National opinion. [volume] (Bradford, Vt.) 1865-1874, 1874-01-16
A Woman Who Ruled.

A Woman Who Ruled.
Mrs. Westmoreland, in letter to the
Atlanta Consultation, says: Through
DIR. Deems / 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 felt IN interest In
and some curiosity to see person who
had played so conspicuous part in the
affairs OF the nation at one time, and,
learning that she was fond Of company
and would consider it no intrusion, I
called. In doing so I was more forci-
bly, reminded than ever before of what
slaves we are to the G price of fortune
what victims to the vicissitudes of life,
over which we have no control. Here
was woman who once held the desti.
MES Of q nation in her hand. To win
her approval augured successful arouse
her anger meant defeat. Health, lux
ury, fatery, honors-everything this
world could give was laid at her feet.
Now an old, feeble, and jaded woman,
deserted by friends, forgotten by the
world, she ekes 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 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
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 pro-
fess to be entirely unpreiudiced, we
think the generality of historians are
more prejudiced 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, 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 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 devotion
bordering on romance. She mentioned
-. hot in Il a
Duke, had two titles, the other one
being the Duke de Sampayo, and that
their only child, daughter, was mar
ried to one of the Rothschilds, the son
of the elder Cresus. She said her
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. I asked her
if she ever visited Washington now?
She said, enc; MY recollectlons of
Washington are so painful that do
not like to go there any MORE" then
added, ct very foolishly married third
time, although this marriage lost all of
my property and it is not pleasant to
go back and see other people enjoying
what rightfully belongs TO me-.
He married me for my money, and it
took him ten years and seven months to
get it into his possession. Then when
he got it all he left me, taking some
woman whom he fancied, 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
honoreel name, and left the country be-
cause he was not worthy to be asso-
ciated with me and my family, con-
fessed himself 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,
very handsome and elegant mana
man who had served as librarian at
Washington, although he was an italian
adventurer of whom nothing was
known. Of course, she at once re-
sumed the name which had been SO
generously restored to her, and for the
distinguished honor Of playing the short
role of Madame 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 sands of life will cease to flow
for this woman, whose career is with
out parallel.