regime. I confess I have flirted, but I must have someone to love me desperately and he does.”

Followed by this entry on March 8:

“I should have enjoyed anything this evening for I feel so happy. For why, in a series of temptations, a strife with my heart. With him whom I love. For alas, my hand is promised to another.”

March 9:

“Rushed home, to find E.J.B. in the parlor. He had come at five and waited for me. Of course every one in the house wanted to see him, and I only had about five minutes in which to say a word to him. My picture, he says has been the greatest comfort to him. I told him how much I had been out, &c. He says he does not find me changed. Is so glad to get home again. Perhaps he will not want to go away before long. H has raised a beard which when I get the chance shall ask him to shave off. It makes him look too old. We urged him to stay to dinner but he dined at Delmonico’s with some friends so could not. Promised to come and see me as soon as possible.”

When I first transcribed Susie’s journals in 2000, I thought the man she was referring to was named “Bernid.” It wasn’t until 2013—years later when Google searches were more commonplace that I was able to discover the identity of this mysterious man. I typed in “Edward J. Bernid, Philadelphia” and Google said, “Did you mean Edward J. Berwind, Philadelphia?” I was stunned to learn that the man Susie possibly loved before she married Bolton had recently retired from the Navy because of an injury, and was in the process of founding the Berwind-White Coal Company. His connections with the Navy paid off—Berwind-White became its largest supplier of coal, as well as a major exporter to the West Indies, South America, and Europe. His wealth placed him in the same financial category as J.P. Morgan and Andrew Carnegie. Like many others of his stature, he built a large “cottage” in Newport, RI called “The Elms,” which one can still tour today.

He also built an equally impressive home on Fifth Avenue and 64th Street in New York. It still stands but has been converted into a co-op.

Most of what Susie wrote was coded—as if she feared what might happen if someone read a confessional of her true feelings. She was engaged to “J” but couldn’t resist the attentions of E.J.B. Sadly, I couldn’t figure out who “J” was—he couldn’t have been Bolton Hall, her future husband, for she didn’t meet him until years later. Her friends (such as Baby Thomsen) suspected her predicament and gave her stern warnings.

March 9:

“I went around to Baby’s directly after my lesson and found out all about Berwind…Baby charged me not to give him the least bit of encouragement. ‘It is a sin my dear to make poor Berwind love you for you know my dear that you love someone else. ‘ Oh yes I know it is wrong, but I do like him (B) so much cannot a girl have a friend, without a lover?”

Was he merely a “friend,” or was there more? March 23 she went over to Baby’s for a dinner party:

“B was on his stoop waiting for me. We went in together. I learned upon arriving that 14 were to be at the table. I had worn my black silk thinking that it was to be a family dinner. To my delight I saw Herman as I went in the door. Baby had arranged his place next to mine at table… Herman listened (or rather tried to) about E.J.B. Said that I had a quarrel with him and was putting him through agonies of jealousy… I could feel Nid’s eye upon me every few moments, and although he talked constantly to Ida, ‘his mind “as she afterwards told me, “was with his vis a vis… After dinner Berwind came and sat near me, but as everyone was looking at and talking about us, he only said a few words. “I wish I could see you a little while, I have not had the chance to really talk to you since I came from Europe.” &c. He left at 10:30 o’clock and he (B) on the corner of 20th street gave me a bit of paper. I could hardly wait till I reached home to read it.”

What was on that paper? We’ll never know… March 29:

“Went around to Baby’s in the afternoon. She asked me if I had seen Berwind and I said no, which she did not believe. In the evening the dear child came and I was radiant. Papa talked to him about business, and I only saw him alone for minutes. He startled me by saying ‘Susie I came to tell you that I shall probably sail for Europe on Saturday. The air seemed to whirl around and I could scarcely believe my ears. It was not fully decided but he should know the next day. I would much rather not have seen you at all than to have one glimpse and only one.’ &c.”

April 1:

“I flew to Baby’s and while I was talking with her the bell rang and Berwind was there… After talking awhile with him, Mrs. [Baby’s mother] said well you must get a wife over there, he answered that he supposed he would have to get another girl. ‘Yes, you have to. Susie loves someone else, that I am sure of,’ &c. Imagine dear journal my feelings…We said good bye, and he was gone. I couldn't not help showing my regret.”

Edward went to Europe and Susie continued to receive many gentlemen callers—oddly, she never mentioned anyone consistently that could have been J—with the exception of Jim Harriman, Emeline and Anne’s brother (see “My Visit to Nonesuch” for more about them). Edward returned on May 16, and he promptly paid Susie a call the next day.

“I got up at 7 o’clock and sent Catherine off with a note to Mr. Berwind. I got an answer saying he would be around 9:30. He did not get her till after ten… How handsome he looked. I felt like kissing and telling his so but xxx. He gave me a lovely picture he had struck off for me in Hamburg. He seemed so happy to be home again. He took my hand and kissed it. I heard him once say darling.”

Things heated up on May 18. She met Edward’s mother and later that evening he escorted her to a cotillion. “Well, evening arrived and with it Berwind, long before I was ready… I wore my white thin dress. He looked handsome as a picture… Ned Spencer, George Pell, and Faulkner Pierce asked me to dance the german with them, but I could not (and besides would not). Mr. Berwind and I spent a great part of the evening in the little Reception Room, much to the talk of such girls as Kittie and Ida, and some of the men. I had a very good time. We talked long and affectionately together, he said he had __things from me that he would not have from another human being… B drove home with me, and it was very cosy.”

May 24:

“Dear Berwind came to see me. I thought he was very quiet. He took my hand/we were quite alone, and kissed it/and told me how miserable I made him. What can I tell the man. I like him and don’t want to give him up (?). After last night and this evening I feel weak, and puzzled. I scarcely know what to do.”

Susie’s last mention of Edward is on May 30. “In the evening Old Bramwell came, and at 9 o’clock, Berwind. I was in my chemise, but quickly flew into my clothes. Of all the nice evenings I have spent with him that was one of the best. Dear Berwind, I am getting very fond of him, and he is fond of me. I am afraid to find, poor darling. I am sure that is a little innocent attention, which anyone would allow.”

Edward eventually met his wife, Sarah Torrey in Italy in 1886. Sarah’s father was the American Counsul to Genoa—her family was at the center of the American expatriate artistic colony around Florence, Genoa and Rome in the mid to late 19th Century.

Edward and Sarah’s engagement photograph

Susie went on to marry Bolton Hall in 1884. Apparently, the Halls maintained a friendship with the Berwinds—as I discovered when I read Bolton’s unpublished autobiography.

The relationship between Susie and Edward both fascinated and frustrated me when I first began to research for my novel. Who was Susie engaged to? Why did they break it off? Was Edward an infatuation or were they in love? If so, why didn’t they marry? Their story had the elements of a romance, but the details were too murky—I didn’t want to write a speculative novel about Susie.

My work sputtered—there were too many holes, I had an obligation to Susie’s relatives. It was only when I decided to write a novel inspired by characters similar to Susie Scott Hall (Lucy Young), Bolton Hall (Colman Young), and Edward Berwind (Ned Babcock) that my the novel I’m currently writing (on the 3rd draft) began to take shape.