Centre Democrat. [volume] (Bellefonte, Pa.) 1848-1989, 1881-05-05
4 DEPARTMENTAL ROMANCE.

u ILh n IA VI ~ hOsuANNbs
In a series of articles on "Distin.
guished Women in the Department at
Washington" written by Mrs. Mary
Fields, and published in the New
York Herald two years ago, sketch
of Mrs. Charlotte Livingston appeared,
which from the interesting sequel de
serves reproduction
A few years ago, in the most aristo
cratic quarter Of the great metropolis, a
mansion stood out with the palatinl
grandeur Of Fontainebleau in the
days OF Louis XIV, or Napoleon ILL.,
. Tbs wealth and luxury OF Oriental
countries made the house and its sur.
roundings the pride a. we'll a. the envy
OF all who razrd upon its grandeur
. Drives lined with tinted shell. steps Of
/ inlaid marble, mosaic in It's delicate fit.
. tings, couchaut lions guarding the en-.
. trance, winged MercurIcs holding fam
beaux that shed subdurd light upon
/ the scene, the moving 10 aud fro OF
t lycried servants, the periumcry Of rare
/ flowers. the notes OF enhancing music
/ the CLEAN Of costly diamonds and sheen
/ Of satins and mist OF priceless laccs.
4 the faces OF beautiful women and forms
/ OF stately men, made a picture in the
memory indelible as that OF the rock
/ upon the mount.
! Out Of this home OF wealth and splen.
I dor aud high birth and gentle breeding
all the daughters had gone to grace
other homes of equal wealth. One was
left young endowed friend. a refined
I lady IN whose veins the blue blood was
az pure "a nobility Of birth and charac.
I ter could make 1t. She boosted. too.
| her husbands descent from the ecnu
I inc aFistocracy Of the most aristocratic
/ family, the Chancellor Livingston. who
administered the oath of OH to the
[ first President of the United States. In
/ the old manor house on the Hudson, in
her luxurious home in New York, and
in foreign travel the earlier years OF
! Mrs. Livingston's life were spent with.
out an unhsppy.thought for the future
. But death came. and the happy wife
/ was a widow. There was an interim OF
. sorrow too sacred for intrusion, and
then came n change. The fckle God.
dess Fortune fed. She was left to her
own resources, and she brayely exerted
them. We find her in the Redemption
Division Of the Treasury Department,
on a salary of 800 per year. doing her
work as faithfully, conseientiou.ly, and
cheerfully as II she had always been ac.
customed to the humble duties. With
the nobility of character which is her
heritage, she scorned dependence, and
the Departments at Washington were
her first suggestion when she found her.
self pennilcss. Her relative, United
States Senator Paddock. obtained the
position for her after all arguments
against her endeavoring to support her.
self had failed, aud she is there ia. day
cheerful and happy, having adapted
herself TO circumstances aud to the peo
pie about her. She has a kind word for
every one and isa iavorite with every.
body. She maintains and il conceded
her place IN society the same as ever.
and, unlike some, who have no ante.
cedents of birth OF wealth Of which "a
boast, she - not ashamed 10 acknowl
edge that she earns her living by hold
ing an Office under the Government.
She betrays her breeding in her dieni
fed and aristccratic carriegn, but with
al uncousciously. Mrs. Livingston /.
one OF the women who purify aud re.
fine the social atmosphere about her.
With true instincts she remarked, 81
am not too proud TO work, but | am too
proud to accept dependence while /
have health and strength"
The New York Herald is read the
world over, and when the number
containing the above article reached
San Francisco gentleman of leisure
and wealth, whose working DAYS were
over, opened the paper for his accus.
toned news, aud the first article which
met his eye was that on Distinguished
Women in the Department at Wash.
ingtOn." lie read il with interest un.
til he reached the sketch Of Charlotte
Livingston, when every word burned
into his heart like Goals Of living fire
Years before, almost too many to re.
member, he had been student nj
West Point and had known and loved
his first and best lovc--the bright
winsome girl, Lottie Paddock. When
she married Peter Livingston, in 1S49
he went TO California, aud from the
day of leaving New York city, ia
October, 1910, until the New York
Herald came TO him, thirty year;
afterward, he had heard nothing o.
his early love. He recalled the oideu
times, and dreamed Of the possibilities