The New Orleans daily Democrat. [volume] (New Orleans, La.) 1877-1880, 1877-05-05
HOW TWO KENTUCKY BELLIES
STARTLED SOCIETY.

Two events Of recent occurrence ut Louis
vile, Kentucky. have created quite q sensa
ton In *the fashionable circles Of that city.
Two ladies'. who have occupied no little of the
public attention with the incidents of their
domestic fortunes In the past, have again be-
come the topics Of the hour for public gossip.
comment and speculation.
The first Of these ladies is Miss Salie
Ward Hunt, famous Kentucky beauty and
belle Of thirty years ago. and the only surviv=
Ing child of Mr.. Robert J. Ward, once lend
ing merchant of this city and popular and
distinguished citizen Of Kentucky, famous for
his printely hospitality. his genial manners |
and his high qualities as merchant, gen
tletnan and patriot.
Miss sallie. his daughter, effulged in the |
fashionable world In this city and in Louis
vile about the year ts4e one Of the grandest
specimens of Kentucky beauty, grace and all
the captivating endowments for which Ken
tucky women are 50 renowned. Her fntne
rapidly extended through the Unipn, and she
was soon sutrounde1ty a splendid array Of
wealthy and fashionable beaux. After sew
eral brilliant campaigns she at last s1rren-
dered her freedom and her autoeraey tn the
persistent and well supported aspirations OF
one of the wealthy family Of The Lawrenoes,
Of Massachusetts,
! There was brilliant Wedding. and the
happy couple settled In Boston and COM
menced their married life ON scale of great
grandeur hnd elegance. 1t was not long,
however, before Kentucky and Massa@
chusetts developed serious ineompati-
bilities and discrepancies. No two
styles Of living, thinking end acting, could
be more dissinlar and antagonistie than
those In which the bride and bridegroom had
been educated. II was not long before their
ineompatibiities ripened into irreconeiable
repugnauees and discord, with the usual re-
suits Of separation, much gossip and public
comment, and the publication of much mort
flying correspondence, and final divorce
The beautiful widow returned to her native
Kentucky and for some time concealed her
chagrin and disappointment in tho family cir
ele Of which she never ceased to be the centre
and tho idol.
Several years elapsed before she could be
tempted to re-enter the fashionable world.
At last, however, she was lured by the earn
est devotion and the many attractive qualities
of n gallant Kentucky gentleman, who per-
sliaded her to mako her second venture in
matrimony and Mrs. sallie Ward Lawrence
became Mrs. Sallie Ward Hunt, the adored
, wife of DR. Hunt. Of Lexington. q gentleman
OF very high standing. Of wdhlth and all tho
, qualities OF polished and accomplished gen.
, tleman.
J After this marriage DR. Hunt removed to
,, this city with his wife. engaged In merean-
tile life. and was for some time member Of
, the firm of which Mr.. Robert J. Ward had
1 been the founder and head for many years.
] This proved happy marriage. Miss Sallit
, and DR.. Hunt were as cpngenial MS she and
l her first husband were antagonstic in taste
9 ideas and political and sectional sympathies
After living happily for SOME years, misfor
I tunes and financial troubles involved her hus
y band and father, and clouded the hitherto
4 bright and happy life Of the couple.
8 These disasters finally eliminated in th'
= sudden death of DIR. Hunt. And now for tbs
Q second time the beautiful Kentucky belle was
: a widow. with her young children Though
!, saddened by her great Affections she still re-
, y tanned the remarkable beauty Of her family
, but gave for many years no evidence OF any
a ambition to engage in any further venture II
d connubial lfe She preferred to devote th'
y remainder of her days to the education OF hel
Q children and to tho duties of hospitality
= charity and the other social obligations Of n
= amabe and affectionate woman.
~ And thus nearly u score of years passed il
No her second widowhood. Her father, mother
"a brothers and sisters in the meantime hae
h passed away, aud she and her children, now
n grown, were all who remained OF once larg
. and brilliant family circle
Bellies and beauties. who have been mucl
4 courted and Ilattered by the worshiper
"a of fashion and the adorers Of femal
t lovelness. become the involuntary vii
n tins of caprice whims and a self-asser'
l. ing independence and eceentricity.
n was. no doubt, under the control Of thi
Z capricious tendency that two or three year
" " ago Miss Sallie Ward Hunt startled socict
n by announcing her purpose to accept OF Tn
a. proffered hand OF wealthy Old m9rcllhn'
b notorious for his uginess, his entira lack
education. of elegance, his low origin an
~ humble beginnings in life, and his iaveterat
8, disregard of the requirements Of gonteel life
J, even to the extreme of gross negle,t OF hi
y, ~ person and his garments.
=. It was q queer and, her many friend
a. thought, very repugnant and unsuitab
ye match But the bride was resolute, and tn
I'd old story of Vulcan's marriage was repre-
le duced on the Louisville stage, to the grea
~ horror of the fashionables of that ambition
ls village
- And vet this third venture Of our bel
til proved by no means an unhappy one. IL
G. amiable wife applied her power and influen'
1e judiciously and effectively to reform Il
ID habits and elevate the tastes OF her very u
50 fashionable and unrefined husband. A wo
derful change was the result of her tutelas
of her docile pupil. The old ex-boot-blac
OF porter, grocery keeper, rapidly assembled
ls' the position of the worthy husband Of Il
%, 70 Kentucky belle. He opened accounts vii
~ fashionable tailors and boot-makers, er
y ployed the most accomplished tonsorial a
- tists and perruouiue furnished his house vii