Juniata sentinel and Republican. [volume] (Mifflintown, Juniata County, Pa.) 1873-1955, 1874-03-11
A Woman Who Ruled.

MIS- w NcSttuofSltuu, III u lctIcr W Tue
Atlanta Constitution, says: Through
DIR. Deems 1 learned that the celebrated
Mrs. Eaton, who did the honors of the
White House during General Jackson's s
Administration, still lived-was in this
city, and was one of his congregation.
Naturally felt an interest in and some
curiosity to see 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, 1 called.
In doing SO ] was more forcibly re-
minded than ever before of what slaves
we are to the caprices of fortune-what
victims to the vicissitudes of life, over
which we have no control. Here was a
woman who once held the destinies of
a nation in her hand. To win her ap-
proval augured success-to arouse her
anger meant defeat. Health, luxury,
hattery, honors-everything this world
could give was laid at her feet. Now
an old, feeble, and jaded woman, de-
serted by friends, forgotten by the
world. she ekes out bare existence in
q retired boarding house, which over
looks Washington square. Although
In the seventy-sixth year, the still bears
the traces of having been beautiful
woman, and though miserably dressed,
she received us with the grace and
elegance of queen. We found her
very accessible; the conversation nat
urally 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 story varies
somewhat from the facts laid down in
history, and perhaps-who knows-she
may be right and the historian wrong.
Such things have happened (?), for of
all people who profess to be entirely
unpreiudiced, we think the generality
of historians are more preludIced than
any other class of writer's. She spoke
of Mrs. Randolph and the Duchess de
Fensendeck as her only children, and,
IN the midst of many changes and heavy
losses, size said she considered herself
blessed in being surrounded by her
grandchildren, who are very devoted
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 provide for
his grandmother, whom he seems to
love with a devotion bordering on ro-
nance. She mentioned in conversation
that her son-ln-law, the Duke, had two
titles, the other one being the Duke
de Sampayo, and that their only child,
a daughter, was married to one of the
ROthschilds, theson of the elder Cresus.
She said her daughter had become
thoroughly foreignized and hated Amer
lea so that she would not allow her hus-
band to accept position to this country
which was offered him two years ago.
/ asked her If she ever visited Washing
ton uowY She said, No; my recollec
tions of Washington are so painful that
do not like to go there any more, :
then added, Il very foolishly married a
third time, although this marriage lost
all of my property and it is not pleasant
to go back and see other people enjoy
ing what rightfully belongs to me. He
married me for my money, and it took
him ten years and seven months to get
IL into his possession. Then when he
got it alr he left me, taking some woman
whom he fancied, and left the country.
[ Was in complete ignorance of his move
ments until letter reached me which
he had written from the steamer, saying
he returned to me my honored name,
and left the country because he was not
worthy to be associated with me and my
family, confessed himself william and
an adyenturer, and assured me he would
never trouble me again The name of
this magnificent scOundrel was Antonio
Buchignani, and, Mrs. Eaton says,
very handsome and elegant mana man
who had served as librarian at Wash
ington, although he was an italian ad-
venturer of whom nothing was known.
OF course, she at once resumed the
name which had been SO generously re-
stored to her, and for the distinguished
honor of playing the short role of Ma
dame 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 ands of life
will cease to flow for this wo nan, whose
career is without a parallel.