The democrat. [volume] (Weston, W. Va.) 1868-1874, 1874-01-12
A Woman Who Ruled.

Mrs. Westmoreland, in a letter to the
Atlanta CORstitutf0n, says, Through
DR.. Deems l learned that the celebra-
ted Mrs. Eaton, who did the honors OF
the White House during General Jack.
sons Administration, still lived--was
in this city, and was one Of his congre.
cation. Naturally I felt m interest in
and some curiosity to see person who
had played so conspicuous part in the
affairs Of the nation at one time, aid,
learning thatshe was fond OF company
and would consider il no intrusion, l
called. In doing SO I was more iorci.
bly, reminded than ever before Of what
slaves we are 10 the price OF fortune
what victims TO the yicissitudes OF life,
over which wo have no control. Here
was q woman who once held the desti,
MES OF n nation in her hand. To win
her approval augured sticcess-to arouse
her anger meant defeat. Health, lux
ury, fattery, honors-eyerything this
world could give was laid at her feet.
Now IN old, feeble, and iaded woman,
deserted by friends, forgotten by the
world, she ehes out bare existence in
retired boarding.house which over.
looks Washington square. Although
in her seventy-sixth year, she still
bears the traces OF having been n beau.
tiful woman, and though miserably
dressed, she received us with the grace
and elegance Of 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
eyontful life as fresh in her memory aE
il they had sonly Just occurred. Her
story varies somewhat from the facts
Tlaid down in history, and perhaps
who knows-she may be right and the
historian wrong, Such things have
happened ~, for Of all people who pro
Tess to. be entirely unprecedented, We
think the generality OF historians are
more preiudiced than any other class oil
writers.
She spoke OF Mrs. Randolph md the
Duchess de Fensendeck 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 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 hal
reared, and who now care for her, thu
youngest son making it his duty ani
pleasure to provide for his grandmother
whom he seems TO love with a devotion
bordering on romance. She mentioned
in conversation that her son.in. Jaw, thC
Duke, had two titles, the other ont
being the Duke de Sampayo, and thu
their only child, n daughter, was mar
ried to one OF the Kothschilds, the SOL
OF the elder Crmsus. She said hei
daughter had become thoroughly for
eignized 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 hei
II she ever visited Washington now
She said, "No; my recollections Of
Washington are SO painful that ] Dc
not like to go there any more" then
added, "Ivery foolishly married third
time, although this marriage lost all Of
my property and II is not pleasant to
go back and see other people enjoying
what rightfully belongs TO me-"
He married me for my money, and II
took him ten years and seven months to
get it into his possession. Then when
lie got It all lie left me, taking some
woman whom he iancied, and left the
country. / was in complete ignorance
Of his movements until letter reached
me which he had written from the
steamer, saying he returned'to me my
lonored name, and left the country he
cause he was not worthy to be asso.
ciated with me and my family, con-
iessed himself a villain and an adven-
turer, and assured me he would never
trouble me again. The name OF this
magnificent scoundrel was Antonio
Buchignani, and, Mrs. Eaton says, q
very handsome and elegant mana
man who had served rs librarian at
Washington, although he was nm Italian
adyenturer Of whom nothing was
known. OF course, she ct once re.
sumed the name which had been so
generously restored to her, and for the
distinguished honor Of playing the short
rOLC OF Madame BuchignRni she paid the
princely snm OF nineteen houses and
six squire blocks OF real estate in
Washington City. A few more years
and the sands OF life will cease to flow