The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1886-11-28
THE LATE Ex-PRESIDENT ARTHUR.
His Popularity with the Center Sex-Some
Ladies Toward Whom lie Was Partial.


Special to the fndianapoIis Journal.
NEW YORK. Nov 27.-Ex President Arthur
was always a great favorite with the ladies, and
in return was fond of their society The fact
that President Arthur was a widower, most
youthful-appearing and handsome man, as well
as the very embodiment of all that was witty, or
fond OF this worlds pleasures, led many to as
sumo the knowledge that he would marry Sec
ond time.
others. President Arthur, who were frequently
seen in his company, and who often received at
tentions from him. SO it did not take Dame
Rumor very long to weave an interesting tale of
romance, love and marriage. From what knew
personally Of Mr. Arthur, / do not believe he
seriously entertained the idea of marriage. He
was very fond Of his wife, and her death was
great sorrow; still, his love for refined and ele-
CANT society led him much among the fair sex.
The first of these ladies was Mrs Marshall o.
Roberts the ine-looking widow, whose wealth
is estimated at several millions, which she in
herited from her late husband, of whom she was
the third wife. Mrs Roberts is about
forty, is tall and commanding with
dark hair. waved smoothly from the
temples. She is decidedly handsome woman.
dresses richly and in good taste, is rather inn
porous in manner, but is liked by her intimates.
She was Miss Endicott, and distant relative
Of the Secretary of War. Mrs. Roberts owns
and occupies the large double mansion of brown
stone, corner of Fifth avenue and Eighteenth
street. 1t ison the opposite corner from the resi-
dence of Mr.. August Belmont
The Roberts house is very spacious, is fur
nished most deliberately, and contains one, of
the finest art galleries in the country, contsin-
ing statuary by Franklin, Simmons, Van
Wart, St Gaudens and Others while examples
OF Gerome, Constable, Schryer, George
Boughton, Meissonier, Knaus and other emil
nent artists hang upon the walls. Paul de la
Roches celebrated PORTRAIT of Napoleon | is
also one of the pictures, and Leutzes tremendous
canvas of Washington crossing the Delaware is
an interesting point Of view. The galleries are
dadoed with white marble, and in the first gal
lery is double marble staircase leading TO an
upper portion OF this gallery. To enter the
larger gallery one crosses the conseryatoire, in
which stands, amid the palms. a beautiful marble
Shepherd Boy. large number of servants are
occupied in this residence. A man wearing
dark-green livery, with yellow striped waistcoat,
admits the visitor, who is ushered into a small
reception room, In which hang pictures by
Thomas Faed, and a finely -executed marble
of Henry Hudson purchasing the island
OF Manhattan from the Indians. This
is the work of Miss Stebbins the sculptress, in
whom the late Mr.. Roberts took much interest.
Mrs. Roberts, who is very ambitious would, no
doubt, have seen much to make her happy as the
lady of the White House, and, believe, she sin
cerely admired Mr.. Arthur for himself Still,
with her wealth, doubt If she could be induced
TO- marry again, unless it was to become the
first lady in the land" Mrs. Roberts occupies
a house in Washington portion of each winter.
and entertains lavishly. The last spring and
summer she had a house in London. where the
celebrated Mrs. CORVALLIS West and other
notable English people were her guests.
The other lady with whom President Arthur's
name was linked was Miss Tilie Frelnghuysen.
She was fond of the President He was an init
mate friend of the family, and the brilliancy,
wit and sunny nature of Tillie Freinghuysen
took him out of the serious moods the severity
of his duties as chief magistrate imposed. For
every one who knew President Arthur knows
how heavily the burdens of Office rested upon
him, and how he grew from thorough bon
vivant. before Garfeld's death, into an
engrossed man of business. Of course, he
was still genial and courty, but the ring
of merriment had gone. The manner of his
acquiring his highest position filled him
with awe as to the discharge of its duties Is it
any wonder he admired bright, affable Miss FIRE.
linghuysen, whom everybody loved; a queen in
Washington society, and while not strictly
beauty, possessed the sunniest of smiles and
charm of manner that made her irresistible2
Miss Frelinghuysen is of medium stature, with
brown hair and clear complexion She is always
dressed in the perfection of taste She has
changed much since the death of her father, and
the death of exPresident Arthur will also be
grief. She went directly to Europe after her
fathers DEATH and she and President Arthur
were in constant correspondence Among his
intimate friends, it Is said, had Mr.. Arthur been
reelected he would have married Miss Freling-
huysen, but his failure to obtain the nomination,
which, as he expressed it, would be the indorse-
ment of the people that had done my duty un-
der trying circumstances" made him lose all
will power over his physical condition, and his
further interest in the pleasures which this
world affords.
Miss Nellie Arthur. the daughter of the late
ex-President, makes promise of developing
into a charming woman She has her fathers
kindly eyes, and also his brow. Her nose bears
a resemblance to his, but, of course is smaller
and more exquisite. She has a mouth as soft
and sweet as the mouths Of the Georgian wom-
er, who, if Voltaire may be believed have
the "only perfect mouths in the world"
Her cheeks round full, and of the most
delicate pink; and they dwindle and narrow
into chin which is like that of the marble
Ariadne in the Vatican. Miss Arthur is bright
conversationalist, with decided literary tastes
Poetry suits her better than prose- and she her
self twangs the strings of the ancient melodic
Tyre with no mean hand. If her present verse
making tendencies warrant indulgence in proph-
cy it may be safely predicted that her best poet
ry will be done for an audience of two-herself
and one other. G. E. H.