Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1890-07-03
\ NOTED LADY DYING.
Mrs. Frances James is Making Peace
with Her God.
Mingled in Many European Courts in
Her Day.
Was ap Eye Witness to the French
RevOlut on of 1880.

EAU CLAIRE, June 2S.-Special Tele-
grsm-Mrs. Frances James has presented
to Christ (EpiscopaD church of this city a
handsome desk to be used at the altar. The
gift was accompanied by the following note
in her own handwriting:
To the wardens of Christ church, Eau
Claire, Wisconsin:
Will you kindly accept and allow to be
placed on the altar of the church the accom-
pahying desk, as thank offering to GCd
for recovery from serious illness?
FRANCES JAMES.
Mrs. Frances James, widow of George
Payne Rainsford James, the English
novelist and historian and historiographer
royal in the reign of William ~, was
taken seriously Ill recently at her home
here. She is apparently convalescent, but
her extreme age, almost ninety, pre-
cludes the hope that she can long survive
She was born in London September IA,
1900. and was the daughter of DIR. Thomas,
a celebrated physician whose name was
a household word in London even in the
last century, and who was of Welsh
parentage She was married to Mr.
James in 1923. and their nuptials were
truly union of beauty and intellect which
was destined to be blessed with the rich
est fruits of congenial tastes and pursuits,
There was difference of but year in
the ages of Mrs. James and her husband.
It is difficult indeed to associate the bent
and withered form of her who lies in
the little cottage here which has
been her home, with the blushing
bride of sixty years ago, plighting
her troth to the brilliant and gifted man
whose powers were already recognized in
the world Of letters as of no common order
and who was to win the title of 1.-The
Dumas of Engli III fiction The fortunate
stars OF love, genius and fame cast their
benignant light upon the pair during
many years. They spent twenty years to-
gether in various parts of Europe, ming
ling with the shining lights of the repub-
lie of letters and witnessing many notable
events. Of these experiences it has been
the venerable iady's pleasure to recall
many incidents of much interest
The French revolution of 1880, as she
has often related, found them In Paris.
Mr.. and Mrs. James arrived in the capital
on the night of the issuance of the famous
ordinances of King Charles X, which had
much to do with provoking the first upris-
ing, already the shops were being closed,
guards were out and the populace was In a
ferment. The next morning, as they sat
at breakfast, an Infatuated crowd passed
by, surging toward the residences of the
most obnoxious of the kings ministers.
Mr. and Mrs. James determined not to
remain, but it was difficult to
leave, as all available carriages
had been hired An English gentleman,
however, who had decided to remain and
watch the progress of the revolution, fur
nished them with his conveyance and
horses Mr. James proceeded to the Palais
Royal tC secure a passport, and as he
reached the government offices the sentries
were being slain by the populace. He OBJ
tanned a passport however, the last which
was issued until the trouble was over. AS
they passed the Louvre on their way out of
the city, an aunt of Mr.. James, who accom-
panied them, insisted upon stopping to
view the famous gallery This aunt
of Mr.. James, by the way, had witnessed
the horrors of tie first French revolution,
had refused an offer of marriage from
Robespierre, and was not easily lntlml-
dated. Under the lead of the intrepid
aunt, Mr. and Mrs. James entered the
Louvre, but, before they had gone through
the gallery the trio were turned out by
the Swiss guards. Half an hour later,
the insurgents stormed the place and
massacred the guard. Through the
country districts, On their way to
the seaboard, the travellers found
the people much opposed to the
revolution, but when they reached Calais,
they found the tricolor floating from the
mast heads of the ships in the harbor, in
place of the white flag of the Bourbons.
Some Of their baggage had been left in Paris
and had been utilized in barricade, but
was subsequently returned to them with
polite note.
After number of years spent in travel
ing or in residence in France and Itlay,
Mr.. and Mrs. James and their children
came to America in 1852, Mr.. James hav-
ing been appointed British consul at
Norfolk. Va. There they shared those
| impressions of American life which sub
sequently came to the surface in two of the
noted authors works They subsequently
lived at Richmond, Va, the consulate hav-
ing been removed thither in 1855, In
1858 Mr., James was appointed consul
general for the ports of the Adriatic, and
they took up their residence at Venice,
where Mr., James died in 1860 and where
he lies buried.
Four years after the death of her dis
tinguished husband. Mrs James came to
America. From Venice to Eau Claire.
From the enchanted realms OF fancy and
romance to the hard practicalities of west
ern life of a quarter of a century ago! The
romance of her life was over, but the
cheerful constancy of an amiable and cour-
ageous disposition and vigorous intel
lect carried Mrs. James through the trials
which awaited her She retains
to the last a lively interest in current
affairs, and, though physically afflicted,
her mental facilities remain unimpaired.
She receives a pension from the British
government, and this, with other means,
maintained her in comfort.
Mrs. James was the mother of eight
children, of whom but two, a son and
daughter, survive. One died in service
during the war. The surviving son is
Charles L. James, of this city, man of
great literary accomplishments who is Of
note as an exponent of anarchism. The I'M
accour table utilization of her youngest son
with the followers of the red flag is
source Of sorrow to Mrs. James. That a
son of hers should cast off allegiance to the
principles of church and state, has tinged
her declining years with grief, though she
never lacked his flial duty and affection.
Charles L. James, however, is pacific
anarchist, advocating only a peaceful
revolution.
No more pathetic picture than that pre-
| scented by this mother and this son. in the
! little home they once occupied together,
was ever made the subject OF pencil or pen.
There might be seen the venerable lady.
! l i l. l.