New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1881-07-21
MYRA CLARK GAINES.

AN AMERICAN ROMANCE OF LOVE AND LAW.
THE HISTORY OF A CELEBRATED CLAIMANT BY ONE
OF HER PERSONAL FRIENDs-How SHE WAS DE-
FRAUDED IN INFANCY AND wRONGED ALL
THROUGH HER YOUTH-HER LIFELONG BxTTIE
AGAINST INJUSTICE AND PERsECUTION-PERsE-
VERANCE REWARDED VICTORY IN HER OLD
AGE.
tFRoM AN OCCASIONAL CORRESPONDENT THE TRTBUNEl
WASHINGTON, July 15.-WashngtOn society
composed every section of the civil
lied world The Capital City of the Nation is the central
resort of wealth, beauty intelligence and refinement
But among the representative American women who
have graced society here and who have been familiar
with part the history of this country for
nearly half stands more prominent than
Mrs. Myra Clark Gaines. Although the has from
time time than forty years made her
and fortunes familiar to the public there many de-
tails her remarkable life and her long litigation which
have escaped mention, but which richly deserve to be
recorded and cannot fail to be of interest showing
what energy, when supported by integrity and perse-
verance, accomplish although their exponent be
only woman, and a small, delicate at that.
My own acquaintance with Mrs. Gaines dates back
many years when. after her marriage with the
noble old soldier whose splendid head and fine face
shall never forget, she appeared in St Louis
society. The whole country was talking
about her then, as it has done from
time to time since, and all who know of her cour-
ageous struggles to redeem mothers reputation and
vindcae her own rights looked sincerest sympa-
thy ana admiration on the delicate little dark-haircd,
her the life or society The devotion of the old General
to his bright young wife, and her womanly care and
ehidike fondness for him. invested them both with pc
cullar interest to the cosmopolitan society which
made St Louis the most attractive city OF the West
How watchful she him How careful she was
that he neither stood in draugh that he kept
reasonable hours and that he did yield freely to
the temptations of the table She would watch every
thing that handed to him, and if accepted what
che knew was for him dyspepsia disguise she would
call to him gently but firmly Now, General, you
know you must not eat that put it down !" down
would go the plate and the kindly old would
ewer her with smile, while his eyes twinkled merry
to those him.
A LONG LFE-ROMANCE.
When the biography of Mrs. Gaines is published
will vie in interest with the absorbing romance of
any time. Though seventy -six years of age she
does not look more than sixty, and has as smooth a
complexion, as vivacous manners and much energy
as the majority Of women of half her spite of
past and troubles appears to be in excellent
health, and is almost tlreess walker. Though still
mourning the daughter whose DEATH in the fall of 1879
was as she expresses it, the her fe
and though shocked and rendered for brief
time at the tragic death of her and only remaining
child on the 25th Of June she much vitality
to remain long sad and fond seeing her friends and
relating her varied experiences. listening to her
ready flow OF language quick wit and frequent
eoquence, one cannot but dcpore the fact that her
early education was entirely neglected months
schooling being all she allowed by the man
who called himself her father robbing her of her
inc
her real father intended she should have she would
have been of the most brilliant women that
ever graced this Republic What she is and
what she has shown herself to be under many
trials she native talent and 10 the COM
partnership and counses of two husbands both In
her estimation, the handsomest the nObest purest
and the most intellectual men that ever existed"
For now more than thirty she has
tie alone under opposition insult discoura gemcns
fevery description which would long have utterly
annihiated woman of less energy, courage faith in
the righteousness of her has not much of an
opinion of men, Man is selfish and tyrannica
she Thinks with here and there individual exception
II this judgment seems harsh it be remembered
that has been forced her by her experiences
Tor never was woman more wronged by
very birth his selhshness and Injustice
toward the widow and the orphan more fully cxemp-
fed.
DEFRAUDED IN CRADLE.
Daniel Clark, her father was her mothers second
husband her first having deceived her in the most
shameful manner when she only fou teen years OF
age AS soon as she discovered this, and learned
OF the existence of another wife aud
three children, she left her bctrayer and
went to New Orleans, where she Clark, after
short time married him. seems that although
he was much in love with her. he proud, sensitive
man, and had not the courage acknowledge his bean
tful Zuine before the world. but kept in secuson
on one of his plantations When their little daughtc
was born he persuaded the young give up the
child, and it sent to friend of Clarks Phlade
pia VINO promised to be father to it, After this for
Reasons unnecessary to explain here Clark wife
lived less happily together and finally separated
turning to Philadelphia his former home where he had
valuable shipping interests About this time owing to
some unfortunate business transactions which led to the
belief that he might lose most of his property he placed
In the bands OF his daughters guardian and reputed
Father 100000 in trust for the child made his
WILL directing that after the payment of his debts il
there should be anything LETT il was to go to his old
mother Some time previous this he had made will
leaving the bulk of his property charitable institu-
lions, and naming his administrator his
business partner who also his confidential friend
Recovering from his losses and finding himself still
amassing wealth, he made another will, making his
daughter sole heress of all he possessed was I'M
fortunate In the choice his one forced to
conclude that the most sacred Friendship liable to sue
cumb before the unholy greed for wealth
shortly after the last Will made Clark taken
suddenly ILL., fingered few days and died under crcum-
stances which ultimately led to the belief that he had
been poisoned Three days before Clark partner
deposited with the Clerk of the Court his WILL but
Two days later when there appeared some chance of
Clark's recovery, withdrew it again filed and re-
corded the day after Clarks death aged negro man
In Clarks service testified that he partner
open Clars secretary after his DEATH take from il a
sealed document, which he Immediately burned on
the hearth. This believed to be the last will
and testament of Daniel Clark which gave to his
dauShter Myra the whole of his immense property
and which would at have secured to her had
Che will remained IN existence will be clearly seen
how much it was to the mans advantage to suppress
this will and produce the first Thus gained con
troll of the estate. which sold from time TO time
the fruits of his reachery his friend or not there il
N M hnti ia Ilo