Montgomery County sentinel. [volume] (Rockville, Md.) 1855-1974, 1874-04-17
THE SEN TINEL.
SUSAN VIRGINIA BENTON BoILLEAU.

tingnished lady, which we copy from city
paper, will be read with mournful interest
by all classes Of citizens
The Paris papers mention the death of the
abovenamed lady in that city on the 9Th of
March. She was the youngest daughter of the
late Senator Thomas II. Benton, and possessed
many Of his best altributes--his warm heart,
indomitable energy and stern sense of duty
Passing away from earth al the early age Of
thrty-nine years, the vicissitudes of her life
had been already more than usually fall to
the lot OF woman. During her girlhood her
father was among the foremost Americans of
the Time and her first youth was ushered into
the high circle Of society at the Capital of the
United States, where the brlliancy Of her in
tellect and the grace Of her manner made her
an attraction in the midst of diplomatsis and
statesmen. In 1855 she was married 10 Baron
Bolleau, then Secretary 10 The French Lega-
ton. Shortly after marriage her husband
WITS promoted to the post of Consul at Calcut-
Ia, and the young woman was removed from
the easy life and the happy surroundings which
she had hitherto KNOWN to face the realities
of the world among strangers in a distant land.
Several years in that unhealthy climate suffer-
ed seriously to undermine her husbands
health. and finally, obtaining the favor of Il
recall, with her sick husband and her iu-
FAINT, leaving chd's grave behind her, she
returned to France. The next advancement
brought her husband rs Consul General 10
Quebec, whittier she accompanied him, and,
in 1867 she returned for few years to the
United States, Baron Boilleau having in the
,neartime been appointed Consul General ut
New York. But ia 1870 came another pro-
motion, which was but IA new exile, her hus-
band long services being rewarded with the
post OF Minister Plenipotentiary 10 Peru Very
soon after came the first intimations of the
crowning trial, to which, il may be said. was
due the death Of Mrs Bollcau. In 1867 Gen
Fremont who was married to her sister, was
organizing the Memphis aud FL Paso Railroad.
lie looked TO France as the great market for
his bonds. He explained the merits of the en-
terprse 10 Baron Boileau, and requested IA
vorable introduction of the scheme to the
French Minister of the Interior, which was
given. The loan was taken up in Paris, but
the road was never built The company's af-
fairs were placed 10 the hands of a receiver
and the French bondhoders were The suffer
ers. The French courts, refusing TO look into
the cause of the failure, pronounced the whole
scheme fraud, concocted for the purpose of
Obtaining money from French citizens under
false pretences. Their own Minister was ac-
cused Of participating in the fraud for having
recommended the enterprise, and he was re-
called from Peru and put on trial The de-
cision of the court was sweeping one. No
element of honesty was recognized in the
fabrication, and every one concerned in it was
pronounced guilty, from General Fremont
downward. The General, fortunately for him,
was IN New York, but Baron Boilleau, who
had come from Lima TO Paris at the first init
nation of any fnulinding with his conduct,
was repaid for his promptneSs by sentence
to three years Imprisonment and 10 March,
1878, he was 1mmured in the Conciergere.-
This suspense had lasted two years, and I'M
der the final blow, Nine. BoilIeaus health
gave way, long illness followed, and, after
some months, rising from what her physicians
thought wonld be her deathbed, she commen-
ced one uutiriug and fruiilrss effort TO obtain
her husband s release. From all quarters she
procured letters petitions. Statements show
ing the true status Of the railway her husband
had recommended, going uRwearyingly from
enc Minister 20 another. She took no warn
ing from her falling strength, until AT last
lure succumhpd and worn out by her excr-
tioRs and suffcrings, she died leaving her
husband stiA ia prison, and six children with
no protection but that of friends.
The RoMANcG OF RESTAURANT A Chicago
correspondent Of the Troy Times says
A bit OF romance recently came to my no.
tice which has not before appeared in print
Some time in December last girl about sew
entecn years of age who ut that time was serv-
ing as table waiter in large dining restau-
rant, was arrested for stealing package of
money from the pocket Of gentleman over
coat, which was hanging in the room while
he was eating his dinner. a the preliminary
examination party swore 10 having seen her
take the coat down and hang it up quickly
again that she soon left the room for short
time and MS the money was not to be found,
she was held for trial. In vain she protested
that she merely moved the coat 10 avoid It's
getting soiled. | vain with fearful eyes she
~ IL.
were suspicious, and the officers neXorabe.
In the meantime the gentleman who had
lost the money became interested in her histo-
ry found she was an orphan pirl and though
omparatively rritndless bearing an excellent
character. Further than this, he ascertained
she was Of English parentage, that her name
was the same his own, and, TO make the
story short, from evidence which he could not
disbeeve that she was the daughter of his
own brother, whom he supposed to have died
chiidless in Australia several years ago. or
course he declined prosecuting her, and, as he
is wealthy and without near kin, he at once
arranged to take her home with him, on his
return from the West, whittier he was then en-
route The other day he, with his newly
adopted child so strangely brought to him,
started for New York, whence they will soon
sail for England.
WHAT ASHES AND PLASTER DID.
The Rurdl Home Of Rochester, gives this
bit of history: During tie year a57 man
named Arthur Dugan went to the town of
Palermo, NJ Y, and bous hit sixty acres of dry
sandy land, with here and there little ten
dency to gravel. He paid 81 600 for it. He
knew nothing about farming, being machin
list by trade After paying for his land he bad
$500 left. He found his land was worn out.
lie began by buying ashes and plaster; would
draw potatoes fourteen miles TO .Oswego, aud
load his team back with manure from the live
ry stables His crops increased. His ashes
were spread correspondently thick He raised
nrit,rinatIy Dotntoes and wheat Now 20OU