Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1871-08-09

the New DIRK Herald IA lew Gays ago INC
telegraph disseminated the information that
Mrs. Sallie w ard Hunt, Of Louisville, had
sued some gentleman for breach Of promise,
assessing the damage to her affections at $500,
GOO. It has subsequently TRANSFERRED that the
name of the gay deceiyer was Newcomb. or
his position in life and his means to meet 50
large O financial draft upon his credit, we remain
uniformed
The lady and her family have been noted III
the annals of the country Twenty years ago
she was belle in Louisville, and her personal
charms brought numerous admirers to her feet.
Those who knew her well and remember the
events of that period distinctly say that her
attractions were by no means overrated. She
was Of the softer blonde style Of beauty, tall
and stately, with all those qualities Of face and
figure that delight and enchant the beholdcr.
Her manners we're winning rather because OF
their ease and negligent abandon than because
of the quiet grace and good breeding that comes
| of thought and culture. 80.
About the year 1853 Sallie Ward was united
in marriage to son of Abbott Lawrence, the
Boston millionaire. The nuptials were ccle-
brated with splcndor remarkable evenin Lou
isyille, where things were then done in prlncely
| fashion. The union did not result happily
The pair went to Boston and lived with the
| parents of the bridegroom fora brief. period;
| 1t would be idle to attempt to reproduce all
the gossip of the time. After few weeks the
parties separated, anda few months later,
through the great influence OF the Ward family
they we're divorced by special act of the Leg
islature of Kentucky. The plea was incom-
patibility of temper Public opinion in Lou
isville was divided on the merits OF the case.
Elsewhere the sympathy was principally with
Mr. Lawrence. 1t was said that the Wltul
1 southern girl brought from her distant home
her accustomed freedom of manner and license,
of action, which proved too much for northern
nrimncss and decorun 1t was alleged that she
treated the elite of Boston atthc family recep-
tons with grevious disrcspcct. On the other
hand, it was affirmed that unnecessary restraint
was attempted by her prudish mother.in- law,
who even went su far as to forbid the bride to
repair with rouge her charms, which soon began
to be wasted by the shrewd nipping air. OF the
New England coast. -.
! After the divorce Miss Ward sought relief
once more in the society of Louisville But
other family. troubles came soon after. Her
brother Matt Ward, killed, q school teacher
named Butler, who he thought, had too Sc
yerely chastised young brother. The ex-
element consequent upon this murder WAS
general and the perpetrator was forced to leave
Louisville The social relations of the family
were considerably disturbed, but not broken
by this event. The gay life Of the young lady
continued Matt went South, and was killed
under peculiar circumstances in Arkansas
Some years later the divorced lady married 4
DR.. Hunt physician in good standing in Lou
isyille. The domestic happiness of the couple
was infnitesimal He went into the army Us 4
surgeon, and coming home to practice died here
about three years ago IN sudden and singular
! manner.
The Ward family have of late years been
in reduced circumstances The old mansion on
| Walnut street was used as headquarters by
Gen. Thomas during the late war, and since
then SalHc and her mother have either lived
humbly in the suburbs or in plain and retired
ou arters within the city. The appearance OF
Mrs. Hunt again in pubic, and with such
peculiar concomitants, cannot but be painful to
her friends and will revive all the old disagree
able "reminiscences.
THE GAME OF Fly Loo--The story about
the new" game Of fly loo is in its annual
rounds again. The version is this year given
by the Cincinnati Commercial, and iSas follows :
The detestable canker that destroys men )
souls had made its appearance among the little
community Of pleasure seekers at the elbow
Springs under the auspices OF a celebrated alder,
man otthis city, who is notorious TOR the alacrl-
ty with which he will bet on anything from the ju-
venile of 'pcS pc to the relative length of
straw to be plucked out Ola hay-stack and in the
enticing form Of Fly Loo. 1t is in testimony
that every afternoon from twenty to thirty
of the very flower Of our mercantile population
retire to a private room, and under locks and
bolts give themselves up to this satanic game.
| tbn,, Ia,
table, each with lumpo Of sugar, and card
bearing in plain letters his responsible name
and representing 50 much, money in front OF
him, and, with a silent gravity that would be.
come watch meeting, and the ly.concealed
anxiety of men stalking their all on the cast OF
q die, await the advent of the first fly. On the
buzzing insect comes, sweeping now toward
this lump, then vcering off toward that, send
inc thrill after thrill of anllci pated triumph or
exDectcd disappointment through the frames
of the anxious watchers At last the agony
is over. The atomic insect, all unconscious OF
the important part he is playing, the reversals
of fortune that he is causing, settles lightly
upon q particular lump Of saccharlne, and ~
disgusted men lose from So to S25 each, while
the delighted representative of the sweet NOR
sci chosen scoops in the whole pile. This de
cides one hand at the digniied game which
has run poker, sevcn-up' and Boston com;
petely away from the Springs, and another and
another not, and pots ad infnituul are made
up and won and lost in the close, hot room,
while the deserted ladies are ianguishlng for Il
little male conversation below.
The MocKING BIRDS SONIA very curl
Gus incident, illustrative of the power which
can be exercised over the animal creation by
= kindness and careful training, occurred but
few DAYS ago (says Nashville paper, at Scots
vile Kentucky. The sister Of Officer Harry
Mansfield, of the city, had raised knocking
bird, which she taug hit to 70 and come at her
call, and, which, in return for all the kindness
bestowed upon it, exhibited peculiar tondneS;
was taken i'll, and 10 while away the tedium Of
the sick room, she had her little pet brought; to
her bedside, and day and night it cheered her
with its sweet carols, bringing to mind many
happy thoughts of field and meadow, sunshine
1 n 1lrrp n Or