Litchfield enquirer., 1879-11-20
A Strange Life.
MRS. EAToN-BUCHIGNANI.

1nlS reHlaFkaule woman, WnOSe career na0 at one time a great influence on American pol
 itics died on Saturday, the 8th inst, at Wash
 ington. We clip the following interesting
 sketch of her life from the N. Y. Evening Post .gt
 Few women have figured prominently in the political history of this country, but long and stormy lifehas just closed which, in it's earlier days, did influence the whole political current, and that, too, when the iron hand of Jackson was at the helm. For Mrs. Eaton not only kept Washington society in disorder, drew down on many public men the relentless anger of the President and caused him to-do battle Tn her behalf, but Mrs. Eaton diyidedand broke
 up Cabinet, removed men from important positions ana perhaps gave to one President his office Most of this power was, it is true, passive, and not the result of any scheming on her part it was, however, none the less effect i've. t.E s.'H
 When Washington was city just emerging from the woods and stubble, large, old-fash- toned hotel kept by one William ONeal was a favorite boarding house for members of Con- gress, who found in "Peg," the daughter, a pretty, saucy country lass, perfectly free in her Conversation, and most agreeable com panion for winter evening. She has been called fast, but there is no reason to believe that she was anything wofsethah a fOhicking barmaid of those less prurient days. Among her fathers boardefs were Senator (Major) Eaton and Senator Andrew Jackson. Both the General and Mrs. Jackson became very much attached to the family, and the intimacy was never broken of. Among her other ac- quaintances "Peg" met Purser Tmbealake.of the United States Navy and Tn time married him. By him she had had two children, when in 1928 her husband committed suicide while cruising in the Mediterranean Sea. Mrs. Tim berlake meanwhile had incurred many uncom- plimentary remarks by her conduct, and her reputation s~ee by iio 7saees1 the hest--st.lI after her husbands death, Major Eaton deslr- ed to marry her. He had been classed among her favorites, and feeling some scruples about the matter he consulted General Jackson. "Why yes, Major," said the General, Eff you love the woman and she will have you, marry her by all means, and restore her good name. " This advice was acted on, and the marriage took place in January, 1899, a few months be- fore the Generals arrival in Washington as President. tHa.5 |
 When the Cabinet appointments were an- nounced,. Major Eaton was bulletlned as Sec retary of War. Here the trouble began "Peg" O'Neal as the wife of a Cabinet Minis ter must be received into the higher circlesof Washington society The new born city was shocked was stunned. It would not submit, and Mrs. .Eaton's influence began with her per secution: The Rev. J. N. Campbell was among the first to take up the hatchet, but not daring to mention the subject to the President himself, he lated the case to the Rev. B. s. Ely of Philadelphia, who had known the Pres ident in his earlier days. Dr. Ely wrote to the President advising against bringing such woman into the upper circle, and recounting all the old charges against her, among others that Major Eaton and Mrs. Timberlake had registered themselves as man and wife in New York hotel. The President at once made the case his own. He sent messenger to New York to investigate the register story he wrote letter after letter in her behalf, and fi nally went SO far as to bring the matter before his Cabinet Dr. Ely and MT. Campbell were summoned, and the President made every ef- fort to prove Mrs. Eaton's chastity. The sub- ject, however was left unsettled. "Mean- while," says the biographer, 'the suitors for Presidential favors are adv ised to make them | selves visible at the ladys receptions. A card in Mrs. Eaton's basket is not unlikely to be a winning card"
 The ladies however would not yield. Mrs. Calhoun would not received her Mrs. Berrien would not call on her, although her husband had been one of the guests at the wedding Mrs. Branch and Mrs. Ingham were equally exclusive. Mrs. Doneison, the Presidents niece and mistress of the White House. would not visit her. Anything else, uncle, will do for you," said she, "but I cannot call on my dear," said the President, and back she went. 'Bellona," as Mrs. Eaton was nick named, continued under cloud. /
 Among the new corners to the capitol that winter was Martin Van Buren, the new Secre- tary of War. He was widower, without daughters, and, acting on his own not on of propriety, he no sooner learned the particulars of the case than he sided with the President. He called on Mrs. Eaton, treated her with the same respect he showed to the other ladies of the capital, and made parties especially in her honor. of course this conduct clcited many remarks, and many persons readily attributed it to personal and interested motives. How ever this may have been, MT. Van Buren dated his friendship with General Jackson from this time. He gained also the frendship and in- fluence of Major Eaton, the Presidents conf- dental friend and adviser, of Mrs. Eaton and her mother and of Major Lewis, former brother-in-law of Major Eaton. Any one at all acxuainted with the political history of the time needs not to be told how directly MT. Van Buren's election was in accordance with Gen. eral Jackson's wishes and plans; and it is not therefore, assuming too much to conclude that MT. Van Buren owed his elevation to the Presidency in some part to the influence of the persecuted Mrs. Eaton.
 Washington letter, written at the tune, gave the following description of the struggle: "A ball and supper were got up by his excel lency the British Minister, Mir. Vaughan, 8 particular friend of MT. Van Buren. After various stratagems to keep Bellona afoat dur ing the evening, in which almost every cotil- lion in which she made her appearance was instantly dissolved into it's original elements, she was at length conducted by the British Minister to the head of the table, where, iu pursuance of that instructive power of inatten- tion to whatever it seems improper to notice, the ladies seemed not to know that she was at the tables This ball and supper were fol lowed by another given by the Russian Minis ter (another old bachelor.) To guard against the repetition of the modification in the spon- taneous dissolution of the coalitions and the neglect of the ladies at supper (where, you must observe, none but ladies sat down,) Mir. Van Buren made direct and earnest appeal to the lady of the Minister of Holland, Mrs. Huygens, whom he entreated in her own lan- guage to consent to be introduced to the 'ac- complished and lovely Mrs Eaton The ball scene arrived and Mrs. Huygens, with uncom- mon dignity, maiptained her ground, avoiding the advances of of Bellona and her associates, until supper was announced, when Mrs. Huy- gems was informed by Baron Krudener that Mir. Eaton would conduct her to the table. She declined and reconstructed, but in the meantime Mr Eaton advanced to offer his arm. She at4first objected, but to relieve him from his embarrassment walked with him to the table, where she found Mrs. Eaton seated at the head, beside an empty chair for herself. Mrs. Huygens had no alternative but to be- come an Instrument of the intrigue, or decline taking supper; she chose the latter, and talk ing hold of her husbands arm withdrew from the room. This was the offence for which General Jackson afterward threatened to send her husband home.
 "The next scene in the drama was grand dinner, given in the east room of the palace, where it was arranged that MT. Vaughan was to conduct Mrs. Eaton to the table, and place her at the side of the President, who took care by his marked attention to admonish all present (about eighty including the principal officers of the government and their ladies) that Mrs. Eaton was one of his favorites, and that he expected her to be treated as such in all places. Dinner being over, the company retired to the coffee room to indulge in the ex- hilarating conversation which wine and good