The Democratic press. [volume] (Ravenna, O. [Ohio]) 1868-1901, 1869-09-09
= STaTESMAN,S WIFE.
Intesestlng Sketch of Mrs. Thomas


a STATESMAN'S WIFE.
Intcsesting Sketch of Mrs. Thomas H.
$1,000 Benton.
From AppleLons Journal
The subjoined sketch of an incident
in the life of Mrs. Thomas II, Benton
was furnished by relative of the late
Mr.. Benton's family and as we are in
formed, has not hitherto been pub
lished:
Nothing has been written of Mrs.
Benton, the wife of one who has been
called :. the Warwick OF the Democra-
ey." Yet hers was brilliant life for
nearly twenty years-brilIiant it
would have been from her own great
powers of mind alone.
In person she rescmbled so closely
Girard's portrait of Madame de Stel,
that the family think it better than
portraits made from fife of herself.
Her health was always good till III
her early married life she received
shock which entailed on her years of
suffering, finally causing her death.
A young girl, the daughter of an
inn keeper, in village near Mrs. Ben
toms Virginia home, had been betray-
ed, and through sorrow and shame
had lost her reason. In her frenzy
she had destroyed her babe, Mrs.
Benton, who knew her well, inter-
posed in her behalf, and had her sent
to the lunatic asylum in Staunton.
When she became calm and docile,
she was discharged As incurable, but
| harmless.
She was accustomed to wander
about the neighborbood of Mrs. Ben
toms residence, and to visit frequently
the house. When the family came
from Washington, she would come to
receive the presents brought her by
the lady and manifested the most ex-
travagant joy over them. She would
take home the pretty articles of dress
put them ON, and tell everybody that
| she was expecting " him." che" was
to return i'll the spring to marry Lher !;
| g see, dear Miss Betsey," had brought
her those wedding things. I
/ The servants at Mrs. Benton's called
her Old Sally" for she was no lon
ger a pretty girl, but an anxious,
Weatherbeaten, demented woman ;and
the white ribbons and flowers, and
bits of finery, were kept for her..
When wandering through the woods
and orchards in spring, too, she would
cover herself with white blossoms,
and go OH singing in high and wild
key. She always carried a heavy staff
usually the bough of young tree
but never offered harm to any one.
The only thing that moved her anger
was to hear any one say "he" was not
coming. This would bring her back
| to madness. ,..........
Whenever F." Miss Betsy" as snc al
WAYS called Mrs. Benton, was at home
Sally was fond ofcoming to the house
was gentle and pleased to be humored
in her sad fancy of making herself
beautiful for eyes that would never
look on her again. s1si
In the warm weather all the doors
in the house stood open all day.. One
day Sally came in stern mood
some one, child OF servant, having
crossed her-and entering, unperceiv-
ed, passed through the rooms to the
chamber where Mrs. Benton was ly-
ing on couch, resting after a walk.
Sally regarded the lady attentively as
she slept. Full of love and gratitude
to-her kind friend, she would have
done any thing to please her.
Some wild thought stirred in her
tangled brain as she gazed. She af-
terwards described it us vision. 90
saw her." she said, "sleeping there,
happy in her fathers house; [ knew
that wnen her baby was born her
father would curse her, and put her
out doors; and then he would never
come dack to her. / was determined
. | ! Ill Il l. 20, ol,
and be made miserable"
The wretched experience of the
poor woman had scared her brain, and
she nerved herself for her dreadful
task. Mr.. Bentou was in an adjoiu-
ing room, and heard the strange whis-
pering, broken by wild sobs. He
came in and saw the woman with hel
heavy bough uplifted, and ready to
dash it with all her force upon the
head of his unconscious wife. Spring
ing forward, he was just i'll time to
arreset and avert the death blow. The
maniac struggled violently in his GRASP
and he srove to hurl her away.
Mrs. Benton suddenly awakened
saw the furiously mad woman intent
on her deadly purpose, the descend.
ing bough and the desperate struggle
that ensued. The fright almost par.
alyzed her. The death of the infant
born soon after, and severe illness
that followed, prevented her recovery
from the fearful shock she had under.
gone. Thus was her constitution i'm.
paired, and the suffering begun, which
ended i'll complete breaking down
of the nervous system.
The seven years of invalid life that
followed, brought out the unseltisf
and loving care of Mr.. Benton, and
won from all who saw him more es.
| TEEN than his greatest public services
could command, The nature of ont
had acted on the other during theil
, time of health and, even when healtl
had departed, Mrs. Benton's noble
! principles, and the consistent use she
) had made in full strength of all hel
powers for good, still guided her hus
band. Her numerous and sustained
acts of charity may never be known
for she was always reticent, anC
t though cheerful, and quick of wit, shy
of revealing her deeper feelings. Blu
a the poor who came to her funeral
, the men in high position, who, stand
n ing by the dead, said to her daughter
t BuU lOf ncf was lOSt man.
: " What | am now l owe to her admo
5 nitions and encouragement'-tllc wo
men, suspected by all, who there con
fessed that she had secretly helped
them through the black hours whel
:, suicide or open Drawing of dishono
" seemed the only alternative left them
these, and the testimony of the faith
G full colored servants, who, freed by he
remained with her OH wages, wit
k messed, and showed by their griet
that neither station, nor wealth, no
: worldly honors, nor great powers o
mind, nor the allurements of fashion
able society, had been able to win he
u u to live for herself.
e Some observations, often made b.
If Mr.. Benton, and his gifted wife, illus
lc trted the character of each, Passion
Al OF,