New Orleans Republican. [volume] (New Orleans, La) 1867-1878, 1870-09-11
THE DIAMOND WEDDING AND ITS
SEQUEL.
Sonora Frances Bartlett de OviedO.
IEro,n the New York Tribunel

Sonora Frances Bartlett de OviedO.
From the New York Tribune.l
Ever since the marriage. in 1859. OF Miss
Bartlett. of this city, to Senior de ovledo.
of Havana, gossip has been ri1e III regard
to their marital relations, and the supposed
lamentable fate of the young LADY. Inc
senor so report said, was Lum5ug, an
imposter. an ogre. a negro! His millions
had dwindled into hundreds; his famous
Jewels giving rise to Stedman's poem OF the
diamond Wedding, were One-half paste,
and the other half hired for the occasion.
The bride was neglected, abused, and I'M
bappy: and at one time it was industriously
reported that she was residing III one OF
the rooms Of her mothers residence in
Brooklyn, brOken-hearted, her pride and
shirt alike crushed. Again, 1t was widely
circulated, with triumphant Il told you
so' air, and copied by the city and pro
vincial journals, that she was gaining a
scanty living by her needle in New York.
The death Of Senior dc Oviedo, and the fact
of his having failed to make will. has
given fresh impetus to the penny-a-lners.:
The writer of this was an intimate friend
of Captain Bartlett and his family, residing
ut the same hotel at the time of their intro
duction to the senior. Miss Bartlett added
to rare blonde beauty most stately form
and gracious presence, infinite grace and
charm of manner and mind highly cult
waited; she also spoke Spanish and French
with great hucncy. That the millionaire
was fairly enslaved created no surprise.
even among the enviOus. From the day of
their introduction the rarest flowers were
daily offered at her throne, until, as time
passed and the engagement was an
nounced, other gifts Of the most elegant and
costly natUre were added.
After the marriage, which acquired Il
notoriety painful to the refined nature of
the young lady. the senior dwelt happily i'll
Cuba, home being to him the happiest spot
on earth. That home, whittier in Havana
or upon one of his plantations. was rem
dered an earthly paradise. a fairy land
in its surroundings, briGhtened by
its beautiful and accomplished pre-
siding genius. All Americans who
have been welcomed to the family circle of
the de OviedOs, can testify to the warm,
large-hearted hospitality of the late senior
and the winning grace of the hostess. AT
one time during the sickly season. an
American gentleman was seized in the street
with that terrible coNa which plecedes an
attack OF yellow fever AS attendants were
taking him to the hospital, Senior de Oviedo
Immediately sent for one of his carriages,
pillows. etc. and had the unconscious suf-
ferer conveyed to his plantation at Trinl-
dad there, after the fierce fever had been
successfullyibattled with, one can fancy the
surprise and gratitude of the stranger on
recovering his reason, to find himself III a
large, airy rOom exquisite i'll all OF its APP
pointmcnts. watched over by the Sonora de
Oviedo herself, who was relieved by the
senior and experienced nurses. Nor was the
gentleman permitted to leave that beautiful
home until perfectly recovered. This is
only olic instance among many III tue
writer's knowledge. of the de OvIetios'
charity and Observation-Disclosures.
The senior had been martyr 10 rheuma-
tism for many years: his wifes attention
was as devoted as unceasing. until death
suddenly claimed him. Sonora de Ovledo
had the misfortune to lose her father, mother,
and only brother few years ago. The
latter visited his sister with his young bride,
hoping to find health in that climate, but he
died at the home plantation at Trinidad. OF
rapid consumption. and his young widow.
daughter Of a well known New \ DIRK family,
was at once accepted as Il loved sister Ivy
the De Ovicdos. Sonora de Oviedo has been
appointed administrators of her husbands
estate by the Government: as such has
given perfect satisfaction. She has always
enjoyed a handsome private fortune. settled
Upon her by her husband, and she Will re-
ceive a very large addition from the estate
She continues living i'll the same elegant
luxury as during her husbands life. her
mornings closely devoted to business, her
evenings to receiving her friends. Her
present intention is to remain during each
winter in Cuba until that distracted coun-
try becomes settled, passing her summers
either at the North or in Europe SO strong
is her love for the Pearl of the Antilles"
that she has no desire to leave It perfna-
u(ntly.