The Warner weekly sun. (Warner, Brown Co., Dakota [S.D.]) 1883-1885, 1884-03-21
Peggy o'Neal.

From Review OF Parton's Noted Woman
Another woman of a different kisS
Peg O'Neal, better known as Mrs NJ
ton, is recalled by Mr.. Parton ii ! 81.
readable chapter. She was the pras,s
and vivacious but not o~yerprudent ~
e~rn-keeper's daughter in Washington
you know, who became the wife 81 nsn'
eral Jackson's Secretary Of War. ana; \.
whose social behalf the whole power Z
the Jackson Administration has brouoh.
to bear with so much determination "a
with such unusual consequences. Ths
ladies of Washington made M thai,
minds with one accord that Mrs. EaAnr
was an improper and unworthy woman
and that they would not call upon bep
nor recognize her in any way Al nv
wife of a Cabinet Minister. Gen.
eral Jackson took her part
and became her personal champion. Il.
ing every means at his commando com.
pei attention and consideration for hef
II have had in my hands, . says Mr
Parton, hundreds of pages of nam.
script in General Jackson's writing. IN
relating to this affair" He summoned
the propagators Of tho scandals concern
ing her; he made her case o topic Of cab
met discussion; he threatened represen-
tatives of foreign government with dis.
missal on her account; he sent his Own
niece away from the White House BE-
cause she refused to second his efforts
in the tabooe6 woman's favor. But ii
was all futile. General Jackson's will
was strong" Mr.. Parton observes, Hbut
he discovered on this occasion that won.
ans won't was stronger" In spite Of
all his tuning and storning,
the ladies resolutely refused 10
have any thing to do
with Mrs. Eaton. When shs appeared
in q cotillon at q fashionable ball they
would Immediately retire from it; when
seated next to her at supper they would
quit the table; when brought fete.a.
tete with her in conversation they would
turn their backs upon her and other.
wise manifest their utter diaapprosai Of
her presence.
1t was this controversy over Mrs.
Eaton hat really contributed more than
anything else to General jackson
quarrel with Calhoun and drosat the
latter into the notification project. The
cabinet was convulsed and broken mp
under the same pressure. And 1t i IN.
questionably true that Mr.. Van Buren,
gained the presidency by siding with
Jackson in this matter. Mrs. Eaton
does not appear to have been az especis
ally remarkable woman in any way.
She was passably handsome and intellis
gent, and her father had been
an old friend or General jackson. When
Major Eaton married her she was .
widow, her first husband, q purser IN
the navy, having committed suicide,
leaving her withtwo children and 4 VERY
little fortune. According to the best
testimony she was not in fact q wanton
or q bad woman, but only q Careless
an6 indiscreet one. She liked adrnira'
ton and social excitement, but was not
given. we should say, to intrigue and
calculation, and the circumstances
which made her srch q prominent TAG
tor in Washington affairs were prinel.
pally accidental rather than of her own
choosing or causing. 1t is non tht
less true, however. that shs was ths
occasion of more contention and more
political and maneuvering and
animosity than any other one
woman who has ever figured y
American history. Soon after the Gloss
Of the jackson Administration she wa
again left q widow, and q rich a q
that, and she continued to live y
Washington for many years in elegant
style, though she nerer succeeded Il
overcoming the old prejudice agalns''
her or in winning the measure of socia
recognition which General jackson
strove SO hard and perseyeringly TO &c
cure for her. Near the close Of her lite
when experience should have saved he
from such folly, she took q third hrs
band in the person q q worthless
young Italian dancing master, vh'
squandered her fortune and brougn|
- 49, <~xX -.