The Idaho world. [volume] (Idaho City, Idaho Territory) 1864-1918, 1872-04-18
IDAHO WORLD.
From Woods Household Magazine.
THE WIFE OF BENEDICT ARNOLD.
BIZ JAMES PARTON.

We catch our first view of this un
happy lady on bright May day, in
IT'S, when she took part in a famous
and splendid pageant at Philadelphia
She was then beautiful girl of 49,
Miss Margaret Shippen-the daughter
of an opulent and ancient Philadelphia
family, and one of the reigning bellies
of that town. Her ancestors were
among the first settlers of Pennsylvania,
and her great grandfather was the first
Mayor of Philadelphia. In the course
of time, the family had acquired great
possessions; and, laying aside the Qua
ker garb, had become members of the
Church of England. During the con-
troversy between the thirteen colonies
and the King, which ended in the revo-
lutionary war, Edward Shipper, her
father, the head of the family, was in
clined to the Kings side.
1t was May the eighteenth, IT'S. For
many months the British army had been
quartered in Philadelphia, commanded
by Maior-General Sir William Howe,
The General had now been superseded,
and was about to return to England.
The officers of the army, a wealthy
class who had nothing to do, seized the
occasion of his retirement to amuse
themselves by giving grand festival
in his honor; and this was the day
upon which it was held.
The affair began by a grand regatta
upon the Delaware river; or, rather
long procession of galleys and barges,
filled with officers and ladies, which
were rowed slowly down the whole
length of the city, in an avenue formed
by the shore crowded with spectators,
and line of men-of.war and transport
ships, gaily dressed with flags and
streamers. At half-past four in the af-
ternoon, the barges began to move, the
oars keeping time to martial music;
and when they had arrived opposite
Market street they all lay upon their
oars, while the bands played God save
the King" after which the soldiers gave
three cheers. Continuing their course,
the company were conveyed past the
city to where a grand tournament was
to take place; and it was in this por-
ton of the entertainment that Margaret
Shipper shone. A spacious field, sur
rounded by troops, had been prepared
for the contest. Upon one side were
stationed all the bands of music in the
army. There were also two pavilions,
with rows of benches one above the
other, filled with the most distinguished
ladies of the city.
On the front scat Of each Of these
pavilions, were placed seven of the most
beautiful young ladies Pennsylvania
could boast. They were dressed in Tur-
Rish acknowledgements tunics and tur-
bans-and in their turbans they wore
the favors with which they intended to
reward the knights who were to con-
tend in their honor Among these love
ly maidens sat Miss Margaret Shipper.
One of the knights who figured in the
tournament was Captain Andre, her ia
miliar acquaintance. Little could either
of them have thought, on this bright
day, how fatally their destinies were
involved.
The trumpet sounded. The herald
appeared. The challenge was delivered,
and the contest occurred; which ended
without loss of blood, to the satisfaction
of all concerned. At the conclusion of
the tournament, the company were ush-
cred into magnificent ballroom, deda
Grated, we are told, by eighty-ive mir
rors, aud lighted by thirty-four branch
es of wax candles. The ball was opened
by the fourteen bellies in Turkish dress,
and their fourteen knights-one Lieu
tenant Sloper being the knight who led
Miss Shipper out to the dance. At ten
o'clock the windows were thrown open,
and splendid display of fireworks
was exhibited.
At twelve, large folding doors, which
had hitherto been concealed, were sud-
denly thrown open, which revealed a
gorgeous saloon, two hundred and ten
feet long, forty feet wide, and twenty
two feet high, with three alcoves on
each side. This was the supper room.
Upon the tables there were twelve hun
dred dishes. AS the guests entered the
room, a great number of black slaves in
oriental costume, ranged in two lines,