The Pacific commercial advertiser. [volume] (Honolulu, Hawaiian Islands) 1856-1888, 1878-06-22
TIE PACIFIC
S4TURDA Y, JUNE %.
LETTER FROM WASHINGTON.
IFrOm Our Special Correspondent

from Our Special Correspondeutl
WASHINGTON, D. c., May 25th, 1873.
One of the most attractive features Of Wash
ington is the celebrated women who live here
Women whose books you read-women whose
pictures you approye-women whose careers IN
terest you are liable at any time to be met IN a
promenade-at the lunch table-in the public
halls, or in social life. Washington is cosmo-
politan in the broadest sense social acceptance is
based on intellectual claims in a pre-eminent de
gree, as compared with the capitals OF the old
world, or the commercial centres of the new.
In the former an impertinent simpleton-lt his
fathers wore the badge of nobility-has a right
to the most exclusive circles in the latter the
fortunate tradesman, though he has no more IN
tellIgence than is required to select your roasts,
can purchase social leadership. Residing in
Washington, you meet with many women whose
lives are devoted to art, science or literature.
Some of these are from the most pretentious fam
lilies others are known only through their gifts.
While some are arrayed in faultless %tOilettes, 9TH
ers are easily distinguished through the entire sea-
son by the same unpretendlng dark silk. Lie
here has many tangible lessons, not by reason OF
the financial changes, but Of the yet more sure
political entrances and exits. The leader in po-
litIcal social life a generation since, is not lntre-
quently the but poorly paid government clerk OF
| LO-udy-IednlDS NedElly over uef uGohs duu utI-
vous from constant dread Of dismissal. A strange,
eventful history illustrative of this phase is met
in the life of
MRS. GENERAL EATON,
A belle Of a half a century past, distinguished
for her beauty, the romance OF her youth and
her accredited influence in political circles-ncw
full four score, poor, unsOught, and dependent
upon the salary of her young grandson, a gov
eminent employee. Her life, though not differ
ing from many another who has changed from
affiuence to dependence, has more marked fea-
lures BECAUSE her fame has not even been con-
fined to a continent, but gone throughout the
world. She was the daughter of a country
tavern-keeper named ONeill, who lived not far
from the famous dueling ground near Bladens-
burg, and when his pretty daughter Peggy was
not yet grown, he came to Washington, and be-
ing a prince of good fellows, his home vas al
ways filled with Congressman. His daughter
was remarkable for her brightness, grace, and
beauty. Not caring for the advantages her father
was able to give her educationally, she depended
upon her large natural ability, which in after
years rendered her not only a graceful converse
tionalist, but an adroit diplomat. She married a
young naval officer in early youth, a Mr.. Timber
lake, a Virginian by birth. Among the boarders
at O'Neill's tavern was Senator Eaton of Tennes-
see. He interested himself to help the young
people, and secured a pursership for young Tim
berlake, which necessarily took the husband from
home. In a little while that busy old matron
dame RumOr began to comment upon Senator
Eaton's attentions to Mrs. Undertake, and whis-
pers became f~earfully emphasized, when the
startling news came from Washington that the
Purser had committed suicide. Even then it
might all have been forgotten, but Mrs. Grundy
was outraged beyond paclication by the mar
riage of the Senator and the charming widow in
a few months. The Senator's bride was not re-
ceiyed even in official circles, though they are lib
eral in the nature of things. The bride was beauti-
fu1. and gracious all in vain. At this iunctura
General Jackson came into power. He had known
Senator Eaton since his boyhood, and no man was
more chivalric to woman than Old Hickory, so he
brought the force Of executive social weight to bear.
Senator Eaton was made Secretary of War. Ladies
who did not visit Mrs. Eaton were not invited to the
White House, and even his own neice, Mrs. Donald
son, who came to preside over the Presidents house
hold was sent back to Tennessee because she refused
to associate with her. Foreign Ministers were re-
fused audience whose wives did not receive Mrs.
Eaton. Appointments were made by first conciliat-
ing the wife of the Secretary of War. Finally the
feud entered the Cabinet and dlsorganized that body.
General Eaton went as minister to Spain, then Gov
ernor to Florida, but the influence Mrs. Eaton held
over Jackson was not entirely obliterated by the dis
lance. Buchanan was one of the men preferred by
jackson because of his politeness to this queen of
beauty. 1t is not at all proven that her life was
open to severe criticism, especially during the life
time of General Eaton, but the very nature of Pres
dent Jackson was partisan, and the dreadful exper-
fence through which his own life had been blighted
made him very earnest in his espousal of the cause
of any woman. Mrs. Eaton was never received IN
Washington and when her husband died she lived
several years very quietly experimenting the educa-
ton of her four grandchildren, left to her care bv
her daughter, Mrs. Randolph. She seemed to find
her world in them attended them whenever thew
appeared in public, and the social world received
another shock when one day the widow of sixty an
peared in bridal veil and snowy wreath, and went TO
church with her children's dancing master, Signor
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS welded to three score.
SnOp h. o1tnn |
ran of with her grand daughter, and sent a mes.
sage to his forsaken wife, 81 was not true married
to you ; mine church do not bless it. I is one good
Catholic" Is not this a strange, eventful history
indeed? Mrs. Eaton (she has resumed that name),
is a remarkably well preserved woman of cheerful
mind and quite voluble upon the days of wore. I
have never known her to appear in official social life
but once in latter days. Mrs. Belknap invited the
widow OF a former Secretary of War to receive with
her on one occasion. Mrs. Eaton said, in commenting
upon Mrs. Belknap's unhappy experience, with the
and simplicity which won the hearts of all
in ye olden time,'' "Ah my dear.
people will be envious they even used to talk about
but it lCaS all enUy-GUe nUy.''
MARY HOWARD SCHOOLGIRL.
The death of the widow of j Henry r. Schoolcraft was
an event of interest to the literary and scientific
world. 1t was she of whom W. w. Corcoran said,
' In all my long life | have never known so trulv a
philanthropic woman" Miss Mary Howard was a
laughter Of a wealthy and representative South
Carolina planter. Her home was palatiaI, her father
owned near five hundred slaves and 6 Whitehall ;,
vas the centre of Southern hospitality. This daughter was a
Eoman of remarkable mind, heart, and physique. Having
net in early life with great trials, she turned her energies tn.
Yards whatever object she encountered needing assistance
md lived until about middle age the life of a rural LADY,
3ountful, giving especial care for the advancement of the
laves on her fathers plantation. She grew dissatisfied with
be routine of her life and I~aughingly told her friends She was
to Washington to find a husband. No one could fancy
hat this coveted heiress had need to make a pilgrimage of this
lature, but to the day of her death she would insist that She
1as impelled by a certain influence that in this visit she
would meet her fate. On the day after her arrival (Which was
sunday she was escorted to church by Prof. Morse, and soon
ftr a gentleman of fine presence and scholarly bearing en-
cred the pew in which she sat. Immediately upon seeing him
he said almost audibly, That's the man J" and she said her
citation was sufficient to attract the attention of General
iaines who twitted her about it upon leaving church. This
tranger L suppose you have anticipated was Henry r. School
the great Indian historian. He sought an Introduction
her on the next day, and in less than six months she be-
anne his wife and in due time the mother of his two little
llldren. He had been married TO an Indian princess who
led quite young Mrs. Schoccraft came to live at the Cant
II, where her husband proposed publishing, under the direc-
on OF the Government, his great work entitled, Indian An
quities." In just one year after his marriage to Miss Howard
e was stricken down with paralysis. His mind was not in the
asst affected, so for seventeen years this able scholar survived
nd suffered. Ills wife then became his nurse, amanuensis
nd household director. She wrote all his works from the :