Democratic Northwest. [volume] (Napoleon, Ohio) 1869-1894, 1883-08-09
The Marble Widow.

Alone in her marble palace lives the
widow of A. I. Stewart His remains,
which are supposed to be resting be-
meath the magnificent mausoleum of
Garden City, are scarcely more seclud-
ed than is the personality of Mrs. Stew
art.
The greater portion of the Stewart
mansion is closed, dust gathers upon its
painting and furniture, its blinds of
white and gold shut out the exterior
view, and save a small suite of rooms on
the western corner, the mansion is prac-
tically deserted. There is something
touching in her splendid isolation with
in call of the fashion, care, elegance and
bustling activity of restless social
world.
A lady with silvery gray hair, whose
features are still clearly cut and bear
the evidences of refinement, is Mrs.
Stewart. Her eyes are yet undimmed.
She stoops slightly. She is of kindly
presence, although her features bear the
traces of much suffering and habitual
sternness of expression settles. upon her
features when in repose. Her face.
when lit up with the interest of pass
ing topic, affords the observer fair
idea of what Mrs. Stewart was in her
prime. With the aid of a silver crutch-
handled cane she can get about fairly.
But there are times when the services of
her personal attendant are much in re-
quest,
WOMAN OF METHOD.
Mrs. Stewart is & woman of method.
When able, she rises by 10 o'clock and
breakfasts usually alone. Her tasks
are few and modest, and her rich but
simple breakfast eQuipage contains the
old-fashioned meal of tea, dry toast,
and some light, easily digested food, as
chicken or fish. Wines she rarely
touches, save toward evening, prepara-
tory to retirement, between 9 and 10
O'Clock, when glass of port acts as
gentle stimulant to night of peaceful
fepose.
But despite her long years of mourn
ing, life has certain duties to be per-
formed, and business tact, inherited
probably from her husband, is still char
acteristic of Mrs. Stewards domestic
habits.
There are certain pensioners to be
looked after, accounts of personal ex-
penditures to be investigated, letters to
be answered, and old friends to be re-
ceived. Besides all these, her signature
has to be obtained to sundry business
formalities that are indispensable. All
this takes up more time than would at
first appear.
COMBING HER HAIR.
One of her favorite pastimes, peculiar
to many old people, is to indulge in the
luxury of having her hair brushed. Her
silver braids are long and fine, and
though increasing years may have told
upon her strength, time has added to,
rather than detracted from the glory of
her hair This operation usually lasts
tor an hour or more, while her compan-
ion-sometimes it is relative-reads
from the newspapers, or from relig-
lous book, as her fancy may incline.
Her moods are various and capricious.
Ever-changing fancies are continually
occurring to her mind. One day she
may be bright, sanguine, and exceed
lngly pleasant; the next she may be
plunged into utter dependency, and
will refuse comfort from her most at
.ached friends. When laboring under
these morbid reflections she has been
known to lie for hours upon her couch |
utterly alone.
Her husbands portrait hangs in her
bedroom, protected by small curtain.
She will look at it for an hour at a time.
and then again the curtain will remain
lightly drawn for days.
Under some conditions her vitality is
and her health, upon the
whole, is good, considering the mental
she has undergone. Her pal
ace is watched night and day, and to
get to see Mrs. Stewart is one of the inn
possibilities to those who are not includ-
ID among her warmest friends. NJ Y.
]ourndl..,