The Grange advance. [volume] (Red Wing, Minn.) 1873-1877, 1876-03-29

still unmarried. r. Mrs. Messier was the
eldest daughter of Robert #Hyslop, q
hardware merchant Of this city, who be
queathed to his numerous children a con-
siderable property. Mr.. Barrett was the
trustee of the Messier estate.
The Scandal as 1t Is Talked Abou, bv
the Ex-Secrotary's Wife.
Washington March 1877 Correspondence OF
New York World:]
The late secretary Of war and his wife
naturally feel disposed to seclude them
selves as much as possible, and admit no
one, save their most intimate friends, to
the house. This is, not only be.
cause of the pending impeachment,
but because Mrs. Belknap is
in deep affection for the loss OF
her eldest sister. Mrs. Bowman, who died
few days ago, at her residence in Har.
rodsburg, KY, was the eldest daughter OF
the Tomlinson family, and said to be
more beautiful than. any Of her sisters.
She leaves four daughters to mourn her
death, the eldest of whom is Just entering
upon womanhood. The severe ordeal
through which Mrs. Belknap is passing
must dispose even the most relentless OF
her enemies to pity her. especially now
that her load Of anguish is rendered
almost uncomfortable by the death
Of an / idolized sister. She has
not discussed the most Ill recent
scandal which has involved George H.
Pendleton save with his. friends, but one
Of them is authority for the statement
that Mrs. Belknap denies most positively
ever having received a dollar of money
on account of the Kentucky Central rail-
read. She says she was not even in
Washington when the claim was allowed,
and did not see Mr.: Pendleton for months
afterward. She met him in New York
when she was on her way 70 Europe, and
again met him in Europe. She SAYS there
is not one word of truth in the converse.
ton reported by Gen. Kiddo as having
taken place between herself and Mrs.
Marsh. She asseverates that 10 such
conversation ever took place.
Mrs. Belknap does not consider Rep
resentativc Blackburn the "Brutus'' he
has been made to appear by certain cor
respondents bent on dcfaming him be-
cause he. is Democrat. On the con.
trary, she speaks of understanding his
position in regard to the investigation
perfectly, and Of having the highest es-
TEEN for him. She says that all he
could do. in justice to himself, he has
done to shield her. The old friendship
between herself and his wife has been re-
newed this winter, to the great pleasure
Of both parties, and while Mrs. Belknap
speaks warmly of the love she bears the
companion of her childhood, Mrs. Black
burn and her husband join in expressions
Of the most profound esteem of Mrs. Bel.
KNAPP. Mr.. Black burn says he knows
nothing against Mrs. Belknap, and
will always strive to defend
her. Mrs. Belknap feels deeply
the cruel injustice which has supplied as
a motive for her attentions to Mrs. Black.
burn during the winter her desire to in
fuence the husband of the latter in her
own and her husbands favor. She saws
that from the time Mr.. Black burn was
elected to Congress she rejoiced a: the
good prospect of having her old friend and
school-mate, his wife, in the same CITY
with her, and last fall actually counted the
weeks before she could he expected to ar.
rive. The relative positions of their hus-
bands had nothing to do with her feeling
then, as the part Blackburn has been
compelled to take in the prosecution does
not now influence her feelings toward him
or his wife. She has simply kept up the
old intimacy on the old terms.
In regard to the toilets Mrs. Belknap
has worn this winter, it is only fair to
say that all of them, save one, belonged
to the trosseau she brought with her
from Paris two years ago when about to
be married to the Secretary of War.
None of them have been altered, it being
a well-substantiated fact among ladies
that Paris dress, while costly
in the first instance, ALWAYS
proves good Investment, as it is in STYLE
as long as rag Of it holds together. The
one dress which Mrs. Belknap purchased
for the past winter was that in which she
appeared at the Patriarchs' Ball at Del
monico's. Others of her dresses made
their first appearance in Washington this
year, but had been worn by her elsewhere.
a maid, now living at the White House,
who came from Paris with Mrs. Belknap
two years ago, said to her on meeting her
accidentally: II have seen madame wear