Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1890-12-25

home this eccentricity was laid
aside, and she recognized aud con-
versed with the same people whom
she pretended she did not know while on
the streets. She wore queerly-shaped
garments, modelled after ideas of her
own, and the modes were changed as Of
ten as suited her singular taste, which
occurred so frequently that Bordentown
was continually wondering what Mrs
Stewart would put on next She paid
not the slightest attention TO the prevail
ing modes, and in her choice OF material
and color was as eccentric as she was IN
her other odd fancies. After short resi-
dence at Bordentown she became 80 pre-
JUDGED that she would 90 out on the
streets only upon rare and necessary oc-
casions.
HIS MOTHER A SPIRIT UALISr.
That there is eccentricity in the Par
nell family on the maternal side there is
no denying. The daughter Della, tho
mother Of the Irish agitator, was very
little in Bordentown during her young
er days. Indeed, she is much better
known there to-day than she was fifty
years ago. Some fifteen years since
Mrs. Parnell and her three daughters
returned to Bordentown, as every
one knows who has ever lived in
that quiet old place, and took
up her abode in the Lake House
in the Bonaparte Park, which was origi-
nally built by Joseph Bonaparte or
Prince Charles Bonapsrte, the naturalist,
but which was then a clearinghouse
kept by q Mrs. Carslake and her two
daughters. The Carslakes we're spirit
ualists. and this was an attraction to the
Parnells, who were of that singular be
lief also. Many were the seances held
in the big and ghostly drawing
room of the old house. an ideal hiding
place for spirits, with its rambling cell
lars and mysterious underground pas
sages. Night after night the spirit of
Wyandotte," young Indian maiden,
was invoked by Mrs. Parnell and her
daughters. 10 the awe OF some Of the
guests and the amusement of others,
And some nights, after the seances were
over, and "Wyandotte ought 70
have been back in her grave
and the Parnell girls snugly tuck
ed up in bed, belated Bordento-
mans would see white figures hit-
ting about among the big pine trees that
grow so thickly in this park, while the
occasional flash oflIglh followed by a
sharp report of pistol broke the in
tense silence of the place. Investiga-
ton proved that the white forms were
the Parnel girls in their night-robes
indulging in n little pistol practice on
their own account. "Shooting spooks "
the unsympsthetic country folk said,
but to this day the mystery OF these
nocturnal wanderings is unexplained.
Mrs. Parnell was at this time supposed
to be woman OF large means. She had
inherited the wealth Of her father and OF
her brother, Charles Stewart, man OF
elegant leisure, who made his home in
Paris. Whatever her fortune may have
been she evidently desired TO increase
it, for she went deeply into Wall
street speculation. but without accom-
plishing the desired end. Every
day she iourneyed back and forth be-
tween Wall street and Bordentown,
taking her luncheon with her done up IN
red napkin. Ii is said that she was
guided in her dealings in stocks by a
spiritualistic medium who, unfortunately,
did not give her straight tips, for she not
only lost all OF her own money, but a
few thousand dollars given her by her
half-sister aud her half-brother's wife to
invest for them. This latter money the
half brother, Edward Stewart, Is now
suing to recover.
HER PRESENT ABODE.
After leaving the Lake House, Mrs
Psrnell took up her abode at " Iron
Sides" the original home Of her father,
about quarter OF mile out of the
town, on a high bank of the Delaware,
overlooking the Pennsylvania shore.
Here she still lives. and probably gets
enough out of the farm to keep
her in vegetables The beautiful
lawn in front Of the house she
rents in the summer to picnic par
ties, black or white, it makes no differ
ence, SO long as they pay their rent.
One summer she raised crop OF gDarled
aud downy peaches, which she took
about the town and sold from door to
door. A man drove the cart while Mrs.
Parnell walked along with it on the side
walk, dressed IN costume all her own.
She does not care much more for the
society of Bordentonians evidently than
her mother did, for she visits nowhere
outside of spiritualistic circles, and very
little even in them. The old house where
she makes her home would be de-
lightful place for large family in good
circumstances, but for one old woman,
in bad circumstances, it must be dresry
enough. Fanny Parnell died there.
Anna is in Europe, and so is the younger
daughter, who il married into an Eng
lish family, which leaves the old mother
entirely alone, save for the companion
ship OF faithful man servant. Rer
nearest and only neighbor is Edward
Stewart, who lives within few hundred
feet OF Ironsides, but owing to the
impen ding suits their relations are. fol
the present at least, somewhat strained.
Mr.. Parnell's ancestry is distinguish
ed one on both sides, his English great
grandfather, Sir John Parnell, having
held the exalted offices Of Chancellor Of
the EIchequer, Privy Counsellor, and
Lord OF the Treasury, In the Irish Gov.
eminent between the years 1852 and
1900. Two generations further back
the Parnells contributed two Judges
and one Lord Chief Justice to the
Irish Court OF the Kings Bench. One OF
the great-great- grand uncles of Charles
Stewart Parnell was the poet. Dr.. Par
nell, who was crony and admirer. and
possibly q competitor. Of Dean Swift'i
in many Of the peculiar interpretation
OF morality made by the famous satirist,
1t can hardly be assumed, however. thai
such remote consanguinity could be re-
sponsible for the cropping out OF pecu