The Fremont weekly journal. [volume] (Fremont, Sandusky County, Ohio) 1867-1877, 1872-04-26
MtstelIaneOns SeIertions.
THE WIFE OF BENEDICT Ar
MOLD.
BY JAMES PARTON.

We catch our first view of this un-
happy lady on a bright May day,
in 1878, when she took part in a
splendid pageant in Philadelphia.
She was then a beautiful girl of
eighteen-Miss Margaret Shippen-
the daughter of an opulent and an
cient Philadelphia family, and one
of the reigning bellies of that town.
Her ancestors were among the first
settlers in Pennsylvania, and her
great grandfather was the first May
or of Philadelphia. In the course
| of time the family had acquired
great possessions; and laying aside
the Quaker garb, had become mem
bers of the Church of England.
During the controversies between
the three colonies and the King,
which ended in the Revolutionary
war, Edward Shipper, her father,
the head Of the family, was inclined
to the Kings side.
1t was May the 17tb, 177S, For
many months the British army had
been quartered in Philadelphia, com
manded by Major General Sir Will
liam 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been superseded, and was about to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 a grand festival in his
honor; and this was the day on
which it was to be held.
The affair began with grand re-
ga ia on 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 a line
of men-of-war and transported ships,
gaily dressed with flags and stream
ers. At half past four in the after
non, the barges began to move, the
oars keeping time to the martial mus
ic; and when they arrived opposite
Market street, they all laid upon
their oars, while the band played
"God save the King" after which
the soldiers gave three cheers. Con
tinuing their course, the company
were conveyed past the city to where
a grand tournament was to take
place; and it was in this portion of
the entertainment that Margaret
Shipper shone. A spacious field,
surrounded by troops, had been pre-
pared for the contest. Upon one
side was stationed all the hands of
music in the army. There were two
pavilions, with rows Of benches, one
above the other, filled with the most
distinguished ladies of the city.
On the front seat of each of the
payilions, were. placed seven of the
most beautiful young ladies Penn
sylvania could boast. They were
dressed in Turkish costume-trows-
ers, tHnies, and turbans-and in their
turbans they wore the favors with
which they intended to rewa.d the
knights who were to contend in their
honor. Among these lovely maidens
sat Miss Margaret Shippen. One of
the knights who figured in the tourn-
ament was Captain Andre, her famil-
lar acquaintance. Little could eth
er Of them have thought, on this
bright day, how fatally their desti-
nies were involved.
The trumpet sounded. The her
aid 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 usnered into a
magnificen ball room, decorated, we
are told, by eighty five mirrors, and
| lighted by thirty-four branches of
wax candles. The ball was opened
by the fourteen girls in Turkish
dress, and their fourteen knights
one Lieutent Stopper being the
knight who led Miss Shipper out to
dance. At ten o'clock, the windows
were thrown open and a splendid
display of fire works was exhibited.
At twelve, large folding doors,
which had hitherto been concealed,
were suddenly thrown open, which
revealed a gorgeous saloon two hun
dred and ten feet long, with three al
coves on each side. This was the
supper room. Upon the table there
were twelve hundred dishes. AS the
guests entered the room, a great
number Of black slaves in Oriental
costume, ranged in two lines, bowed
| to the ground. This vast apart
ment was one splendor of wax lights
flowers, ribbons, flags, mirrors, and
silver plate, One of the regular
ltoasts Of the occasion was "Mtis'