Public ledger. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1865-1893, 1878-01-19

scendantH.
Washington Cor. Cincinnati Enquirer.
A. V. BROWN,
of Tennessee, was the postmaster
general, and lived in the large house
on c. street, now used as a Home
for the Orphans of Soldiers and
Sailors. The balls, receptions and
parties given by Mrs. Brown and
her daughter, Miss Saunders, were
conspicuous for their frequency
and lavish display. 1t was at this
hospitable fireside, and during this
brilliant social epoch, that the fe-
male Jenkins warmed into active
life. The sensation she created was
immense! Everybody pretended to
be highly incensed if they figured
by Initial Gas was in those days the
custom) in the columns of the re-
spectacle Intelligencer, and one
bright "Star," which was then
twinkling brightly in the "news.
paper heavens" But these same
particular people were simply out
ragged, if, by any chance, mention
of them was omitted.
MISS MARY JANE wINDLE,
and to her we should bow as though
in homage to a respected ancestress,
was this original Jenkins. She was
a tall, angular lady, very nearly six
feet high, and had reached that un-
certain age when one forgets that
a spring-time of youth has ever
bloomed she was possessed Of ali
the gracious ways and piquant airs
which belong to the debutante
She had great blue eyes, and when
they were Illuminated by the fresh
fires of youth they must have been
lovely prominent nose and large
mouth, indicitive of that genius fol
being jenkins, which warmed up
her literary soul. The contour OF
her head was perfect, and it was
covered with a wealth of chestnut
hair which, in its ripping waves
seemed to have caught a thousand
sunbeams. Her toilets were such
as only a genius can make, and only
the pen Of genius describe p! She
had not an idea of the harmony o.
colors, Or the congruities of mate
rial; or the faintest conception
when she had on enough of "locks
and chains, and things about" She
was besieged by visitors from The
creme de le creme of the gay world,
and her card receiver filled with in,
vitations to dejeuners, dinners
matinees, receptions, balls and par
ties from the fair denizens of Bel
gravia.
THE BROWNS
were her special patrons, and, il
the fullness of her gratitude fol
kindness received, she compiled I
book Of her initiated and starry let
ters, and dedicated it to "My deal
darling, Narcissa Saunders"
Miss Saunders, en- passant wa
bright and fascinating, with un ali
degage quite irresistible. The fam
lily were prominent both on accoun
of their official position and theil
wealth, and the book created some
thing akin to a sensation.
Poor Mr.. Brown, the ?. N. G..
and stepfather of this fair Narcissa
whose "eeho" was Miss Windle
was astonished one day on going t
his room at the department b
finding a moderate-sized library Of
his floor, of which Miss Mary Jan
was the custodian. She was waitin,
. for a substantial proof from hin
of his high appreciation Of the homo
conferred on his interesting step
daughter, to be given in the shap
of a check for one hundred an,
fifty copies of the book, He CAV
it, and few months after died.
THE 0. j.
cast her fortunes with the SUM
solid South, and during the fou
years of the rebellion received cor
stant and substantial proofs Q
E friendship from Mrs. Brown an