Spirit of the age. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1849-1865, 1854-03-22

TaNirg' Neaartmrut.
Romantic Life.

~ ~ haA AANA@@N
rs the last three months.
In our obituary columns to-day will be
found another addition to the list ofremark-
able deceased, in the death Of Madam Zu-
lime Gardette, the mother of DIR. Gardette
Of this city, and of Mrs. MyraC Clark Gaines.
She died in this city, at the residence Of
her son, DIR. Gardette, at the advanced age
Of seycnty-eight years.
This lady was the heroine of that inten-
scly interesting romance in real life, which
was developed in the celebrated lawsuit of
Mrs. Gaines.
Her maiden name was Zulime Carriere.
She was born in the old French colony of
Biloxi. Her parents were emigrants from
the land Of poetry and romance--the fayo
rite home Of the observation-disclosures.
The blood Of the Gipscy race, which, in the
carly days Of Louisiana, settled along our
sea coast, and whose lovery daughters were
the special objects Of the admiration and
love Of the gallant French cavaliers who es-
tablidhed the FIRST colonies, mingled with
that Of the poetic Provincial. From such
a stock, it is not remarkable that Zulime
Carriere should have derived 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
atmosphere Of the sea shore, ripened these
charms into full maturity at a very early
age. Zulime had hardly emerged into her
teens before her hand was sought by numer-
Gus suitors. The successful aspirant gained
his point, as Claude Melnotte in Bulwers
play did, by holding an imaginary %coronet,
or other insignia ofnobility, before the eyes
Of the beautiful but unsuspecting girl of
thirteen. She was caught by the glittcring
bait. The French nobleman soon dwindled
into q confcctioncr, and what was worse, a
married man, who had never been divorced.
He was arrested and tried by an ecclesias-
teal court in this city for bigamy, was con-
victed, and sentenced to be punished, but
afterwarl escaped, and was no more heard
of. Thus ended Zulime's relation with
Jerome De Grange.
Pending this proceeding, and after the
discovery ofDe Oranges previous marriage,
there grew up an intimacy between Zulima
and Daniel Clark, then a leading man in
this colony, a dashing, whole.souled Irish
man, reported to be very wealthy, of very
popular character and agreeable manners
Clark was just the gallant, chivalrous man
to espouso the cause of an unprotected and
wronged woman.
1t is said-but as from this point starts
the protracted 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 Zulime in Philadelphia, and
satisfied himself as to the existence of DC
Oranges bigamy, and the consequent null
lily Of his marriage with Miss Carriere
promptly offered her his hand and heart
suggested the prudence Of keeping thei
mnrriare o secret. until they could com
They were then married. Ofthis marriag
but one witness was living when the sui
was brought by Mrs. Gaines, and that wa
the sister Of Zulime.
But there were corroborating circun
stances upon which the proof of the realit
of such a connection was rested. After he
marriage to Clark, in 1902, Zulime retul
ned to New Orleans, to take further lega
proceeding to invalidate, or rather authen
t%icate, the illegality Of the marriage wit
De Grange. A suit was brought for thi
purpose in the civil courts of the territory
and judgement was obtained against ID
G.ange. In the mean time Clark had &C
vanced in years and honors. The gallar
youth Of 1902 had become the ambition
politician and millionaire. As the popula
man of a powerful party, he was sent a Dc
legate ofthe territory to Congress. Her
he soon forgot the poor Creole girl, and b.
gan to mediate n more brilliant marrial
connection.
The object of this aspiration was I'll
lovely Miss Cation of Maryland, a gran
daughter Of Charles Carroll of Carrolltol
who afterward became the Marchioness
Wellesley. She was n great belle, an
Clark fine manners, distinguished position
and great wealth, no doubt, rendered hil
quite Il desirable match for so brilliant an
accomplished a beauty. They were enga
ged but some stories ofhis enemies cause
u sudden termination of their relations
On hearing of his courtship of Miss Gator
the unfortunate Zulimc again went to Phi
%adelphia to procure proofs of her marriae
with Clark. But, alas Clark, it was all,
ged, under the influence of q reckless an
bition, had made way with these proof
and poor Zulime again found herself til
victory Of man. trcachcry. In a feeling
descrtion and helplessness, alone anon
strangers, whose language and habits wei
foreign to her, she accepted the hand
DR.. Gardettc, who generously and magyar
imously, relying on her truth and sincerit,
united his fate and fortune with hers
From that period her life flowed smooth
on in the discharge of her duties as a wi
and mother.
Shortly after her marriage witk GA
dette, Clark had suffered his severe rebu
from the lovely Miss Cation. In a spin
Of true penitence he hurried to PhiladC
phia, saw Zulime, and declared his dete
animation to proclaim their marriage. B
twas too late. She informed him that 81
was Mrs. Gardctte. Clark was deeply d
tressed at this, and exhibited a since
penitence. He sought to atone for his d
sertion Of the mother, by kindness to Il
daughter, who was born in 1896, of til
secret marriage. This was Myra Clark
She was placed in charge Of an iutima
friend of Clark, Colonel Davis, who raise
and educated her as his own daughter.
was not until she had reached maturi
that Myra discovered the secret of her hi
tory,