Iowa County democrat. [volume] (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1877-1938, 1884-12-26
A Belle Of Saeksens's Time.

If our traditions are worth ANYTHING
at all, says writer In The New York
Times, there were some beautiful and
extraordinary gifted women shining
in Washington circles at the period of
the memorable Webster Hayne de-
bate. But in a certain set of these
grandes damss, afterward famous as
bellies on either side OF the Atlantic.
nobody dreamed of disturbing the
laurel which graced one queenlv
brow-that of Miss Ellen Adair. The
name of Adair obtained, long, long
ago, meritorious place on Americas
roll of honor and of fame. Glorious
old John Adair, Jackson's right hand
at the battle of New Orleans, general
in the United States army, governor
of Kentucky. United States senator
the name is familiar to every school
boy in the land.
One of Gen. Adair's nine daugh-
ters, celebrated throughout the south
west for their beauty, died only day
or two ago in little Mlsslppippi town
This lady-Mrs. White Beatty-lived
. brilliant life. So much romance has
beel woven thickly about her that it
is difficult Ia these latter days TO
adequately measure her distinguished
career. She has been the model for
the most celebrated painters and
sculptors of a bygone age. "Bllen
Adair," wrote Richard Henry Wilde,
poet statesman of the south years ago,
''is the most beautiful spparition God
ever put upon his footstool." To Mrs.
White Beatty was dedicated Wilde's
famous song, my Life Is Like Sum
mer Rose" and she seems never to
have lost her place In the poets
heart.
Her connection on her fathers side
with titled English family gave her
tho entree to all the best circles in
Europe, and no American woman was
ever so well known abIoad as as Mrs.
Beatty. When she married her dis.
tinguished husband, Mr.. Charles
White, thejurist, she, in no wise re-
tired from the conspicuous position
accorded her ON account OF her lowell
ness, her wit, her indescribable grace.
Mr.. White was the author cf
codification of Jurisprudence applied
to the old Spanish colonies of Florida.
After her marriage. Cen Adair's
daughter became known as Mrs.
Florida" White. 1t was at this
period that she was placed as the cen
tral figure in the famous painting
ordered, after Webster's defense of
Massachusetts,, to decorate the walls of
Feneuil hall.
There is charming story told of
Miss Adair long before SIZE consented
to become the wife of the Florida
statesman. While she was the reign
ing star at Washington a certain
wealthy and titled gentleman attached
to the embassy and afterward cele-
brated all over Europe as a Diplomat
paid her marked attention: Indeed,
it was then understood that the En-
glishman had placed his heart and
fortune at the feet of the lovely
American.
One night during banquet given
at the English embassy, the attsche,
in responding to the to 4st of Merry
England" made some offensive allu-
sions to American manners. Too
much ul,gence in the wine-eup
probably caused the Englishman to
momentarily forget himself. For the
remainder of the evening the beautf-
full woman at his side coidly and dis
tantly responded to his table talk.
The grand coup, however, came when
Miss Adair was preparing to descend
the spacious staircase. As the beauty
swept toward the descent her lover
followed close behind her. He hasti-
ly pressed to her side and offered his
arm, when the indignant beauty drew
herself up to full height and said dis
tinctly and audibly:
Sir, in insulting my country you
have insulted me; you have forgotten
that am the daughter of an Ameri-
can soldier"
With grace only at her command,
she moved back from the astonished
Englishman, and, retreatlng to where
Gen. Adair stood, tripped un2er her
fathers escort to her carriage.