The true northerner. [volume] (Paw Paw, Mich.) 1855-1920, 1872-06-21
THE WIFE OF BENEDICT ARNOLD.
BY JAMES PARTON.

BY JAMES PARTON.
We catch our first view of this ur
happy lady on bright May day, il
l77S, when she took part in famou
and splendid pageant at Philadelphia
She was then beautiful girl OF eighteei
Miss Margaret Shippen-the daughte
of an opulent and ancient Philadelphia
family, and one of the reigning belle
of that town. Her ancestors wer
among the first settlers in Pennsylvania
and her great grandfather was the frs
Mayor of Philadelphia. In the cours
of time the family had acquired grea
possessions and, laying aside tn
Quaker GARD, had become members o
the Church Of England. During the
controversy between the thirteen colo
mics and the King, which ended IN thc
Revolutionary war, Edward Shipper
her father the mead OF the family, wa
inclined to the Kings side.
1t was May the 18th, IT'S. For many
months the British army had been
quartered IN Philadelphia, commanded
by Mai. Gen. Sir William Howe
The General had now been superseded
The officers OF the army, a wealthy
class who had nothing 10 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 il was To be held.
The affair began with grand regatta
upon the Delaware river, or rather a
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. A half past four IN the at
ternoon, the barges began to move, the
oars keeping time to the martial music,
and when they had 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. Continuing their
course, the company were conveyed
past the city TO where a grand tourna-
ment was TO take place and 1t was In
this portion of the entertainment that
Margaret Shippen shone. A spacious
field, surrounded by troops, had been
prepared for the contest. Upon one
side was stationed all the bands 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 these pa.
vilions were placed seven of the most
beautiful young aides Pennsylvania
could boast. They were dressed in
Turkish ostume-trowsers TUNES and
turbans, 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
lovely maidens sat Miss Margaret Ship
pen. One of the knights who figured in
the tournament was Capt. Andre, her
familiar 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 challange 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
ushered into a magnificent 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 bellies in Turkish
dress, and their fourteen knights-one
Lieutenant Sloper being the knight
who led Miss Shipper out to dance. At
ten o'clock, the windows were thrown
open, and splendid display of fire
works 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 table there were twelve hun
dred dishes. AS the guests entered the
room, 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 sill
yer plate. One of the regular toasts OF
the occasion was, Miss Shipper and
her knight" After supper the company
returned to the ball room, and kept up
the dance till four in the morning,
reaching their homes about sunrise.
The festival, as Maj. Andre remarks,
was the most splendid ever given by an
army to its chief. And little, indeed,
had that chief done to deserve it. An
old officer OF the British army, who
perceived the folly of paying such ex.
travagant honors to General who had
won no victories, said sadly: {" What
will Washington think of all this ?"
Exactly month from that day the
British army evacuated Philadelphia,
and away they sped across Jersey, with
Gen. Washington at their heels. A
day or two agter a body of American
troops marched in, commanded by Gen.