The Sunday herald. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1866-1887, 1880-05-23


Gated energy and balanced mind obscrycd that
than he addressed the lady as " Countess
resuminc our places in the diligence we talked ot
some tine, and gradually, one after tho other, were
over,aSen by sleep As was tn the middle, and had
strangely enough II gravitatcd toward the lady, t
by degrees II rested on her plump shoulder, which
must have been very soft pillow for slept soundly
most of the night III the morning She told me, with
gentle smile, Of the unconscious liberty had taken,
and ovcrnowcd with apologies for my unnentlonal
ruGcucSS.
The gentleman turned out to be Dr. Lardncr, the
popular scientist, and the lady the Countess Guiccic
who going TO London a visit to Lady Bicssing-
ton, and the chance acquaintance here formed grew
into lifelong intimacy with the famous enchantreSs
Of Lord Byron. OF the next night he says;
It was q long time before I grew suniciently COM
posed To sleep, aud my last thought was that ON the
previous night had luNurated on bed Of down that
the illusttous Byron once SO highly priced. We
landed early next morning In London and separated
with the mutual exclamation Of an rtroir,
This lucky acquaintance introduced the Chevallcr
To- Gurc House aud al that brilliant coerc which
rounded Lady Ble'sington and Countd orsay and the
author revccd In the anticipation Of moving In this
famous circle.
In London wikod acted as ncgotia,or in mlsun.
dcrstandng which threatened prevent the lsalcd
marriage of Catharinc sinclair with Edwin Forrest,
whom he had known FOR some years, and between
whom aud the Cheynlicr there was life long friend
ship:
Forrest had selected the middle OF June for his we'd
dtng aud rteiatations were already making fot the
Joyous event. After short bridal tour on the CONT
nent lie had decided to return home aud renew his
professional career,
Things were In this pleasant shape when one day he
rushed up into my ROOM his cheek burning, his eyes
sparkling with anger, and pacing up and down In
great agitation declared In passionate voice he In
tended TO renounce his marriage. Surprised and
shocked at this abrupt announcement, inquired the
| cause,
| 'Why. would YOU believe, they want me to settle
what they call "a iointuie on my intended wifcl'
| Whom lo YOU mean by theyy'' inquired.
Her father aud MOTHER he replied full of n-
dignation
| ''Nou seem To forget, continued, ''or perhaps
are not aware that In this country 1t is invariabc
| usage to make what is called marriage settlement
| previous TO the nuptials, aud -
- don't care interrupted my iratc friend,
that's HAT. what right have they to doubt my afec
t,on II Is dlsgustlng to demand recunary guar-
Fiuding argument lost upon him, and fearing lest
| In his excited mood he would dash out of London and
,,il Tor home, determined to change my tactics
knew he was deeply attached to the fascinating Kate
and would be iOath to luse her. So said "Wil
You put the matter In my hands, II cannot stave
on the lointule why, then take your own course
| "It you can arrange the matter according to my
view. he replied. 81 shall be pleased, You may be
scribe to any such degrading proposition. -
drove up at once tn Alfred place, aud had an in-
She told me how asonished and distressed She At
Forrest wayward conduct. She considered It
her duty to ask for compliance with the usual Eng
| w
could not comprehend. she reiterated Forrest smotve
IN refusing it In so impe,ucus q manner. explained
that tointures were wholly unknown In the United
states, where marriages were never mixed up with
money negotiations, aud that, In Forests eyes, so
the sincerity of his attachment. Fortunately, while
We were talking, the lovely hancte came Into the
room, her eyes rel and her face ashy pale. showing
what anguish this painful dihcuy had cost her She
earnestly besought her mother to listen to my sugges
ton to waive any further discussion Of this 'hate
win honor aud Affection. Nv earnest representa-
tions and her daughters touching appeals at last
her maternal solicituie. She agreed to rcnounce
what she deemed not only customary but proper and
earnestly prayed she might never have occasion to
giet It, hurried of N the pressing entreaty of his
bctrotled to Forrest lodgings, who really
ioved at the result He was moved almost to tears
when told him that my success due tn the
pathetic icmoistmnces of his Kate than to my own
efforts.
IIereis sketch of Philadelphia society with mem
, ton of some families not unknown In washington
one of the houses often visited in this pleasant
way that of Mrs. John Rhlgway, the acknowl-
edged beauty nj the beam monde. She was the eldest
daughter of Richard Willing, the head of one of the
oldest families the town. IN early youth shc was
famous for her charms and she grew in years she
developed in lovclness. Above medium height, dark
hair, regular features and eyes Of peculiar fascna-
ton, SHE was pronounced universally the beauty par
,, excellence Of Philadelphia. Her manner was Ie-
served but free from pre,ension. Toail persons and
IN all occasions she was imposing, and intensely
; oOD'me il fuUt. No wonder She was always sur
rounded by thrcngs of eager admirers struggling es-
peratcy To carry oil this brilliant trophy: but this
neither tempted her im'o coquciry nor hasened pre-
mature decision. The prize was drawn at last by
ySnnS SWy ana harpE select selection Il proved e
. of the grammar school at Princeton. Every one
knew him and liked him; for though the heir to
great fortune he was unassuming aud Kind.
y At the house of this handsome couple the hest
society constantly assembled and was not more I'M
pressed by the beauty of most of The women than
by the afabe manners and excellent tone that uni
tormly prevailed felt that for good breeding and
| n
y Europe often met here, as elsewhere, remark
e ably seductive woman-Nirs r. Willing. sister In
law of our hostess. 1t not her bright and pleas
y Ing face. her superb figure or winning manners
= alone that always attracted - group around her.
These powerful attractions were supplemented by
sparkling intelligence aud racness of conversation
s that never failed to charm and made her society
= | courted wherever Sh" went, She accom-.
plished musician. too and her brilliant execution ol
the harp ELECTED the enthusiastic applause of ever,
!, company. Her husband, popularity known as Ton
willing was celebrated FOR hts splendid person
e elegant address. lie was certainly of the hand
soonest men Of his day. aud lost nothing by
parison with the uniivaled Count D'Orsay. l met
10 or the first dime, at Mrs Ridgway's residence ai
i, american who said to have the widest sntrts
" the best society of England and France any Ameri
l. can abroad. refer to Francis =. CorLip, grand
IN son of the G, lomia Governor of Virginia lie mar
" fled Miss Hamilton an heiress of Philadelphia
=, resided chiefly In Paris, but passing the wne
In Philadelphia on business connected with his larg
P property lie was tall and graceful. with an inde
ic fnable charm of manner Highly educated,
gifts of conversation, dfSin9Uf at all times In
things IL IS not surprising his company appreci
circles OF Europe
Fanny Elsslei-who Is still living and who la
= passed her thrcescore years and ten-was induced
visit this country by Mr.. WikoG. who thus describe
~ his Introduction 10 her and the beginning of thei
~ friendship:
m Mile. Essler occupied the chief part Of q mansion
In this central POSITION ana mounting to the prsB.
ie passed through several richly furnished rooms am
'e were nslercd into her boudoir where we found Il,
Marquis in parey with the diva of the dance
| sle received with exceeding CDuTtpSy. TN
- conversation forthwith began. The Marquis spok
T. lady what passe, between him and Mr.. Price tn
N length of the engagement proposed, the time and TIL
=. terms all fully discussed; and while this wa
~ going on had abundant opportunity to contemplat
fd this celebrated woman was struck by her quiet
Mt ltdy-ike appearance. She was above medium lelgl
4 and divneIy formed, as had often the stage
Her features well shaped and the eyes, Of da
v gray, wonderfully soft and gentle Her head wa
beautifully shaped the cOuntenance singulary swet
A. and winning. The voice. too, was low and musical
NJ Every movement was the incarnation of grace Wha
I'd puzzled me was that so meek and placid crealur
81 should have made such iuror In Europe, on and o
the stage. one would have supposed from her retir
TX Ing air and modest department that she had bee
T. reared In convent or had udded In some cocl Sc
10 gueSiered yae'' far away from the haunts Of me
and the pureuS of the opera-',ouse. Could she be
h. Innocent and c0niding as she looked? Had III
nd ahm'raiion Of suiiors, The enthusiasm {
I'd m"ltiIndss the homage q princes iale
e rather danced over many hot pIoughshares wtor
v Scorching her tiny feetY Was IT possible To live
w ", the nailrios atmosphere In which she had been re
as sincerity Of character? II seems TO we'll nigh In
Ie credible During the cololuy of the Marquis and IN
friend Price She rarely spoke, simply nOdding he
head as the main points were Interpreted while
lie buised myself with the reflections lust expressed.
the close Mr.. Price said he must return forthwith
London and would leave me 10 arrange the details
" Mile. Elsser accepted the engagement.
~ called occasionally on the famous danseiise an
e was Invariably charmed by her aabiliy and eeganc,
'. ! could not question her natural intelligence but
w was blended with an ingenuOusness very IN III
:" world aud sill more ol the stage II was long befo
- could lie convinced that this was all genuine and
= merely the skilfn ds8imulatiOn Of u consumma
w actress. ridlculed the amusing fabiications h,
We visitors respecting the Sd"0erie of the United STATE
he and guaranteed her reception that would throw II
enthusiasm Of other countries she had yanquished in
M the shade. Such AT as hers assured her, had
"l been there aud, united with much beauty an
ms grace, would he quite revelation. that would yie
" results In fame AMI profit beyond her most sanguil
ne calculations. ly degrees She seemed tO give me II,
he confidence for though artless by dispositions her
pcricnce had taught her caution, and she felt dOu
norr than the suspicion Of the motives Of men. ha
often appaudrd the marvellous SKIN and eXpressi,
mntomine of this great artist In the opera house. III
a. no l.put in