The Ottawa free trader. [volume] (Ottawa, Ill.) 1843-1916, 1880-04-03
WASHINGTON LETTER.
From our regular correspondent
WASHINGTON, u. G., March 81

w h0ni ~ l'N' ~ 't'' 'ihiN' 'SS"'
About four years ago there was brief court
ship in Washington, terminating in mar
rage, which was the occasion Of much com
mcnt and gossip. The groom was wldower
Il scxagcnarian and senator; the bride was
a beautiful treasury rirl ot twenty, II has
proved tn be the old story Of January and
May. Ex-senator Christinncy, Of Michigan,
now L. : Minister to Peru, is expected home
in few days to institute suit for divorce ;
and the young wife has rushed into print and
accuses the supposed irreproachablc old man
/ of drunkenness, optum-citing, and cruelty
She says they had been married scarce two
months when he choRcd her and locked her
in her room. Her knowledge Of her hus,
bands alleged bargain with senator Chandler,
deceased, and her threatened exposure Of its
terms, according To her statement, greatly en-
ragged her husband, who she says, knocked
her down on one occasion in Peru in the pres
encc of an American named llaight, Of whom
she says the minister was jealous
! The story of the domestic trouble Is one
which has often been repeated in this world.
There could have been nothing attractive to a
rosy young beauty in Il feeble old senator, cX.
cept his rcputcd wealth and social position
The senator, however, was not 50 dazzlcd by
his dream of love, and the prospect of cheer
ing his declining years with Il bonnie young
BRIDE as to lose hi, wits entirely Before his
marriage he transferred all his property con
sstng Of real estate in Washington and Kan
sas and mill property in Indiana, to his daugh
ter The only thing left was Il life insurance
death, the widow will get oncthlrd. When
the bride, after the delightful honeymoon was
over, discovered that the property had been
disposed of, 1t Is not impossible that she de
clared that the old man was a fraud. \ gen.
tleman who was acquainted with Miss Lugen
bcel relates that she announced her intention
of marrying "a man las rich AS butter" some
time before she caught the senator. After the
marriage he met her again, and she reminded
him Of her declaration, adding that she had
kept her word Another cause of trouble in
the Christancy family is the existence of grown
up children-older than the young witc-whC
took great interest in the old mans connu
bal affairs.
The way in which the marriage was brought
about, according to story published at thu
! time, was unique. One day Miss Lugenbeel
1t Is stated, glided down the stairway, rushed
into the parlor where the old man was seated
and astonished him by throwing her arms
about his neck anh kissing him in a vigorous
: manner She quickly drew back, however
, and explained that she had mistaken HIM fO
one of her relatives. The old gentleman likeC
: mt, however, and immediately began pro
ceedings to put himself in position where 1t
could be astounded again
: Mrs. Christancy is now residing with he
) mother on d. street near Fourth. Her mothe
) keeps a boarding house. Mrs Chrlstancy ha
found employment in coloring photographs
She has, she says, taken steps to procure dI
: vorce, but is advised by her lawyer that sh
cannot ebtaln one here, having SURRENDERED
her residence in this city. AS long as the cast
Is tried in the newspapers Mrs. Chrislancy ha
the advantage, being on the spot, where sh
can talk to the reporters