The Memphis appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1886-1890, 1888-01-08
A woMAN's STRUGGLE.
Something About Mrs. Paran Stevens
and Her Society Ambitions.

n WomAN . oIhOGGlE.
Something About Mrs. Paran Stevens
and Her Society Ambitions.
From the New York Gnphic
One OF the last official acts Of Surrogate
Rollins, before he retired to private life,
was the decision he rendered in the almost
interminable Stevens will case. Ii has
been before the courts for years, and a
continual legal war has been going on be-
tween Mrs. Stevens and the executors Of
the will ever since the grave closed over
Paran Stevens, her husband.
Mrs. Stevens has fought to have the
executors removed, and the allegations on
both sides would fill page of the Graphic,
while the side issues would make up q
small volne. The surrogate settled the
questions at issue by deciding in favor of
the executors and Mrs. Stevens will UNI
doubleday find some new method for con-
tinuing the strife in court. She wants
control OF the property herself, and the
legal authorities do not seem willing 10
accord her that privilege,
Her history is strange one, and reads
like romance, and her life is q remark
able example of VIC change in position
and fortune that often comes TO American
women.
She lived up in Lowell, Mass, where
she was u waiter girl in restaurant. She
was pretty, pcachy faced young woman,
and as Minnetta Read, which was her
maiden name, had hosts OF admirers. In
deed, she was one of the acknowledged
bellies among the pretty shop and mill
girls that crowd that manufacturing city.
Old Paran Stevens had started in life IN
a stable boy in country hotel up in New
Hampshire. lie was q genuine Yankee,
and not dollar of his scanty earnings ever
slipped through his fingers in nm I'M
noticed way. lie had little waysidc re-
sort of his own pretty soon, and kept on in
his thrifty, economical ways.
Then he went down to Boston and
started coffcc-house, saved his money,
lived closely, and in the course OF ten or
twelve years got an interest in the Revere
house, finally became It's sole owner and
then bought the fremont house. In the
management Of these two hotels he made
most OF the 5000, 900 or SG,0O0,0O0 that
have been causing all the strife since his
death.
In 1861 Mr.. Stevens built and opened
| the Continental hotel in Philadelphia, and
under his management IL became one Of
the best among the great hotels OF the
country. reputation which has not been
lcsscncd in these later days. lie was then
managing ut the same time the fremont
House in Boston, the Fifth Avenue in
/ New York and the Continental in Phila-
dclphia.
lie was connoisseur in wines and liq-
uors, and the stock with which lac filed
the cellars OF these hotels was never
cqualcd in America, and has kept up the
reputation of their brnnds 10 this day. In
deed, the famous stevens Sherry, which
cheers the hearts Of the lovers Of that wine,
can be found nowhere else now than in
the cellars Of these three hotels, where old
Pamn Stevens stored il years ago.
When he grew rich his iirst wife died,
and Minetta Read, The Lowell shop-girl,
tripped down 10 Boston and married the
already millionaire hoiel-kceper, while
tho people there raised their eyes In hall
wonder and astonisbmcnt. lie educated
her and she proved an apt pupil, aud when
she found herself mentally equipped "a
push her way among the blue bloods ol
that city she began the social fight that
she has carried "a New York, and which
has been the sole occupation Of her life
almost ever since.
OF course Boston society sat down ON
her very promptly, and when her husband
died she made her home In this city and
transferred the struggle 30 her house on
Fifth avenue, near Twenty eighth street.
Her daughter, Minnie, inherited the good
looks OF the Lowell shop-girl, but no
American would suit the ambitious mother
for son-in-law; ~ the charming, bright
faced girl was hawkcd about Europe until
the American papers were filled with the
histories oi the mothers struggles among
the nobility for a titled husband 10 suit
her own tastes.
She did not succeed very well. aud was
finally compelled 10 content herself with 4
son Of Sir Alfred Pagci, whose family was
ns poor M q church mouse, but who bc.
longcd 10 what u known In England rs thc
prince Of Wales set.
Luckily Pagct has turned out 30 be q
pretty good fellow, and has been a kindly
sort 81 n husband, but the marriage did
not aid Mrs Stevens IN her efforts 30 touch
elbows with the Astors, the Nandcrbilis
the Livingstone, the Stuyvcslnia, or any
Of the other people who pride themselves
ON being q hundred years away from the
time when their forcfalhon had 10 work
for living
A she grows older Ms. Stevens becomes
more determined 10 make herself known
and felt In New York society, and 81
course the doors are being more scdu'
lousy boltcd against her entrance. Yet
she gives some ~ the finest dinners. hci
wines arc Of the best; her chef has few
supcriOrs aud her hospitality Is unboundcd
She Is worth $1,000. 900 or sj,OOO0O0, aud,
besides being the owner Of the Victoria
hotel, she has large interest In the man
agcmcnt Of the Fifth Avenue, Of which
her husband was boiorc his death a pari
proprietor.
Mr. Stevens ambition 10 shine In soci.
ETY. has not obscurcd her really good traits
of character and she h known ~ 10 gcncr
Ous, charitable aud kindly naturcd woman
who has given away thousands u dollan
without osicntaiion and in a manner that
has brought upon her the blessings o
many poycrty.sirickcn heart
but Il does look No. though the upper
tendon Of New York was banded ngnins
her entrance anong tbcm M solidly ~ III,
Boston blue bloods have continued 10 he
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