The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1874-09-02

|. Nor the way some people do, tia ID
Do you think the whole creation r.
Will be altered just for you? ....
And isn't it, my boy or girl,
The wisest, bravest plan,
Whatever comes, or doesn't come,
TO do the best you can?
A Story Of Mrs. Eaton.
The Great Scandal of Jackson's Ad
ministration.
Mrs. General Eaton's Narrative of hel
Career in Washington-The Row II
the Cabinet Society at the Capita
Forty Years ago.
From the Washington Republican,
In 1920 one of the most remarkable
women America ever produced came
prominently into view before the public.
At the age of seventy-five she is still q
hale, vigorous, well-preserved lady, and
iu her form and face there are now ma.
nv of the lines and lineaments of that
queenly beauty which once led captive
many men. Mrs. General John Fl.
Eaton is now in Washington on a briet
visit from her home in New York.
Yesterday it was the privilege of rep
rescntative of the National Republi-
can to have all hour or two's cOnversa-
ton with her and to obtain her consent
to make the conversation public. All
the following statements OF facts con.
cerning her are by her authority, and
they cover incidents in her wonderful
history from earliest infancy to the
present time, and constitute chapter
| thrilling as the romantic imagination OF
the great masters of fiction. While il
confirms some of the items familiar to
the general reader touching her life, il
explodes many false ideas and gives q
clear and true insight into the founda.
ton and history of the scandalous char
ges which made her name famous,
which led to dissolutions of cabinets,
which killed the higher aspirations OF
Calhoun for political preferment, which
made Van Buren, President of the Uni
ted States, and which illustrated the
devotion of Old Hickory to all injured
woman. ,-.,...rE e
While Jackson's Court cannot be com.
pared with that Of Louis XIV, there
are, nevertheless, some features of par
allel character. Under the reign of the
latter Paris was the scene of fierce polit-
ical strife and feminine intrigue. Con-
versation, especially when relating to
scandal, became hightart, and had
most finished and competent masters.
The smallest item of news, the, most in
consequential rumor was "a fine subject
to argue and talk about endlessly,,n said
Nine. de Seveigne, and added, ."That is
what we talk about night and day."
| While Louis XIV. had about him such
active intriguantes as Ninon de PEnclos
and Mesdames de Montespan, De Cou.
langes, and De Maintenon,. each OF
whom gave him no end of trouble, 90
Jackson, in defending Mrs. Eaton, had
to keep at bay Mrs. Donelson, Mrs. Cal
houn, Mrs. Ingham, and Mrs. Branch
and their friends, who together disatfect.
ed and discontented slept and. eat and
dwelt in a "cave of Adullam," all their
own. AS the First Consul inspired
Mime. de Stael with fear and dislike, sc
Calhoun affected Mrs. Eaton, and to
Calhoun the results were as disastrous.
| Who is this wonderful woman
e. HER OWN STORY.
We were received by Mrs. Eaton
in her parlors, at No. 3SS Pennsylvania
avenue, and q frank statement was
made her OF the object of the visit. She
instantly and decidedly objected, saying
that so much had been written and said
of her that was entirely untrue she had
become afraid, and feared additional
instrumentation Besides, under the
direction of her pastor in New York
Rev. DIR. Deems, her life was being
written by competent biographer, and
when she was dead it would be given
TO the world. However, when impress
ed with the fact that fair and truthful
treatment was intended, Mrs. Eatol
consented to the recall of some of the
historical and deeply interesting mem
ores of her active life. '
"You were born in this city, Mrs
Eaton" ......
ayes, sir in 1799. I was just two
weeks old when mother sat up in bed tt
cue fathers hair for his attendance q
Washington's funeral. Washington
was often guest at fathers house"
"YOur maiden name was ="
margaret O'NeaI. My father, VIII
liam O'Ncal, was wealthy man, ant
during girlhood days I never had cause
for trouble or sorrow of any kind"
"And were you married young"
eyes, and very happily, too. My
husbands name was John Bowie Tim
berlake, and he was q purscr in thu
navy. NV first child was born when
was seventeen, and in just thirteel
months after my wedding-day."
"Was it boy W" :,
Eyes: he died when six months old
The second was girl. She was namet
Virginia. She resides in Paris, wher
she married Monsieur Sampayo,
Eenchman of distinction, but nov
dead. Virginia had a daughter, Blanch
Marie, who also married q Frenchiha'
of position and wealth. My third on
was Margaret Timberlake. She maj
ried John Randolph, a grandson OF Oh
DR.. Brockenbrough, of Richmond,
great friend of John Randolph, OF nc
anoke. Through her, I have fou
. grand children - George Chappar
named after the celebrated DR.. Char
man, of Philadelphia, John H. EatoI
Mary and Emily Randolph. My dt
mestic life was happy. 1t was as happ
as marriage as ever was. Mr.. Timbe
lake died abroad at Port Mahon, !
J. 1925"
= "a natural death ?n
"I'm so glad you ask me that que
ton. Yes, he; died natural death.
!. year or more previous to his death, an
during great physical suffering, u
J. made slight and most Intellectual a
+a,,n ~ of en;oida and thofie all t7fa fOIl]