The New Orleans daily Democrat. [volume] (New Orleans, La.) 1877-1880, 1880-03-07
xAfALIE SUMTER AND BISHOP ENGLAND
~ MRS. NJ. 8. WHITAKER, AUTHOR or ALBERT
HASTINGS.

We have vivid recollectlons Of fine old
house with an air or ancient respecta billty
Aboutit, where oil was sober tinted and grace
full without being gaudy, and simple IN the
extreme. A conservatory Of rare and beautl-
fll exotics often attracted our attention, for.
ltn glass doors ajar, a delicate perfume per-
vAded the wide Apartments. aud after passing
through several of these we were accus-
toned to enter the boudotr Of an invalid--a
lady reclining on q couch. with silken cover
let, snowy pillows lace-covered, and net
tAstefully looped. The lady was advanced In
lie. but her dark eyes We're bright intelli-
gent and varying correspondent to every
expression she uttered. Her face was beauti-
ful, after . high type Of loveliness which time
cannot obliterate. Dark hair. plainly
drawn back, revealed brow which
s ana general sss y M
combination. This was Natalie Sumter,
daughter OF Rear Admiral Delaxo, OF the
daughter. Mrs. Aston. and dauxhter-ln-law
Of Gen. Sumter. one Of our bravest revoW-
tlonRry commanders. about whose valor and
herotssn II 10 expletive TO speak, since his
name Ia written III the history OF his country
along with those OF Washington, Marion,
Green aad others which posterlty will not lot
die.
The strange viclssitudes Of Mrs sumter's
life are romantic In the extreme. Being the
daughter OF \ French lady, maid OF honor to
Marie Antoinette. she was separated from
her mother during the revolution which de-
throned the King and caused royalsts to tly
precipitately. Mme DelaHo, her mother,
only escaped with her life. and her Infant
daughter. Mrs. Sumter, was conveyed by 4
faithful nurse to New York. About the child's
person were q email chain Of gold and mono
gram; these, together with her infant ward
robe and the known fidelity or her nurse,
ing co9ntxant OF the facts adopted Natalie,
and educated her along with his accomplished
but ill-fated daughter, Mrs. Aston. And
here We would pay deserved tribute to
Rurr's noble conduct towards Natalie
Delago. the lost daughter Of French noble,
who, but Tor his generous care, might
have persisted In q foreign land, despite
the faithfuloass Of her devoted nurse,
anC the vein agony OF her bereaved
hood, q most beautiful and accomplished
girl. when Mne. Delaxo claimed her child,
ancS the latter was put on board ves-
eesllound for French port. Col. Thomas
gu Ter, only son Of the old Game Cock,
GtK Sumter, CHANGED to be fellow passen-
9eRwtth the young lady, and seeing her
tn jte became her devoted admirer. He fol-
aosbhd her to Paris, obtained the consent Of
Mme. Helago TO their union, married her
where see lived and died, beloved and hon
ored as only virtuous and high-toned women
can be.
Hrs. Sumter was woman to command ad-
miration anywhere. She wes equally fitted
to Rdorn court or embellish her husbands
home In q republic. Her Information was
large aud varied: her knowledge az society
the Elost refined was perfect, her deport-
ment, while fuA OF suavity. was at oCce cog
and dignified. She was pious
without pretense, charitable without oStenta-
t.on, learned without dogmatisln and elegant
without asectatian. The Influence OF such a
woman was largely felt and appreciated and
she never made her appearance at any
place OF public resort without being
sought ana admired, but for this she
cared little, being s.lidious only OF those
home duties which insure love, and regard |
less Of that bizarre reputation which waits on |
rich array and the flourish OF diamonds, |
coupled with small talk, frivoIity and dissipa- |
bon. She was devoted to her children and |
took delight IN instructiRg them mentally |
and morally. One of her daughters married |
Count Binda and resides In Italy; another, |
Madame Fontenaye, is ID France, and third |
Mrs Brownfaldt In South Carolina. As was |
natural, they justified her hopes, rewarded |
her care. and are women OF whom any mother 1
might be proud. Col. T. D. Sumter and Sc |