Middletown transcript., 1881-07-29

CndSI6lluX, LIE OlldDdu6S, D6 OIdIlp
ceretz, and Bozon de Talleyrand, the
fascinating group Of French gentlemen
and heroes, of whom the charmed
Newport beauties knew only that they
came and went There is a fine glimpse
of Washington i'll one of the French
memoirs, as he walked bare-headed
with Rochambeau at his side, from the
wharf to his headquarters, between the
lines of soldiers Of both armies drawn
up three deep. II regarded him, ;
says the Frenchman, with the atten.
tion which the sight of great men
always implies. We half expect to find
in their features the genius which
distinguishes them above their fellows.
Washington is adapted more than any
other man to produce this impression
tall, noble, well-proportioned, with an
open, sweet, and calm expression, and
an entirely modest air, he impresses
and interests French and Americans,
and even his enemies
Do the loiterers on cottage piazzas at
Newport to-day know how full of
ghosts is the air around them? Do
they smile at the quaint old bells and
their stately minuets Of century ago !?
Would the lithest of the lovely figures
of this evening, floating on the air, eX-
change the turn with the Incompatible
Walter for a grave bow from Wash
ingtOn as a partner For he too has
danced i'll Newport. In honor Of his
visit the citizens gave a ball at the As
sembly-ROOm in Church street, and he
was requested to open the festivities. In
later days, when the Prince de Join
vile, on his way to st. Helena for the
dust of Napoleon, stopped at New
York, and went to private ball, there
was great flutter of excited curiosity as
to the first partner whom he would
select after the hosts daughter. 1t is
singular that the lady whom he asked
became afterward the wife of a French
gentleman, an adherent Of the Du-
cheese de Berri. Tradition cherishes
the name of Washington's partner at
the Newport ball. He solicited the
honor of the hand of the beautiful Miss
Champlin with a high-bred, respectful
courtesy which the incompatible |
waltzer of to-day might well emulate,
and he asked his partner to name the
dance. The lovely Champlin selected |
i" A Successful Campaign dance in
high favor-and as the hero led out his
partner upon the floor, the French Off
GERS, with graceful gallantry, took the
instruments from the musicians, and |
played, while Washington and the
Champlin bowed and stepped and cour-
tested in the minuet. She had beau
tiful eyes, said the Prince de Broglie, a
sweet mouth, perfectly shaped face,
fine figure, pretty foot, and an air alto
gether attractive. She was dressed and |
coifed with taste "that is to say"
adds the true Partisan, ga la Fran
cafes y and she spoke the princes
language.
A quarter of century ago the grand |
son Of that famous beauty was living |
in her fathers house, where Wash
ington took tea on the evening of the
ball. 1t had been the home of five |
successive generations, and on one of
the windows memorial windows were
they all-was still legible, scratched |
with diamond, the name Of Betsey |
Halliburton. The name of another of |
the bellies whom the Frenchman saw |
is familiar from that of the famous
library founded by Abraham Redwood.
His daughter was exceedingly beau
tiful, - and tradition declares, without |
fear of denial, that sailors, stepping
ashore from long sea-vOyages, lifted |
their hats as she passed, and gaZed as
if they had seen an angel. Boys Of a
generation before that which the Easy
Chair recalls remembered grave old |
lady mixing wine and eggs and sugar
in a pan, then stepping into the pad
dock where the COW was grazing, and
returning with foaming syllabub. 1t
was the beautiful Redwood, the friend
of the Champlin and of the daughters
of William Ellery, who signed the
Declaration of Independence, one of
whom was the mother of DR.. Claiming
and the grandmother of the wife Of
Washington Allston. There were
other beauties whose names survive.
The Misses Hunter were ''rivals in
beauty and reputation of the adorable
Champlin, the elder of whom "dresses
as well, but not quite so freshly, per-
haps,' while the younger, if not of so
lofty an air, is rose in person."
But the queen of the fairies was
Quaker Titania. All the French
glow and palpitate with the
charms of Polly Lawton. The god
dess of grace and beauty" exclaims
De Broglie: Il confess that this
seductive Lawton appeared to me to be
the chef-d'eurUe of nature y GA
nymph rather than woman,' says
De Segur: so much beauty, so much ,
so much elegance, and so
much modesty were perhaps never COM
bined in the same person. The divine {
Quakeress reproached him for making g
war, and for obeying the king rather
than God. g What could I reply to a
that angel ?'' sighs the captive, doubt &
less recalling Madame la Comtesse de c
Segur; g for in truth was tempted to c
believe that she was a celestial being t
The prince and the count departed, as t