Savannah morning news. [volume] (Savannah) 1868-1887, 1886-12-16
MARY GILPIN'S FREAK.
su,ied i'll Alaska Wiids With Her
Greek and Latin Books.
From Tie PhiladeiDhtG Pres

From the PhilddsiDhtG PreSs.
An old story of woman who, in the
,ociety of twenty-five years ago, was a
comment figure and whose relatives are
aonsnieuous in society to-day, was
hronght out by letter received in town
= few DAYS ago. The writer was an En-
U,sh woman of rank, who may be SPOKEN
Of as Lady X.
In her letter she said: ''Last summer
Twas travelling in Alaska. l straved
owav from my party to visit a little In
Sian village, | came upon dilapidated
mi on the outskirts, and making a de-
are for a drink of water an excuse for
asking admission, l Knocked at the door.
In reply to my summons feeble voice
answered in excellent English, bidding
mo enter, / was surprised to hear Eng
Iish 40 we'll spoken and with such distinct
retnement expressed in the tone In so out
NJ the way place. Hesitatingly | pushed
onen the door and went in. The interior
was so dark and gloomy that for moment
I cnnld not see. When my eyes had be-
come accustomed to the change from day.
Ggbt saw lying on a miserable couch on
me floor the form of an elderly gray-haired
woman. whose eyes were full Of a strange
wild light, Piled up round her were many
hooks. which could already clearly de-
termine had been much used.
..The woman greeted me kindly, and
presently picked up some of the volumes
End looked into them. The leaves were
nrumpled and many passages marked,
and was amazed to see that the books
we're all by Greek and Latin authors. The
woman seemed to enjoy my expression Of
surprise, and rather somehow to take it
as a compliment to herself, and SAID that
the books made up almost her sole CON-
pauionship. 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, had 80
nearly forgotten all my classical learning
that understood only sentence here and
there The woman went on to say that
she was a connection of the late Chief
Jnstice Gilpin, of Delaware, and had
made a recluse of herself IN the icy land
nf Alaska because she loved seclusion
more than the highest charms OF clviliZa-
zion. When, after a time, [ turned TO
leave her and said gOod-by, she answered
adeu in a gentle voice and instantly was
absorbed in one Of her volumes. She
made a great impression upon my imagi-
nation, and | have been wondering ever
since whether the story she told of her
family relationship could be exactly
true"
Further inquiry in town disclosed the
fact that the picturesque recluse was
Miss Mary GIlpin, whom many old Phila-
delphians Will recall. She was q cousin
of the lat, Chief Justice Gilpin and a
sister to a.. Henry ID. Gilpin of this city,
whose wife became so celebrated tor her
beauty and sweetness of manner. She
lived great deal in the South, and was
one of the most extreme in her secession
ist predictions of that cOterie of South
ern women partisans which made an iu-
teresting figure during the period Of the
war. She became quite poor by reason of
the war, but atterward 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 after
ward put into a Protestant institution in
Italy by the American Consul, and grow
ing up, she married an Italian clergy
man, and the two are now living in Will
mington. Miss Gilpin continued her
strange travels, and at last disappeared
thus strangely made known by the letter
Of Lady Y. Since the letter was received
one of her relatives in this city has been
informed that she has moved down to
Seattle and has taken up her residence
there.
Many of her relatives still live in town,
Of course, and are important personages
in society. Old Philadelphians will re-
call with pleasure the entertainments
given by her brother, Mr.. Henry d.
Gilpin, and his charming wife at their
house at Eleventh and Spruce streets.
Mrs. Gilpin, before her marriage with
MIR. Gilpin, was Mrs. Johnston, the widow
Of Senator Johnston, of Louisiana. She
was great favorite In Washington, and
received very many kindnesses and civili-
ties from President Van Buren,. Her
grandson, Captain William S. Johnston,
Is resident in town on Arcn street, and
goes out in society rarely, though he is
always welcome among the new set as
well as the old. Miss Mary Gilpin's sur
wing brother, Mr.. r. A. Gilpin, is living
at Lima, Delaware county. Her two sis
ters are living in New Jersey. Miss GIL
pin was always regarded as strikingly
independent, even eccentric in her &C.
lions. hut har nawaat VIVA aIp