National Republican., 1884-05-09
ONCE A WOMAN OF WEALTH.

The sIster-In-Lav OF John c. Calhoun
and u Relative OF tho Rich Van Rcns-
solacrs Wandering Demcnted In the
Streets of New York.
NEW YoRK, May S.-Tuesday afternoon q
policeman saw an old and feeble lady, whose
face was wan with hunger aud exposure, aud
whose clothes wero wet with tho pouring
rain tottering along Greenwich street. lie
watched her until sho foil exhausted to the
pavement, whom no hastenod to her assist
ance. When no asked her where sho lived
she burst into tears and answered that she
did not know. Several times sho shook her
head, the hair on which was perfectly white,
as she tried in vain to recall her last place Of
residence. The policeman, suspectiug that
her mind was affected, took her TO the twenty
seventh precinct station. At night she was
taken to police headquarters and remained
there all tho following day in charge Of
Matron Webb.
Her quiet ways and gentle dcmeanor won
the sympathy of tho officials. She was qucs-
| TONED about hersefa and relatives but IL was
very difficult to obtain any coherent story
from her. Her mind seemed to be wandering,
and in the middle of a sentence she would
| forget what she was talking about and bo
unable to complete It, Finally, by piecing
| together what che said at various intervals,
it was learned that her name was Catherine
Calhoun she was 20 years old, and the widow
of Andrew IL. Calhoun, once canal appraiser
| in this state and lator clerk of the state SOM
ate. He died about eight years ago in Brook
| lyn, leaving daughter and two sons, Andrew
II. Calhoun and Fillmore, Calhoun. The
latter had been named after President Fill
more of whom Mr.. Calhoun was an enthusi-
astic admirer and in whose cause he had
| riskcd and lost all his property.
Tho old lady said that her daughter had
died shortly after her fathers death, but that
her two sons were married and living in this
city. She added that she was born Van
| Rensselaer, and was the first cousin of Alex
| ander Hamilton Van Rensselaer,, of Hudson
The Van Rensselaers at one time owned all tho
land now forming Rensselaer, county and the
various members of the family arc still large
landed proprietors along the Hudson. When
asked why she did not live With her sons or her
rich relatives she again burst into tears and,
wringing her hands, exclaimed:
"They do not wish me with them. oh,
why did God put me in the world am .
| useless, worthless old woman"
Her son Andrew is man Of about 40 years
of ago, and keeps the fruit and cigar stand at
tho Cortlandt street ferry. A reporter
brought him the first news of his mothers
whereabouts Ho was very much shocked
and desired, If possible, to have the occur
renee kept secret.
1--WE come of good family on both Sides"
he said MY father was a brother of John
G.. Calhoun, and my mother is related TO the
Van Rensselaers, as she said. We have be-
come very poor. L can hardly mako both
ends meet, but we have always tried to be
respectable. i would not have had this
thing happen for $1,000 and yet it is no
fault of mine. My mother is demented,
and l havo been obliged to have her
board where people were willing to
take caro- OF her. 1 have faithfully
paid for her keeping. 1 could not keep
her at home with me in Brooklyn, where l
live, because my wife, too, has been demented
since her last child was born, and my troubles
are enough to make mo also lose my mind.
My mother was last boarding with friends in
Fifty-ninth street. About three weeks ago
she ran away from them, aud went to her
relatives in Rhnebeck and Hudson. They
would not keep her. and sent me word that
they had sent her back to this city. l did not
know what had become of her until you told
me-"
He accompanied the reporter and an officer
from the station house. He told the sergeant
in charge that ho would leave his mother in
care of Matron Webb over night and this
morning take charge of her. He reiterated
his statement that he had always treated hei
well, and would continue to do SO. . .l