The Indiana State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis) 1868-1895, 1885-06-03
Ihe widow of AIexander HAMILTON.


mrs. Jessie Benton Fremont in Wide Awake I
! knew Mrs. Hamilton, the widow of Alex
snder Hamilton, very well in her many
visits to Washington quite toward the close
OF her long, useful, Dat quiet life.
Her portrait is in he same room with ons
Of Hamilton. When TallyIand was their
guest he asked for this likeness of Hamilton,
and On his return 10 France had it copied
and sending them the copy, kept the origl-
nal. After HamlitOn's sudden death, this
original was returned 10 the young widow
by the Prince, with letter so feeling that
you rub your eyes after reading the sigma
ture with such different character is asso-
cisted.
The letter and por,rsit are among many
historical treasures bsloa giDg of right in this
home Of g Hamilton. There is the portrait
of Washington which be bad had painted as
q gift TO hamilton. 1t is put up on hinges
and turns to any ljgns wanted. lt was deeply
interesting 10 turn It's serene, reDosing couD-
teDsnce toward The quick dark young face
OF Hamilton, and the quiet high-bred y0ung
wife as yet untouched by sOrIOT. Her face
Is delicate but foil OF nerve and spirit; its
long oval is made more long from from the
hair beng brushed back over high
cushion, and tie slim throat and long
pointed bodice add TO this effect OF slender
length. The eyes are very dark aud hold the
life and energy Of the restrained face While
the high cushioned hair. the rich dress and
conventional attitude tell OF the woman OF
society, there Is something strong in the
steady eyes and closed mouth which show
character Of her own. She had not tbs
beauty OF her splendid mother-ths wife OF
General Philip SchUy ler-ThO. rather than
let their crops be OF use to the advancing
English army advancing on Saratoga her.
self led her people in firing them. BIT the
high resolute nature was All there when the
young WIDOW found IN her own sorrow aud
her own orphaned children the motive for q
lie wich should lift neglect and SORROW from
thousands OF children. Her "talents'' were
many; 1llUstTlOUs names and a powerful
family, the tenderest sympathy OF whols
blended with rare sense of justiceSsll these
she dedicated TO tbe care OF children.
Her grief over her own children took the
form OF protection OF those who were poor
and unfriended IS well as orphaned. To
Mrs Hamilton is directly owing the first or.
phRn ssyl um OF New York On its 6ftieth
anniversary memorial service was held n
the Church ofthe Epiphany, in Washington,
where Mrs. Washington then was for the
winter, end the WORK aud its greatly extended
good were told over. The seed had become
tree with mighty branches Mrs. Hamilton
was feeble and could not sit through
the whole service but came only for
IaIl-slWsys, TO the commu.
nion service, This Sunday she came in to-
ward the close. Our minds and hearts were
when she entered-a very small, upright lit.
tle figure in deep blesK, never altered from
the time Der dark hair was first framed in ~
the widows cap, until now the hair was
white as the cap. As she moved slowly for
ward supported by her daughter, Mrs. HOl-
ley, one common feeling made the congregs.
ton rise, and remain standing until she was
seated in her pew at the front. Mrs. Ham
ltoD, though recovering marked attention,
preferred quiet, and returned but few visits.
Mrs. Hamilton retained her activity 10
great age. Wien l 1irst lived on TIE Hudson
River, quite near her sons home, it was still
freshly remembered how the old lady would
leave the train st little way station and
climb two fences IN her short cut across
meadows rather than 90 on to the town
where the carriage could meet her. It was q
delightful historical home to me. Such an
old, Old serving man opened tue door and
nshsrtd you into the square hall where the
family tradition Of service 10 the country
met your eyes in q fne life size portrait by
Stsgg, OF great gTaudson-a young officer
IN blue Uniform, With cap pushed back.
showing the same dark eyes OF controlled en-
eIgy.
AID the tradition o. good works too goes
on. Louisa Lee Schuy Ter has been given a
controlling art in the State Charities and
Reforms and, with the aid of modern con-
vietion or the Becessity Of being your
brothers keeper,' nae wide scope in car
IyIng out the ideas begun so quietly long ago
by Ter noble great grandmother.