Los Angeles daily herald., 1886-08-25
The Romance Of ,r.lden,s Wi,

Inc New Ork Star has the following
about the benafactions in the will of N,
H.. -, T,,J.
: ia'e iion' oan'uei y inoen;
Away down near the end OF the lega
eies in Mr.. fildens will Is one bequeath
ing the interest on Sl00, 900 10 Misi
Celeste Stauffer, OF New Orleans.
/. There are good many society people
In New York who know Miss Stauffer
put iew know or can understand why
Mt. Iilden should remember her In hi
VIII. Inc story Is romantic one, anc
tells OF the love OF the aged Statesman
Tor young, handsome and brilliant
woman.
An Intimate friend OF the Stauher lam
ily. who is now Ia New York, expresses
himself as confident that Mr.. Illden al
one time seriously contemplated matri-
mony and was suitor Tor Miss Stauffer's
hand. IL was soon after the explosion OF
the story that the sage OF Greystone was
engaged to be married to Miss Nellie
Hazeitins, OF ST. Louis, that he met the
charming young lady froms New Orleans.
NILS Hazeltlne was blonde, with rich
golden hair. Miss Stauffer is between
brunette and blonde, OF that type
styled in New Orleans chataigne. Miss
Hazeltlnes who reigned as the belle OF
st. Louis until she married young Mr..
Parramore, IS now dead. Miss Stauffsr
~ with her family In europe.
In losO or 1881 Mr. Iiiden met MISS
Mary Ceieste Stauner ana Immediately
fell IN love with her.
Mr.. Isaac d Stauffer, her father. Is
the partner OF StauHer, Eshieman TO-,
the largest hardware establishment IN
New Orleans and perhaps IN the South.
DE came OF an oil Pennsylyanla Dutch
family and still owns farm near York,
Pa. Ills eldest daughter, Alice, married
Henry M. Preston, of the firm OF Flash,
Preston q Co., also OF New Orleans.
Mlss Celeste Is the youngest OF four chill
dren, two OF whom are sons. Every
summer the family leave New Orleans
for trip East or 60 Earops, and they
are usually tne hrst oi hsgira OF South
ern society winch annually seek comfort
and social intercourse away from the
baking pavements OF the Crescent City.
Most OF the time they spend at Hichheld
Springs, occasionally visiting Saratoga
or Long Branch. Last summer they spent
short time at Lenox, Mass. For three
years they visited at Greystone On Mr..
Ildens invitation.
In the summer OF 1852 the Stauffers
remained ct Long Branch for time, oc-
cupyiug one OF the cottages attached to
the west End Hotel. Here Miss Stauffer
receiysd twice every week ii GIN asiir III
den long letter. Considering that they
were not under promise OF marriage this
correspohdence, whatever its theme,
might have been sufficiently remarkable
without Mr.. Tilden'a making it almost
historical BY the eceentricity OF its de-
livery. be would not trust the postal
service. nor would he condescend to hire
an ordinary messenger. On the stipu-
lated days gentleman OF social stand
ing, SUCH as permitted the confidence OF
the aged statesman, received from his
own hands tho missive with the lnJune.
tIon to surrender 1t only TO the fair con.
signee personally.
AT the cottage OF the Stauffers this
arlsiccratic Mercury was received with
that formsiity his courtly bearing seemed
to demand and was ushered into the re-
ception room. II Miss Stanffer was not
at home he would call again when she
was. MOI Inirequentiy on returning Co
Gramercy fark or Greystone he carried
10 the Democratic sage mysterious re.
ply to his letter OF friendship.
NO better Illustration of the intluencs
that the Southern beauiy exerted over
MT. Iilden can be gwen than an episode
which occurred during her visit at Grey
stone three years ago. incidentally, per-
haps, she related to Mr.. Tilden the
ms .nnhnly bfafnVu nf nf bar
schooimates, whose father lost his for
tune BY the war and with 1t vanished
the social prestige of his daughter. The
brave girl made every effort to gain a
livelihood in the limited sphere Of occu-
patton anoraed IN New orlsans to re-
spectacle young women. For q time
she succeeded, and then her health
broks down, and she suffered poverty
rather than seek assistance from bis
wealthy friends OF the past.
Mr.. Tiiden was interested in the char
acter OF Miss Stauffer's early classmate.
and Ut no solicitation from that lady sent
the heroic maiden a certified check for
so 200.
Miss Stautfor's character is that OF an
ambitions, highly intellectual woman,
who saw in a marriage with Mr.. Tilden
all the possibilities of being the first
lady IN the land. Her frequent enjoy
ment Of the hospitalities of Greystone
was not so much triumph for her alone,
for Mr. Tilden loved to have the sombre
chateau beautifed with the presence OF
young womanhood. Her manners. con-
versation and in ouciant grace and airs
acquired from the native Creoies OF New
Orleans fascinated the old man: She
seemed to be very fond OF Mr.. Tilden,
and anticipated his every wish even in
the most trivial attentions at the table
or IN the presence OF social gath' ring.
Her glorious physique displayed on
horseback was the object of MIR. Tilden's
undlsgnised admiration. Sne is an in-
trepid and accomplished eqnestrienne,
Dut Miss Stanffer's greatest art for the
enchautment OF men. both young and
old, lay In her conversational powers.
She could talk with wonderful under
standing upon any subject from the
smallest OF small talk to the most recent
theories on philosophy and science.
Ii 10 gossip 10 New Orleans that Miss
Stauifer discarded the best match in all
the South, nephew of Judah z. Ben
lamin, the pride OF tho Louisiana bar.
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