The Mankato free press. [volume] (Mankato, Blue Earth County, Minn.) 1879-1924, 1880-12-30
THE STORY OF A WOMAN'S LIFE.
The Checkercd Career Of Woman Who Was Q
Belle In Both iiemispheres.

Belle IN Both iiemispheres.
From KingstownN. Y. to the Cincinnati Gazette
The contest before the Surrogate over the
will Of Mrs. Eliza Smith revives some inter-
esting "reminiscences, of this remarkable
woman. During those palmy days of Wash
ington life, which the lapse of time sur
rounds with halo Of romance and glory,
when Clay, Calhoun, and Webster were in
the zenith Of their fame, Mrs. Smith gained
marked prominence as u society belle. She
was born ut Gibalter. Her father was n
Scotchman, and an officer in the British
service. Her parents died when she was
four years old, and being bright, pretty and
precocious, she was adopted by u wealthy
Spanish family, who treated her with all
the tenderness Of daughter.
In that Southern cline the little one de-
veloped fast, and when but thirteen years
old she was married to Spanish gentleman
of considerable wealth. Within year the
young wife was q mother, and when, four
years later, her husband died, she had given
birth to four children. Don JOsa was killed
in q duel, and it was said his pretty, dark
eyed young wife was the cause of it. Her
property was enough to support her in ease,
and no one could be in any way restraint
upon the young woman. She had not been
prudent when wife and mother, and was
now less discreet than ever. Garrison life
at the fortress was gay. The young officers
quaitered there were constant visitors, and
scandal was busy with her reputation.
At the age of twenty-five she married
Capt. Walker, owner and commander of an
American trading vessel, and a brother of
Commodore Walker, Of the United States
Navy. Capt. Walker coupled an excellent
position in American society, and in his
cruises his young wife accompanied him.
Then there came a time when Mrs. Walker
tired of its monotony, and 30, while her
husband sailed she shone in society ut New
York, Philadelphia, and Washington. She
gained reputation, being brilliant and at
tractive woman of the world. She was
handsome, with dark hair, bright brown
eyes, perfect form, and all the ease, tact,
and thorough style of one whose whole life
has been in society. She used in after years
to tell with apparent pride of her triumphs
in Washington.
More than one Senator, she said has
prayed me to notice his cause. Martin Van
Buren, time and again signaled me out in
crowded drawing rooms, imploring me to
hear him. knew Clay, and Webster, and
Benton, Calhoun, and Randolph, and all
the great men of the day." and then. to COR
robomte her story, the old lady, for she
would tell these things in her later years,
would produce u pocket of letters, some of
them signed by men forty years ago.
In 1854 Capt, Walker died, and she was
again a widow, She was thought to be
wealthy. When, three years later, Abijah
Smith, of this city, q local celebrity, whose
home was Golden HILL" offered himself
in marriage she accepted him. She thought
he was wealthy. He thought she was rich.
9th Of hot
disappointed, it is said, for with character.
istic shrewdness she had tied up her little
fortune, so that Abijah could not touch it,
and he had little to tie up. They lived
very unhappy together until few years
ago, when an explosion in his sawmill
made him cripple for life. She was
not the one to bear with u sick mans whims,
and the home was broken up. A year ago
Smith died His wife made her home here
living entirely in the past. Nothing pleased
her better than recounting the triumphs of
the long ago; how leading French artist
begged her to give him sitting; how her
arm had been cast in plasters as q model of
perfection; how her beauty had been the
theme of poets and the envy Of other women.
There was little remaining to denote the
charms of youth save the eye, which to the
last were bright and flashing. She would
on occasions dress with elegance, and taking
from the Kingston Bank her jewels, would
appear in splendor. Her diamonds were
fine and she had remarkable curious brace
let, set with precious stones, that was evil
IDENTITY of great value.
A year ago she became i'll and gradually
failed. Two weeks previous to her death
she fell and cut her head badly. On Satur-
day, September IL, it was evident, even to
her, that she must die. She sent for the
rector of St. James Episcopal Church and
received the sacrament of the Lords Supper,
ood nj pun aat che died