Orleans County monitor. [volume] (Barton, Vt.) 1872-1953, 1874-03-30
Saoies' Department.
THE RULING WOMAN.

the White House during zen. Jacksons
administration, New York letter-writ-
er says:
Through DIR. Deems, l learned that
this celebrated woman, who did the hon
ors of the White House during General
Jackson's administration, still lived
was in this city, and was one of his con-
gregation. Naturally / felt an interest
in and some curiosity to see a person
who had played so conspicuous a 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 forclbly
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 10 win her ap-
prevail argued success to arouse her
anger meant defeat. Health, luxury,
fattery, honors-everything this world
could give was laid at her feet.-Now,
an old, feeble and faded woman, desert
ed by friends, forgotten by the world,
she ekes out bare existence IN retir-
ed clearinghouse which overlooks Wash
ington Square. Although in her seven
ty-fifth year, she still bears the traces
of having been beautiful woman, and
though miserably dressed, she received
us with the grace and elegance of a
queen. We found her very accessible.
The conversation naturally turned upon
events of the past, and we were sur
priced to find every incident of her
eventful life as fresh in her memory as
if they had only just occurred. Her story
varies somewhat from the facts laid
down in history, and, perhaps-who
knows ? they may be right and the his
torian wrong. Such things have hap
pened ? for Of all people who profess to
be entirely unprejudiced we think the
generality of historians are more pref.
udiced than any other class of writers
She spoke of Mrs. Randolph and the
Duchess de Fensendock as her only chill
dren, and, in the midst Of many changes
and heavy losses, she said she consider
ed herself blessed in being surrounded
by her grandchildren, who are very de
voted to her, and console and comfor
her in her old age. Mrs. Randolph ha
been dead many years, and it is thi
family of children she has reared ant
who now care for her, the youngest sol
making it his duty and pleasure to pro
vide for his grandmother, whom h
seems to love with devotion bordering
on romance. She mentioned in CONVEX
sation that her son .in-law, the Duke
had two titles, the other one being tn
Duke de Sampayo, and that their onl
child, daughter, was married to one {
the Rothschllds, the son of the eide
Cresus. She said her daughter had b.
come thoroughly fOreignized, and hate
America so that she would not allo
her husband to accept position to tn
country, which was offered him tv
years ago. l asked her if she "ev
visited Washington now" She sa'
mo; recollections of Washington al
so painful that | do not like to 60 the
any more" then added, 81 very foe
ishly married third time, althoug
this marriage lost all my property; al
it is not pleasant to go back and S
other people enjoying what rightful
belongs to me. He married me for L
money, and it took him ten years a.
seven months to get it into his possessiC
Then, when he got it all, he left II
taking some woman whom he fancit
and left the country. | was in co
plete ingnorance of his movements un
q letter reached me which he had writ
from the steamer, he returned me ]
honored name and left the country
cause he was not worthy to be associat
with me and my family, confessed hi
self villain and an adventurer, a
assured me he would never trouble
again" The name of this magnifct
scoundrel was Antonio Buchignani, al
Mrs. Eaton says, a very handsome q
elegant mana man who had served
Librarian at Washington, although
was an Italian adventurer of whom no
ing was known. Of course she at o
resumed the name which had been
generously restored to her; and for
distinguished honor of playing the 81
role of Madame Buckingham she p
the princely sum of nineteen houses
six square blocks of real estate in Wa
ington City. A few more years
the sands of life will have ceased
flow for this woman, whose caree
without a parallel.
A GOOD DAUGHTER.-Th are OF
ministers of love more conspicuous t
she, but none in whom a gentlcr, i
lier spirit dwells, and none to wi
the hearts warm requitals more joyf
respond. She is the steady light of
fathers houSe Har idaa ic ipdiccol,