The sun., 1873-08-27

with laugh that could be distinctly heard
across the hay, she said to the whole company,
"This is the only man that ever came across In
my life that could give me so accurate an ac-
count OF my girlish days in Pensacola and Baton
Rouge l was somewhat startled at lhls i, aiiI
me that you are Kitty WhitcW a lady ana gen-
tleman who accompanied her vouched for her be-
ing Gen. BeutOn's widow. and enjoyed tue JOKE
hugely. | didn't at that time, because l teit as
great many others do wien they nave sag 700 o,,
the same Kitty white that you escorted through
S house, iE and @ tSis Is the ifst opporjunty have
had to thank you Tor your Kindness WHO
prisoner. -,
/ told her not to mention it-I thought enough
had been said Stlll she was very ANXIOUS 10
keep up the subject but had NO more 10 say. y,
Finally we concluded our sail and returned 70
the hotel, when said to her: " II does n2t az
White " Is wears who | saw IN l,ensacola' nus
dcyelopcd into woman of @o ponnd';
my mode of living Il have been trying several
modes for the past thirty years and fail 70 reach
400. She then gave me an account ~ her eS-
nde, and the business in which she IL now en-
gagged, WHICH Is an exceedingly interesting one,
stole all her silver spoons, but she does not
attr. butte that to Butler as he had LEFT the de,
partment bef re the spoons were missing. You
have no doubt heard Of the Government Patent
seal lock, used Tor all custom houses, and many
other purposes. 1t appears there has been
very warm time among the competitors az the
old contract has expired and the tight Is now on
who shall secure the renewal
Mrs. Benton wields considerable influence,
and L. said to he great faVurtc among some of
our senators In Washington. and even among
higher Officials, So much 80 that
SHE HAS BEEN ASSURED THE CONTRACT
land she is not one Of those kind that will let up
until she gets ~, which viii pay her about SlVt-
OuD year. She has alrc dy spent about SNHbO
to secure the contract. ho received this yGl-
0OOi am unable to say; probably she knows
best. Sne has an agent who represents her IN
Washington, so tHat she simply works indtrect-
". At the same time some of those fellows to
whom that sG0,nO has been paid know vino Ia
boss. The lock " very complicated one, the
price being $500 per lock. No person could
omen /, without breaking the small glass seal
winch Is Inserted In the inside of the lock. The
main portion of the locking part Is underneath
the seal. So YOU see II would ucces-itaie the
breaking OF seal aud lock both to open II. There
is a great deal of ingenuity displayed In this vt
tie piece Of mechanism, and think II Will even
puzzle some uf our Custom House men 10 open
II. Mrs. Benton resides in an elegant brown
stone front on Lexington avenue, New YORK
and II Is said 10 be the most elegantly and elabo-
rately furnished house in the city. She has the
same old cuored servants owned by her father
with one Of the finest turnOuts that can be
found in the country. She appears to care but
little for female society, probably because she
does not have the time, for she H. all business.
Her house Is visited 10y many OF the most inilu-
ential men In the country. Gov Warmoth Is
very frequent visitor. Probably there u where
the contracts are made and not In WashingtUn
Well, she Is certainly very sharp, intelligent
woman. and II good looks and sweet talk (and
80 charming with II ALI have any influence on
mankind, | think she can infatuate any commit
tee she goes for. j.