Nashville union and American. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1868-1875, 1873-12-21
MRS. EATON.
The Woman who Ruled at the white
House During GEN. JacksOn's Adj
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ministrRtiOn.
Mrs. Westmoreland's New York Letter to the
Atlanta Constitution.
Through DR.. Deems, learn that this
celebrated woman, who did the honor
of the White House during Gen. Jack
sons administration, still lived, was in
this city, and was one of his congrega-
ton. Naturally l felt an interest in,
and some curiosity to see a person who
had played so conspicuous part in the
affairs of the nation at one time, and,
learning that she was fond of company,
and would consider it no intrusion, /
called. In doing so was more forci-
bly, reminded than ever before Of what
slaves we are of the caprices of fortune
what victims to the vicissitudes of
life, over which we have no control.
Here was woman who once held the
destinies of a nation in her hand. To
win her approval argued successful
arouse her anger meant defeat Health,
luxury, fiattery honors-everything this
world could give, was laid at her feet.
Now, an old, feeble and jaded woman,
deserted by friends-forgotten by the
world. she ekes out a bare existence in
a retired boarding house, which over
looks Washington square. Although
in her 18th year, she still bears the
traces Of having been a beautiful wo-
man, and though miserably dressed,
she received us with the grace and ele-
gance of a queen. We found her very
accessible-the conversation naturally
turned upon events of the past, and we
were surprised to find every incident
connected with her eventful life as
fresh in her memory as if they had only
Just occurred. Her history varies
somewhat from the facts laid down in
history, and, perhaps-who knows?-
they may be right and the historian
wrong. Such things have happened (?)
for all peope who profess to be entirely
unprejudiced, we think the generality
of historians are more prejudiced than
any other class of writer's. She spoke
Of Mrs. Randolph and the Duchess de
Fensendock as her only children, and,
in the midst of many changes and
heavy losses, she said she considered
herself blessed in being surrounded by
her grandchildren, who are very de-
voted to her, and console and comfort
her in her old age. Mrs. Randolph has
been dead many years, and it is this
family of children she has reared, and
who now care for her, the youngest son
making it his duty and pleasure to pro-
vide for his grandmother, who he seems
to love with a devotion bordering on
romance. She mentioned in conversa-
ton that her son-in-law, the duke, had
two titles, the other one being the
Duke de SampayO, and that their
only child, daughter, was married to
one of the Rothschilds, the son of the
elder CrGsus. She said her daughter
had become thoroughly foreignized and
hated America so that she would not
allow her husband to accept a position
to this country, which was offered him
two years ago. [ asked herif she lever
visited Washington now" She said:
mo; recollections of Washington are
50 painful that l do not like to go there
any more" then added: 81 very fool
ishly married third time, although
this marriage lost all of my property;
and it is not pleasant to go back and
see other people enjoying what right
fully belongs to me. He married me
for my money, and it took him ten
years and seven months to get it into
his possession. Then, when he got it all
he left me, taking some wo-
man whom he fancied, and left
the country. l was in complete
ignorance of his movements until
a letter reached me which he had writ
ten from the steamer, saying he re-
turned me my honOred name, and left
the country because he was not wort ~
to be associated with me and my fami-
ly. confessed himself william and an
adventurer, and assured me he would
never trouble me again" The name of
this magnificent scroundrel was Anto-
MO Buchignani, and, Mrs. Eaton says,
very handsome and elegant mana
man who has served as librarian at
Washington, although he was an Ital-
ian adventurer of whom nothing was
known. OF course. she at once resumed
| the name which had been so generous
ly (?) restored to her, and for the dis
tinguished honor of playing the short
role of Madame Buchignani, she paid
the princely sum of nineteen houses
and SIX square blocks of real estate in
Washington City. A few more years
and the sands Of life will have ceased
to flow for this woman whose career is
without a parallel
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