The southern press. [volume] (Washington City [i.e. Washington, D.C.]) 1850-1852, 1852-02-14
From The Columbia Is. CO. States Rights Republican
Obituary.

.
Died. at the residence of Mrs. Gen Hamilton.
on the 18th ult., Miss MARTHA M. CALHOUN,
aged &c years.
The brief interval since this sad occurrence,
may have SO assuaged the intensity of sorrow, as
to allow the minds of mourning kindred and
friends calmness sufficient for the contemplation
OF those qualities which, while she was living,
won their admiration, and now that she is dead.
swell the tide Of their grief.
In the death of Miss Calhoun, society has
sustained the loss of one of the most highly ac-
complished and gifted of its members. Tie
graces of body and mind were exhibited by this
lady in degree seldom found united in the
same individual These two orders of praces.
while they We'd with each other in the admra.
ton they excited, augmented and adorned one
the other, and thus brightly illustrated the
whole character of their possessor.
Her mental endowments and capacities were
indicative of a. Distinguishing genius. That
strength of intellect characteristic of uncommon.
minds, was attempered and enhanced by the re.
timing touches of womanly softness. Her mind
was masculine in its power, but so theron ghly
feminine in its cast, that all its exhibitions be-
tokened the brilliant iooman. Il was the mild
light of the moon, bearing the genial warmth of
the sunbeam. This rare developement was
strikingly displayed in her style of conversation.
Gay humor, deep penetration, sparkling wit,
sage Judgment, the knowledge Of study, and the
information of an enlightened observation, all
served to render her the central attraction and
ruling spirit OF every scene in which she par
.tclpated, and chained to her, with an absorbing
enchantment, the young and old, the learned, the
gay, the serious in fine, all who came within her
sphere. These made her the belle, without
the accustomed frivolities-the learned woman.
without her repulsve pedantry.
Her letters, as we'll as many fugitive pieces
and noyellettes, Of which she was the unknown
authoress, written merely to beguile the moment
OF leisure, claim for her high merit as writer,
and are the fruit which evidence the richness of
The producing mind.
To make her the more engaging in society,
there'w was superadded the endowment of most
extraordinary musical genius.
Her graces OF person were scarcely less
marked than those Of mind. She was graceful
in her every movement and action, while the per-
vading naturalness banished the suspicion of art
the most fearless and dashinp horsewoman of
our State. No finer picture could have presented
itself 10 the artists eye than herself, her pranc-
ing steed, and bounding greyhound AS they swept
-o'er the hills and dsles Of her romantic Keowee.
Little wonder is IL then, that such woman
should have beenihe admired Of the gayest CIR
cles OF Washington and her own State, and the
declared pride Of her uncle-the great Calhoun.
T" Few years but yield US proof CT Death 8 ambi-
ton
To Gull his victims from the fairest fold,
And sheaihe his shafts in all the pride OF life."
Thus, in this assemblsge of all that can rem.
der youth attractive on earth, an insidious and
lingering disease insinuates ITSELF and changes
our delight 10 sorrow. A removal from her resi-
dence, near Pendeton's village, TO the warmer at.
mosphere Of Columbia, failed to arrest the fatal
malady. Her death was that Of the Christian.
She consigned her spirit TO her Savior rs IL left IFS
mortal tenement and took its upward fight, leav-
ing 10 all the consolation that her removal, how
ever distressing to us, was for her a translation
to the peaceful realms Of The blessed.
|" Then wherefore weep her matchless spirit scars
Beyond, where splendid shines the orb Of day;
And weeping angels lead her TO those bowers
Where endless pleasures virtues deeds repay"