The Indiana State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis) 1868-1895, 1886-05-19
TALKS WITH NOTED VISITORS.
A Quaint Episode in the Love Affair of Mr..
Cleveland and Miss Folsom-How She
Won the Prize of Beauty-Ex-
Senator Nesmith's Sad
Condition.
New York World

New York World
Zone of the pleasant incidents in the girl
hood of Miss frankie Folsom, President
Cleveland's bride-elect," said Buffalo gen.
tleman Saturday, occurred in 1879. when
she was one of the two contestants in an in
teresting charity contest for personal beauty
and popularity at an authors carnival and in
the Pearl-street Rink in Buffalo for the benefit
of the Homeopathic Hospital of that city.
A. Littlefeld, now Mrs. William H. Gragg,
and leading society bale of the Queen
City of the Lakes. Both were very beauti-
full. Miss Littlefeld is a perfect blonde,
while Miss Folsom is a magnificent brunette
At the time of the contest each was about
seventeen years of age. Miss Folsom was
daintily dressed in a Highland costume,
which displayed her perfect figure in the
most charming manner, but she had in Miss
Littlefeld toeman worthy of her steel, and
for several evenings of the weeks carni-
val the warfare, while friendly, was exceed
ingly spirited, the friends OF both ladies
fairly firing out themselves in obtaining
votes for their candidate. 1t cost ten cents
to vote, which was entirely too cheap, con-
sidering the rare beauty of both contestants
and the long suffering cause OF charity. For
three or four days the battle ragged fiercely,
first one side being in the lead and then the
other, as good fortune or clever tactics in
fuenced the rapidly growing totals. The
friends of the two bellies were finally COM
PEELED to admit that little more could be
done, for nearly every man and woman in
the city whose opinion was worth having
had Clipped in a dime for the blonde or the
brunette. To make matters more interest
ing the totals were so alarmingly close that
the slightest change one way or the other
would decide the contest.
"On the closing evening of the carnival,
when Buffalo's beauty and fashion were all
present and the excitement was at its height,
the sturdy form of Grover Cleveland APP
peared upon the scene. He may have known
the facts all along and arrived Just in the
nick of time purpesely. Be that as it may
he at once threw his influence in Miss Fol.
SONS favor, and directly her total vote was
advanced to point of safety, and she was
publicly declared the most charming victor
in the whole city. The prize was a costly
lace-pin set with diamonds, and it is safe to
say it is not one of the least priced orna-
ments."
The story of the downfall of ex-senator
Ferry, teld the World recently" said a
Washington official at the Fifth Avenue
Hotel, reminds ME of the present condition
of another ex-senator. / refer TO ex-senator
Nesmith, of Oregon. There is only one SIM
ilarity in their situations-both are in asyl-
ums. Ferry is in the asylum of fugitive
from justice, but Nesmith is confined in an
institute in Oregon for the insane. Nesmith
only lost his mind few years ago, but there
were never any imputations against his in
tegrity.
"Nesmith was very eccentric character
had large brain, but was always little bit
cranky. He is the man, you will remember
who, when he first went to Washington to
take his seat IN the Senate, took place in
tie gallery, and it was two or three weeks
before he made himself known. After he
had been sworn in some one asked him what
his impressions were while occupying seat
IN the gallery. Well he replied, at first
asked myself, Nesmith, how in the devil did
you ever get elected to the Senate? But
after ] had been here awhile my wonder was
how these other darned fools got here
"Nesmith made a great deal of money in
Western mining investments and was ex-
tremely fond OF the national game of poker.
l remember, one evening, at Willard's, a
man by the name of Bill Shafer was in the
game with Nesmith. Shafer was a man
about town who had made considerable
through a number of fortunate investments
in Wall street. The luck, on the evening in
question, was running his way, but Nesmith
discovered that Shafer was not playing an
exactly square game. When he reached for
ward to gather in his winnings Of the even.
ing, Nesmith placed his hand over the pile
and said: 'Shafer, that money doesn't belong
to vou.'
"'What do you mean, sir?' said Shafer
excitedly, rising to his feet. Il tell you it is
mine, making another grab for the money.
Nesmith, still covering it with his hand, re-
piled, 1T does not belong to you, and you
know 49, we'll il doesn't Shafer then
left the room, leaving the money on the
table and vowing vengeance. He gave out
the report the next day that he was going to
shoot Nesmith on sight. Nesmith, OF course,
heard of it, and not knowing the character
of the man very we'll went up to Shafer's
room. Entering he said: Skater, / hear
that you are going to shoot me on the street.
Now don't care to be shot on the street, as
it would make a muss. / thought / would
come up to your room and let you do the
shooting here to save trouble Shafer was
completely taken aback. He never had any
intention Of carrying out his threat and
made an apology.
Senator Nesmith had two lovely daugh-
tiers, but another Of his ecoentricities was to
suspect every man who paid them any atten-
ton of improper motives. The result was
that both of the young ladies eloped and
were disowned by the father. They made
very good marriages. however. Their hus-
bands have become prosperous and success
full men,"