The Charleston daily news. [volume] (Charleston, S.C.) 1865-1873, 1872-04-17
MYSTERIOUS MRS. MASON.
As OLD ACQUAINTANCE IN NEW GU1sE
The History OF a Beautiful Erunette-
Her Perils by Flood and Field.

/. A correspondent of the New York World
gives the following history Of the mysterious
Mrs. Mason, whom, no doubt, q good many
Charlestonians have reason to remember.
Mrs. Mason is now said to have been con-
nected with the sales of arms to the French
observation-disclosures her temperance in
print. The correspondent says:
Mrs. Mason was born in Virginia, some thirty
years ago, and grew to womanh0od there and
In Baltimore, In which last city she became
engaged to be married to 8 distinguished Call.
fornIan, who wounded Broderiok In q duel,
and who, dying before their marriage, left her
q handsome Income Of which she was defraud-
ed. Her family having removed 10 Washing.
ton abe resided here several years before the
war, and until che was allowed upon a pass
specially granted by General Scott, In the fall
Of 1861, to cross the 'sIines" into Virginia upon
Important family affairs. Crossing the Poto.
mac In q small, frsil boat, her Journey to Rich-
mond was full of hardship and romantic Incl.
dents, for she was suspected by the rebel au-
thorlties. WHIT for some time regarded her. as
ever. for she was taken under a flag Of truce"
to Norfolk or Fortress Monroe, and turned
over, according to the newspapers of The day,
as an allen enemy" expelled from the Con-
federacy. It is alleged, however, that this
was q mere cloak to conceal an Important mis-
sion with which che had been entrusted at
Richmond, and for which her peculiar talents,
studies and inclination appeared to fit her.
One thing Is certain at least. She did not enter
Virginia on any other errand than personal
business.
Returning to Washington she resided ap-
parently at one Of the principal hotels, attract
ing a good deal of attention from prominent
military men and politicians. until finally ar
rested and thrown into the "Old Capitol
communication with the rebel authorities and
having begulled information from a high staff
officer. Carlously enough, 1t is thought she
owed her arrest to a rival emiseary, the fa.
nous Mrs. Greenough. After several months
Incarceration, no proof having been found
against her, abe was released, but required to
return to the South, presenting In the person
Of one delicate .womaa the strange spectacle
o fbeing expelled alternately from the terrific
ry Of two giant %belligerent powers, or tossed
ike q shuttlecock from one TO the other. She
was even sent under the escort of an officer to
the Confederate lines on James River.
Az an Illustration Of her cleverness, 1t Is
told on good authority that, having q hand
some Confederate flag for General B%eauregard,
and finding that her baggage would be
she folded 1t within her shawl, which was
proudly and gallantly carried upon the arm OF
The officer General Buel) intrusted by the
government with her expulsion from the terri.
tory OF the United States.
For the rest of the war Mrs. Mason seems to
have resided at Charleston. g.. c., where she
| was when that city fell into Federal possession
In February, 1866, and soon after which she
was allowed to return to her family In thai
| city, with whom she has been residing ever
since.
HER PERSONAL APPEARANCE.
She Is a brunette Of the most decided type,
with purple.black hair, dark brown eyes, and
although:o Of small, delicate figure. is Of singu.
la1ly striking appearance. with the air and
manner of q French rather than an American
| woman. She has read a great deal, although
irregularly. aud Is exceedingly we'll Informed
| abont matters that do not generally Interest
women, especially political affairs and hlstorl.
cal subjects. Thoroughly feminine 10 appear
ance, her turn OF thought is-maseAltae, Sht
| converses with 1uelcy and earnestness In
musical. seductive voice, and Is most attract
i've for clever men, with whom the attraction
arises from mental rather than physical quail
ties, although at times she Is very pretty.
It has attracted general notice that q woman
should have been found mixed up In these
arms sales; but in reality 1t would have beer
strange had no woman been thus connected
as In all other human affuirs from birth t
death-in the redemption as well as the fall O
man. We have all heard the trite but charac
teristIc story of the French Judge, who, wheI
any one was a%rraigned before him on an.
charge, was wont to ask, who is tht
woman J" This, however, has always beef
the practice of man. For did not Adam, eveI
In Paradise, resort to the craven device OF ex
claiming: 1.-THE woman whom thou gavest y
be with me, she gave me of the tree, and dit