Daily Republican. [volume] ([Wilmington, Del.]) 1874-1890, 1886-12-01
A ROMANCE FKo NJ ALASKA.

fhliadelphia Press.
An odd stor y Of woman who, in
the society of twenty-five years ago,
was a prominent figure, and VIII ose
relatives are conspicuous in society to.
day, was brought out by letter re-
ceived in town a few days ago. The
writer was an Englishwoman of rank,
who may be spoken of as Lady X. In
her letter she said:
Last summer i was travelling in
Alaska. strayed away from my party
to visit little Indian village. / came
upon dilapidated hut on the outskirts
and making desire for a drink of
water an excuse for asking admission,
l knocked at the door. In reply to nv
summons, feeble voice answered in
excellent English, bidding me enter.
was surprised to hear English so
well spoken and with such distinct re-
fnement expressed in the tone in so
out-of-the-way place. Hesitatingly,
pushed open the door and went in.
The interior was SO dark and gloomy
that for moment l could not see,
When my eyes had become accus-
toned to the change from daylight to
something more weird than natural
darkness, the wretchedness, dirt and
greasiness of the room all came gradu.
ally out upon me. l looked about me
then to ascertain from whom the call
to enter had proceeded, and | saw
lying on miserable couch on the floor
the form of an elderly gray-haired
woman, whose eyes were full of q
strange, wild light. Piled up round
her were many books, which could
already clearly determine had been
much used.
1.-The woman greeted me kindly,
and presently picked up one of the
volumes and looked into them The
leaves were crumpled and many pas
sages marked, and / was amazed to
see that the books we're all by Greek
and Latin authors. The woman SEEM
ed to enjoy my expression of surprise
and rather somehow to take ii as O
compliment to herself, and said that
the books made up almost her sole
! companionship. She took up one and
read it aloud in a voice and with
manner that showed she was clearly
ACQUAINTED with the whole subject. AS
for myself Il say it frankly, | had so
nearly forgotten all my classical learn
ing that understood only sentence
here and there. The woman went on
to say that she was a connection of the
late Chief Justice Gilpin, of Delaware,
and had made recluse of herself in
the icy land OF Alaska because she
liked seclusion more than the highest
charms of civilization. When, after a
time, | turned TO leave her and said
goodbye, she answered adieu in a
gentle voice and instantly was absorb
ed in one OF her volumes. She made
agreat impression upon my magma
ton, and | have been wondering ever
since whether the story she told of her
family relationship could be exactly
| true
Further inquiry in town discloses
the fact that the picturesque recluse
was Miss Mary Gilpin, whom many
old Philadelpbians will recall. She
was cousin of the late Chief Justice
| Gilpin and a sister of Mr.. Henry d.
| Gilpin, of this city, whose wife be-
came so celebrated for her beauty and
sweetness of manner. .She lived a
great deal in the South and was one
OF the most extreme in her secession
list predictions of that coterie of
Southern women partisans which
made an interesting figure during the
period of the war She became quite
poor by reason of the war, but after
wards recovered enough to live in
moderate comfort.
She seemed to be possessed with an
irresistible impulse to wander, and
she has lived in all quarters of the
globe, in the far Orient as well as in
the West. Some years ago she
adopted pretty girl of Wilmington
and took up residence with her in
Naples. The child was afterwards
put into Protestant institution in
Italy by the American Consul, and,
growing up, she married an Italian
clergyman, and the two are now liv-
ing in Wilmington. Miss Gilpin con-
tinued her strange travels and at last
| disappeared altogether, until her
whereabouts were thus strangely made
known by the letter of Lady X. Since
the letter was received one of her rela-
tives in this city has been informed
that she has moved down to Seattle,
Washington Territory, and taken up
her residence there.
Many of her relatives still live in
town, of course, and are important
personages in society. Old Philadel-
phiars will recall with pleasure the
entertainments given by her brother,
MIR. Henry ID. Gilpin, and his charm
ing wife at their house at Eleventh
and Spruce streets. Mrs. Gilpin, be.
fore her marriage with Mr.. Gilpin,
was Mrs. Johnston, the widow of
Senator Johnston, of Louisiana. She
was great iavorite in Washington
and received very many kindnesses
and civilities from President Van
Buren,. Her grandson, Captain VIM.
S. Johnston, is resident in town on
Arch street, and goes out in society
rarely. though he is always welcome
among the new sets as well as the old.
Miss Mary Gilpin's surviving brother,
Mr.. r. A. Gilpin, is living at Lima,
Delaware County. Her two sisters
are living in New Jersey. Miss Gill
pin was always regarded as strikingly
independent, even eccentric in her no.
tions, but her newest freak was sur
priaa even tn those who knew her