New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1885-12-11
THE SUDDEN DhATH or MRS. ADAMS
HER PLACE IN WASHINGTON SOCIETY-THE
HOUSE CHAPLAINCY

FROM THE REGULAR CORRESPONDENT OF THE TRIBuNE.l
WASHINGTON, Dec. TO- The death of Mrs.
Adams sunday has been the subject of good deal OF
talk. died Suddenly being in the enjoyment OF fairly
good hca apparently, mp to the time OF her death 1t
was given first that heart disease the cause
of her sudden taking OFF, today 1t is announced that
death certificate issued by the attending and
the Coroner assigns the reason paralysis OF the heart
superinduced by overdose OF cyanide OF potassium.
administered By herself without the knowledge OF her
family The of this deadly poison In the house
explained the ground that Mrs. Adams for the last
few weeks had been greatly interested In amateur Pho
Biography the drug In the preparation of her
plates. On Sunday, 1t appears, Mr. Adams started for
walk leaving his wife in of the mp stairs At
the door, he friend of Mrs. Adams. who had come
to pay her visit lie MP stairs to see If hi wife
would receive the visitor and found her lying uncoh
scious on rug. Beside her the empty vial. winch
had contained the poison The room was im"reGnated
with its deadly fumes Physicians were hastily sum
moned bat it was too ato The body still warm
when they arrived, but thoy unable to recall
lie.
Mrs. Adams was one of the best known figures in
Washington society. She aud her husband. son Of
Cbairs Francis Adams. made their home the head
quarters OF certain semtrrary coterie in the carta
which derived Its Importance not so much from
the character OF the and women com
posing IT as from the jealous care with which
its exclusivcncSs was guarded by thoo who
had once gained admtancc TO the charmed circle
Mrs. Adams "a woman OF sup rior aitainmeni~ she
possessed only wit. but what Is rarer IN woman
true appreciation OF hum'r She had keen perception
OF the udcrOus sic OF every thing Icrconncnls upon
men generally just and. because
they were. their author never attained that popularity
which The prominent leaders in Washington
society seem to valueso highly. She had
a reputation for saying bitter things and o
unsparin.ly using her powers OF sarcasm when
ever an opportunity presentoI itself II made her con-
versaion entcrtdnus. ts tru'. and people liked 1"
listen to it. but had effect o! creating ditruT
where she could have commanded unqualified admiri-
non. feared IA her IN III ov' She IL generally
Suppo,eI to have written " Democracy" which, upon
IT'S Appearance bccau' al once the talk OF the daY u
merciessy criticised tn society Of W,shnston
Although she never wlcdg'd the autnor,hip she
never denied Al any rate Washington society cred
ted that book to her aud never iorgavc her
BET r. her marriage Mrs. Adams Was "A Miss Hooper
OF the wr-Known VI t,sd-hns- It., family OF That nam
II was her arothcr, widow WHO was "a FRIED - CHARLES
summer aud who, shortly utcr marriage. insisted upon
diyorce Her father. believe Wa M Congress Tor
term or two. Her husband. Mr. Adams. is mm-"" dh
author Of note, having contributed fr ~ ''-
auuu TO the stttr-Hcu series, and As' ore ot Albert
,;allAtu lie had recently house ADJOINING that
erected by Colonel john Hay Al II and sixteenth Sis
aud hal pectod occupy 1t on JtnnrS l. II Is o'c
II the finest houses III the city The death OF Mrs.
Adam- Viii probably up,c, all his plans now.
Il seems strange that there sholld be much rivalry
displayed whcurvcr Chaplain Of the Democratic
House f. IL ue rho-rn tn salary Is 500 yr which
would make the i'tlCr pdd TOT ehH prayer lInNlHlh-
bat Co grcss sits r'e" m""l"+ dut'h- '' ".- tHu
short &" about Is. 1hiS is pretty far
rrmuhrt"uoh '"i hte nl""i' = "Th. N""'"p WIZ W,
-Iud-t ~ % Wl4 I,'kf EIpI 'ti'iN
u bad Il would seem, th""- ~ u scramble for
TINS office wcr" 'ht q" place l' 1t '''7 WIN
regularity every Two Hrafn Some "i me hu'iHlr-
,uaIc regular c'"ys> TITS umr. ana "vr' ven 81" ''f
- /" o"'o ,, ii,. ii r.,t a. m y