Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1885-01-01
A Belle Of SacksOns's Time.

A Belle Of Sacks0ns's Time.
Ii our traditions are worth anything
at all, says writer ia The New York
Times, there were some beautiful and
extraordinary gifGed women shining
IN Washington circles at the period of
the memorable Webster Hayne de-
bate. But IN a certain set of these
grandes DANES, afterward famous as
bellies on either side of the Atlantic,
nobody dreamed of disturbing the
laurel which graced one queenlY
brow-that of Miss Ellen Adair. The
nama of Adair obtained, long, long
ago, a 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 MissIppippi town.
This lady-Mrs. White-Beatty-hved
brilliant life. So much romance has
been woven thickly about her that it
is difficult la these latter days to
adequately measure her distinguished
career. She has been the model for
the most celebrated painters and
sculptors of bygone age. "Ellen
Adair, F" wrote Richard Henry Wilde,
poet.statesman of the south years ago,
sis the most beautiful apparition God
ever put upon his footstool." To Mrs.
White-Beaty was dedicated Wilde's
famou>song, ''My Life Is Like Sum
mer Rose," and she seems never to
have lost her place in the poet s
heart.
Ter connection ON her fathers side
with titled English family gave her
the entree to all the best circles in
Europe, and no American woman was
ever SO well known abroad as as Mrs.
Beatty. When she married her dis
tinguished husband, Mr.. Charles
White, thejurist, she, in no wise re-
tired fro1a the conspicuous position
accorded her on account of her lowell
ness, her wit, her indescribable grace.
Mr.. White was the author cf a
codlication of jurisprudence applied
to the old Spanish colonies of Florida.
After her marriage Gen. Adair's
daughter became known as Mrs.
'F'lorlda" White. It 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 a charming story told of
Miss Adair long before she 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 diplomat
paid her marked attention. Indeed,
it was then understood that the En-
gllshman had placed his heart and
fortune at the feet of the lovely
American.
One night during banquet given
at the English embassy, the attacAe,
IN responding to the toast of merry
England" made some offensive allu-
slons to American manners. Too
muca Indul, ,gence in the wine-cup
probably caused the Englishman to
momentarily forget himself. For the
remainder of the evening the beautf-
full woman at his side coldly and dis
family responded to his table talk.
The grand coup, however, came when
Miss Adalr 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
Eaglishman, and, retreatlng to where
Gen. Adair stood, tripped un2er her
fathers escort to her carriage.