New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1886-04-18
LOUISE UA VEZAO Ii VINGSTON.
THE LIFE OF A CHARMING PATRIOT.

Brothers.
The life of Edward Livingston. The distinguished
iurist and statesman. author OF the famous civil
and criminal codes of Louisiana, Secretary of State
and Minister to France undr President Jackson
WAS written by Mr.. C. II. Hunt twenty years
AGO. ,Livincston's accomplished wife. whose youth
was marked by thrilling adventures, and who long
reirned in the maturity OF her charms as one OF
the most brilliant women in the best American
society, deserved separate memorial, and snch
tribnte has here been prepared with admirable tact
by the affectiorate hand of "A grandnece, the niece
also of President GarielGs Secretary Of the Navy
afterward Minister to Russia. Mrs. Livingston
Il ouise d'Avezac) was born in st. Domingo. where
her father was a rich French planter. Ruined by
the slave insurrection, in which two of his sons
were killed, he fled to the United States His
daughter Louise was at this time Il widow. having
been married at the age Of thirteen to Jamaica
planter named Moreau. Who died at the end OF
three years. In escaping from the island TO an
English man of-war Madame Moreau passed
through a terrible experience. With her grand
mother. her little sister her aunt. and two cousins
she Law hid for two nights in the forest near the
shore helped and supplied with food by faithful
slave. boat from the frgate at last received
Them bnt it was discovered and fred upon by the
insurgents and the grandmother and a nurse were
killed On the voyage from Jamaica to New
Orleans by schooner, fatal fever broke out among
the overcrowded passengers, and stormy and pro-
lonped passage added to the horror OF their situa
ton. They landed at New-Orleans at time when
the population, still thoroughly French. had not
vet accustomed itself to the recent transfer to the
United States and the new corners were welcomed
into a society which, in spite of some novel Gus
toms must have seemed TO them like that OF their
own people. Miss Hunt draws a lively sketch OF
the bright simple life of that little Creole commuD-
i,v of fourteen or fifteen thousand people. Balls
called public bat really not So were held weekly,
at which orange flower svrup and ran sucree were
the only refreshments carriages were unknown.
and ladies walked to The hail in their satin slip
pets: in bad weather the fcstivity conld not take
place a crer announcing the pOstponerlent to the
accompaniment of drum. NJ. dAvezac had gone
TO Norfolk and died there of yellow fever. The
0ourbters ana their mother lodged humtly in New
Orleans. aud when their jewels were gone supported
themselves by sewing; but poverty made no differ
ence in their social position. In 1905 Madame
Moreau married Mr.. Livingston lie was then
thirty-nine and she was nineteen. She spoke no
English. and she cannot have received regular
education; when little girl she had astonshed
the family by reading the label on pomatnm pot
and it was always mystery now she Taught her
self this accomplishment she had strong taste
for hooks however and a quick mind she easily
repaired the defects in her early training. learned
English fast and made herself a true comDanion to
her husband not only in his domestic life but IN his
intellectual pursuits and in all his business affairs
Their home in New-Orleans became resort of all
the distinguished strangers who visited the city ;
and there Mrs. Livingston first showed the tact,
grace, brightness aud personal charm whlc!. made
her aGterward so distinguished in Washington
and so successful in Paris.
Mr. Livingston became Representative in Con-
gress from Louisiana in 1922, and after serving
three terms in the House he was elected to the
Senate When Mrs Livingston first arrived at the
National capital society there very attractive.
There was great deal of simplicity in official life,
and although some of the Senators and Represent
atlyes especially those from the South indu ged
expensive tastes the love OF display and extrava-
gance which now prevails was quite unkno Nm.
President Monroe, who was careful in all matters
of etiquette adhered to the cooked hat of the RevO
luton, with black bow As cockade, and wore
the dress which already belonged to the past, of
u Columba's chiefs in famous buff and blue" He
went bv the ualne of The last cooked hat" Mrs.
Livingston wrote to her husbands sister. Mrs.
Mont gomery There elements here to form
very good society," but dispersed on so large
that people are seldom brought together except III
immensely crowded assemblies, where IL matters
little whether man is a fool or not. provided he
can fight his way through. There is however, one
exception to this; it is at Mrs. Decaturs; she has
| small evening parties. where yon meet by turn
every person Of distinction Washing ton-foreign
ministers charges d'afares, etc, etc To be admIt-
ted into her set 10 favor granted to comparatively
| few and of course desired by all. We are among
til highly favored having been invited three times
| in one week. went last Wednesday to the Drs W.
| ing ROOM and was introduced 10 Mrs. Monroe, who
| is certainly the Nnon of the day. and looks more
| beautiful than any woman of her age ever saw
| Mrs LivingstOn's own drawing room was soon a
centre of distinction There met Chief Justice
Marshall Justices Story and Washington, Messrs.
| Clay. Calhoun. Benton. Writ. and Webster. Mrs
| Adams Mrs Van Rensselaer, wife of the patroon
Mr. Stanley (afterwsrd Earl OF Derby, the British
| Minister Sir Charles Vaughan. and the French
Minister and his wife. NJ. and Mime. de Serrurer
| Most of these persons were reckoncd among Mrs
| Livngstons intimate friends ana with many OF
them her cordial relations continued long after she
had left Washington. Martin Van Buren, was
| warmly attached TO the Livinpstons and Pres
| dent jackson was their devoted friend
tWhen the mission to France pressed upon
| Mr.. Livingston. John Randolph wrote 10 him: In
Mrs. Livingston, to whom present my warmest re-
spects You have most able coadjutOr. DOwdies
dowdies won't do for European courts, Paris espe
ciaIIv There and at London the character OF the
minister's wife In almost important as Lis own
II il the very place her. There she would dazzle
and CHARM" Cora. the daughter Of Mr.. and MIS-
Livingston, had Just been married to Thomas Fen
nant Barton, of Philadelphia, and to this gentle
man President Jackson offered the secretaryshp oil
Legation at Paris. inclosing his commission to the
young wife in all aiectionate letter, addressed My
Dear Cora" and asking her TO present the docu-
ment to her husband with her own hand, and with
q tender of his high regard. 1t was thus q family
party which in the summer Of 1888 sailed for