National Republican. (Washington City (D.C.)) 1872-1888, 1882-05-27
HISTORIC RESIDENCES.
More Pleasant RccOIIectIons of Old
Houses In washington.

lnt WlllteT OF 1910 OF ~ tntIt W Nfisu-
ington an Italian adyentuier Antonio Buchanan,
who opened q dancing academy in the upper por
ton of the building known ns "Stotts Hail."
corner OF Twentieth street and Pennsylvania
avenue northwest. He succeeded in getting quite
a number of young misses aud masters to attend
his classes, and among the number were the grand
children of Mrs. Eatou the widow Of General John
II. Eaton, Secretary of War during Pr:sdcn; Jack.
sons FIRST administration. she was then living In
dignihcd retirement on street, between Twentieth
and Twenty frst streets northwest. Mrs Eaton
manifested great interest in the success Of the
young Italian, who wns very handsome. but IL was
rather toomuch Off feminine type OF beautyto come
to the full measure of what would be required In
perfectly handsome man. lie proved 80 fasci.
mating to the widow thnt she took him TO her home,
adopted him as her son, and finally, against the
wishes OF her best friends she married him. or
course such an occurrence thc widow being nearly
20 and the young professor not more than % years
of agc) was the talk of the day and many were the
predictions Of evil that were prOphesicd to fall
upon the widow for marrying mere ndyenturer,
but Mrs. Eaton protested perfect confidence In the
young professor, and for while his conduct to-
ward her aud her grandchildren seemed to war
rant her confidence 10 It's fullest extent
AFTER BEISG MARRIED NEARLY YEAR
he expressed desire to revisit his native Italy,
and the oonfding wife furnishes him the means to
do so, ard ut the timo of his going every one be.
l;cyed that would be the last Mrs. Eaton would
see of her young husband. Far happier would
nave been her future and that of her innocent
grandchildren II such had been the case hut fate
rad decreed otherwise; After remaining in Italy
about six mouths he returned TO Washington, and
for while he was the devoted husband but
gradually the coven foot began to develop itself,
By the power of fascna ion he got her to sell
her real estate in this city and go TO New
York and SO, him up in business She did so, but
he was incident, had no business habits, began
TO tire OF his benefactress and so one morning the
Professor was missing and that was the lust Mrs.
Eaton ever secs of her young husband, aud thus
the romance ended. IL may seem strange 10 many
minds, and yet believe that Mrs. Eaton was truly
and devotedly attached to the young Italian, and
had he continued to have been us attentive TO her
rs when he trSt married her, there is no doubt
that he would have been tho
SOLE BEHEPIcIARY OF HER PROPERTY.
never knew Mrs. Eaton until she was some
years past 90, nnd can truly ray there was some.
thing remarkably fascinating about her In her
presence, no matter what might be your precon-
ceived opinions Of her they we've forgotten in the
charm OF her manner. She showed me portrait
Of herself taken while she was in Madrid, her
husband being then United States Minister 10
Spein and IL certainly was the most beaut full fhce
| ever have seen. she has often told me with what
kindncS and consideration she was treated by the
youthful Queen Isabella. Mrs. Eaton's life pre-
Yious to her airiagc with the young Italian had
been most romantic ono Her maiden name
was Margaret ONoil, ana nc was born IN this city
IN 1906 Her father kept a hotel. which was the
ayorile resort of members of Congress, especially
those from the Southern States. AS a young girl
she was remarkable for great personal beauty and
wonderful fascination OF manner, manner she
retained to the end of her eyentful career. This
peculiar mseinaion OF manner, combined with
attain u high social position.
HER PfRsT MARRIAGE
was with Mr.. Timberlake, purser in the United
States Navy, rank equivalent 10 that of pay
master at the present time. While at sea he com
beautiful widow with two children, both daugh-
tiers, One married Lieutenant John b. Randolph
Of Virginia. of the United States Navy; the other
married an attachc of the French Legation at
Washington, whose name has escaped my memory.
Lieutenant and Mrs. Randolph both died before
Mrs. Eaton married the young Italian, leaving
five children to Mrs. Eaton's care Altcr the death
of Mr.. Timberlakc his widow remained with her
father; and II was at his house that she first met
General Eaton, he then being boarder at Mr..
ONeil's hotel. He was then serving his second
term as United states Senator from Tennessee
From their first acquaintance, he became COM
plelely fascinated with her beauty, and an early
marriage Of the parties WINS determined upon.
General Eaton the position of Secretary Of War,
which he accepted, and he fill d that position
from March 2, 1879, 10 June is, 1881 when he then
of Florida Territory, which lie held from 1854 to
1885, and Mrs. Eaton Informed mo she was never
General Eat1ns last official position was that
United States minister 10 spain from March IL,
1886, to May /, 1910.
PROM THE PICTURES TAKEN OF HER
at that period of her life It is almost impossible
| to believe that Mrs: Eaton was guilty OF the nu-
| merous acts alleged against her character, for II
upon hers AfSer their return to the United states
| they cnme TO Washington to live, and 1t was not
until the 18th of November, 1856, that General
| Eaton died. Every respect was paid his memory,
| President Buchanan and his Cabinet attending the
| funeral, and the War Department was drnpel In
mourning the usual period out OF respect to his
memory He lies buried in the beautiful city of
| the dead at Oak Hill Cemetery, where Mrs. Eaton
| had erected u beautiful monument to his memory.
| Every one even Mrs Eatons bitterest enemies.
| will admire the manner in which she bore her
| misiortunes, aud il must be the greatest comfort
for her grandchildren to reflect, That when they
| stood in need she was ever their kind friend and
benenctreSs; that in her later years 1t was these
same grandchildren that cared for her, and never
| could suggest suitable Tor her comfort Mrs.
Eaton did in this city Nov ember 0, 1879 aged IS
yeurs She retained her youthful vgor to The last
SO that she would easily PASS for not than ID
| years Of Ggc. Peace TO her ashes X. +. X.