The Cecil Whig. [volume] (Elkton, Md.) 1841-current, 1879-11-22
WHOLE No. 1928

"Mr. Van Buren, has evidently, at this
moment, quite the lead in influence and
| Importance. He controls all the pages on
the back stairs and fiutters what seems to
be at present the Aaron's serpent among
the Presidents desires-a settled purpose of
making out the lady Of whom so much has
been said person of reputation. 1t is odd
enough, but too evident to be doubted, that
the consequence of this dispute in the social
and fashionable world is producing great
political effects, and may very probably de-
termine who shall be successor to the
present Chief Magistrate.
There soon got to be an Eaton and all
anti-Eaton party, and the war between
them waxed hot. 1t ended by the summary
dissolution of the Cabinet, and Mr.. Van
Buren, was sent as Minister to England by
way of Washington, to succeed first Mr..
Calhoun and then General Jackson. Maj
Eaton, upon retiring from the Cabinet, had
number of difficulties, and many duels
were thought to be inevitable The Presi-
dent, however, appointed him Governor of
the Territory of Florida, and so the cause Of
the dire dissensions was removed. Later
Gen. jackson appointed Maj Eaton Minis
ter to Spain, and Mrs. Eaton scored social
conquests that were long remembered in
Madrid. In 1856 Maj. Eaton died, AM, Mrs.
Eaton took up her abode in Washington,
where she devoted her attention to the edu-
cation of her grandchildren. There were
l,1 !, ir1- flno IF han, iaI
DR.. Randolph, of Virginia, and the other,
after her name had been associated with
that of Philip Barton Key, became the wife
of NJ. de Sampayo, a member Of the French
Legation, who subsequently became tie
Duke de Sampayo and Fcnsendek, and
whose daughter not many years ago was
married to one of the Rothschilds.
MRS. EAToN's OLD AGE
The children that Mrs. Eaton had with
her in Washington were those of DR.. and
Mrs Randolph. Among the teachers elm
pioy cd to instruct these graAdchildrea war
an Italian dancing master named Antonio
Buchignani, who was a man of many ac
complishments. He was only twenty-onc
years old, but the widow of sixty-two
fell in love with him and they Were married
For five years they lived together in seem
ing happiness, the Italian, as afterwards ap-
peared, being principally occupied in get
ting control Of the old lady's property and
in making love to her granddaughter,
Emily Randolph. In 1862 Buchignani who
had secured some $4,000, and Emily Ran
lnlnl, FAD I'm Sta
only a note behind, in which the Italian
said: 81 return you your honored name
and confess myself Il villainors ADVENTURE.
l have arranged for the weekly payment Of
$40 to assist your declining years and help
you forget me-" The young couple were
married in Europe but soon afterwards re-
turned to America and lived in Montreal.
In the Winter of 1868 Buchignani appeared
in New York and Mrs. Eaton had him az
rested. After legal proceedings, that nat
urally made great stir, the italian was
suffered to depart, and it is said that he is
still in Canada.
y correspondent writing from Washing
ton year or two ago thus spoke of Mrs.
Eaton: Gin the back room of an old board
ing house on the south side Of Pennsylvania.
avenue lives at this hour slnaaii' snrfC,Ftly
lady whose zsara ea.nsgser eighty an| for
|hom the romance of F.ie has still Us at
fractions Happy, cheerful, generous with
her small means. contented with Her lot,
she is still active in her exertions for the
good of others, still thoughtful for the needy
and helpless, and more than ever worthy Il
place among the distinguished women OF.
the republic. Her life story has its lessons
and its interests, its charms no less than its
sorrows; it is, above all, historical.