The Kenosha telegraph. [volume] (Kenosha, Wis.) 1860-1888, 1878-07-04
LEWIS CASS' ONLY SON.
The Romance in the Life of the Most Beau
tiful Daughter of Michigan.


u
tiful Daughter of Michigan.
TFrom the Detroit Newsl
Emily V. Mason was reputed to be
the most beautiful woman in the North
west. Her family were patrician and all
her associations were elevated. In
1888, when her father was Secretary of
the Territory of Michigan, she enjoyed
political as well as social distinction.
and later, when 1Iichigan was erected
into a State, her brother, Stevens T.
Mason, became the first Governor, and
she presided over the household and
dispensed liberal and graceful hospi-
tally. The gubernatorial mansion was
the center of the culture and fashion of
the Northwest, and Miss Mason was at
the head of the society of the Wolverine
metropolis.
While Miss Mason was discharging
the duties of first lady of the State, Mai.
Lewis Cass was at West Point. During
his vacations he visited his home and
was thrown much into the society of the
brilliant Emily. He was younger than
she, and if he was smitten by her beauty
and accomplishments he never sum-
moned the courage to propose.
The sudden death of Gov. Mason and
the breaking up Of the Mason home
stead and the reverse that followed OBJ
liged Miss Mason to look about for
means OF support. She was a girl OF
proud, independent spirit, and with the
remains of her property she purchased
market farm in Fairfax county, Va,
and began business like a practical
woman. She developed energy and
commercial foresight, and soon enjoyed
abundant prosperity. She supported
herself and her orphaned nieces in ele-
CANT style, worked hard, and acquired a
competence.
At the outbreak of the civil war her
home was one of the most delightful in
all Virginia, and she was enabled to de-
vote a considerable portion of time to
literature. The war, however, scat
tered her fortune to the winds, and left
her all but destitute. She was now
fully matured woman, over 40 years of
age, strong, resolute and energetic.
Driven from her home, she went to
Richmond and became a nurse in the
hospitals. The Federal prisoners vino
came under her ministrations were OBJ
jects of herespecial care.
On the close Of the war she devoted
herself to the education of Southern
orphans, and published several works
OF an educational character. She dwelt
in Washington for while, and her
home IN Pennsylvania avenue was the
resort of some of the most brilliant men
and women in the capital. She occu-
pied a position in one of the Govern
ment Offices for time, and everywhere
commanded respect and admiration.
She finally took up her residence in
Paris.
Many years before this Maj. Cass
had established himself in the French
capital, and had become a Frenchman
in his tastes and methods of life. The
two met, and the concealed passion of
early years, rekindled in the breast of
the old gentleman, led him to offer Miss
Mason his hand and fortune, but she
said that she had resolved never to mar
ry, and the Major asked her to do him
the honor of granting him her friend
ship. Then, until his death, which oc-
CURED rather suddenly, Miss Mason was
his companion in that friendship in
which the French in the decline of life
know so well how to associate, and she
closed his eyes and took charge of his
remains. Under the terms of his will
his body was embalmed and brought to
Michigan. A plain tomb, to cost not
more than 5000, will mark the resting
place of Lewis Cass, the self-expatriated
descendant of Michigan's greatest son.
The will Of Major Cass bequeaths to
Miss Mason $4,000, three diamond
rings, which the testator dearly priced,
and makes her the joint executrix of the
instrument.