Staunton spectator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1896, 1853-10-12
From the Nc,c Orleans Della.
A Romantic Life.


Romantic Life.
Obituary notices have nearly monopolized ou
pen of late. There are few eras In our history
which have been marked by SO many deaths
prominent individuals, as the last three months.
In our obituary columns, to day, will be fount
another addition to the list of remarkable de
ceased, in the death of Madam Zulme Gardette
the mother of Dr. Gardette, of this city, and o
Mrs. Myra Clark Gaines. She died in this city
at the residence of her son, d.. Gardette, at thu
advanced age of seventy-eight years
This lady was the heroine of that intensely IN
teresting romance in real life, which was devel
oped in the celebrated lawsuit of Mrs. Gaines:
Her Maiden name was Zulime Carrlere. She
was born in the old French colony of Biloxi
Her parents were emigrants from the land OF poe
trv and remance-the favorite home OF the Irou-
badours-Provnce. The blood of the Gipsy race.
which, in the early days of Louisiana, settled a.
long our sea coast, and whose lovely daughters
were the special objects of the admiration and
love of the gallant French cavaliers who estab-
lished the first colonies, mingled with that OF the
poetic Provincial. From such stock, 1t is not
remarkable that Zulime Carriere should have de-
rived extraordinary personal beauty. The charms
of herself and her three sisters, were universal
themes of admiration in the colony of Louisiana.
The warm and genial climate, and luxurious at
mosphere of the sea shore, ripened these charms
into full maturity at very early age. Zullme
had hardly emerged into her teens, before her hand
was sought by numerous suitors. The successful
aspirant gained his point, as Claude Melnotte IN
Bulwer's play did-by holding an imaginary cor
ouet, or other insignia of nobility, before the eyes
of beautiful, but unsuspecting girl of thirteen
She was caught by the glittering bait. The
French nobleman soon dwindled into confectlon-
er, and, what was worse, a married man, who
had never been divorced. He was arrested and
tried by an ecclesiastical court in this city, for
bigamy-was convicted and sentenced to be pun
ished. but afterwards escaped. and was no more
heard of. Thus ended Zulime's relation with Je-
rome DE Grange.
Pending this proceeding, and after the discove-
ry of De Grange's previous marriage there grew
up an intimacy between Zulime and Daniel Clark
then leading man in this colony,-a dashing,
whole souled Irishman reported 10 be very veal
thy-of very popular character and agreeable
manners. Clark was just the gallant, chivalrous
man to espouse the cause of an unprotected and
wronged woman.
1t is said-but as from this point starts the pro-
tracted litigation which has recently engaged so
much of the time and attention of our courts-we
must be understood as giving the version related
by the deceased lady herself and her friends, that
Clark having met Zuli.ne in Philadelphia, and
satisfied himself as to the existence of De Gran
ge's bigamy, and the consequent nullity of his
marriage with Miss Carrier, promptly offered her
his hand and heart, but suggested the prudence Of
keeping their marriage secret, until they could
complete the proof of De Oranges crime. They
were then married. Of this marriage but one wit
ness was living when the suit was brought by
Mrs. Gaines, and that was the sister of Zulime.
But there were curroborating circumstances, upon
which the proof of the reality of such connection
was rested. After her marriage to Clarke, in lo-
OF, Zulme returned to New Orleans, to take fur
ther legal proceedings to invalidate, or rather au-
thentcate, the illegality of the marriage with DE
Grange A suit was brought for this purpose in
the civil courts of the territory ,and judgment was
OBJ btained against De Grange. In the meantime,
Clark had advanced in years and honors. The
gallant youth, of 1905, had become the ambitious
politician and millionaire. AS the popular man
of powerful party, he was sent DELEGATE OF the
Territory to Congress. Here he soon forgot the
poor Creole girl, and began to mediate more
brilliant marriage connection. The object of this
aspiration was the lovely Miss Canton, of Mary
land, a grand daughter of Charles Carroll. Of
Carrollton who afterwards became the Marchlness
of Wellesley. She was great belle, and Clark's
fine manners, distinguished position and great
wealth, no doubt, rendered him quite desirable
match for so brilliant and accomplished beauty.
They were engaged but some stories of his enc
mics caused a sudden termination of their rela-
tons On hearing of his courtship of Miss Can
a. g. Tn
delphia to procure proofs of her marriage with
the influence of reckless ambition had made way
with those proofs, and poor Zulme again found
herself the victim of mans treachery. In feel
ing of deserton and helplessness, alone among
strangers, whose language and habits wDse foreign
to her, she accepted the hand of d aydette,
who generously and magnanimousy, 4EE&ng on
her truth and sincerity united his Fate and fortune
with hers From that period her life flowed
smoothly on in the discharge of her duties as a
wife and mother.
Shortly after her marriage with Gardette, Clarke
had suffered his severe rebuff from the lovely
Miss Canton. In spirit of true penitence, he hur-
ried to Philadelphia, saw Zulime, and declared
his determination to proclaim their marriage
But it was too late She informed him that she
was Mrs Gardette. Clark was deeply distressed
at this, and exhibited sincere penitence. He
sought to atone for his desertion OF the mother by
kindness to the daughter, who was born in 1906 of
This secret marriage. This was Myra Clark
She was placed in charge of an intimate friend
of Clark, Colonel Davis, who raised and educated
her as his own daughter. 1t was not till she had
reached maturity, that Myra discovered the Sc
cret of her history. Since then ,as Mrs. Whitney
and as Mrs. Gaines, she has prosecuted her claim
to the property of Daniel Clark, as his lawful
heir, with zeal, earnestness and energy, which
have rarely been equalled in the annals of litiga
tion. The difficulty has been to establish the
marriage between Zulime and Daniel Clark
Certainly.a mystery has long hung over this case,
which only the dead could rise from their graves
and satisfactorily determine.
The once lovely Zulime assing through so ma
ny reverses and misfortunes, returned, in her old
age, to New Oreans-her old home-and passed
peaceful and happy life,in the family of her son
respected aud beloved Ior her many virtues. She
died at the age of seventy the youngest Of
her family-two of her sisters having attained
their niHetieth year, a longevity common to the
old inhabitants Of Louisiana, and particularly Of
those born on our sea coast.
WHAT HE DIED oF.-We overheard the fol.
lowing dialogue between an alderman and the wife
of an Irish shoplfter:
"What's gone of your husband. woman %
'What's gone of him, yer honor? Faith ant
he's gone dead"
"Ah! Pray, what did he die of?"
"Die of, yer honor2 he died of Friday"
81 don't mean what day of the week, but wha
complaint 2"
"Oh. what complaint, yer honor faith and it's
himself that did not get time TO complain"
.sOh nh ah-ho diad crJJo,Ir ~,