Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1890-05-05
Women of the South

w omen VI GQe oOutu.
Congressional circles afford few 90 beauti-
fol types OF wcmanhood as that presented
by the wife of Gen. W. T. T. Lee, the repre-
sentative OF the Eighth district OF the 81
ciaDt CommonweaIla of Virginia She re-
calls the loyeliness OF feature and form ol
the women Of the colonial days, wren the
Fairfsxes, the Dandridges, tbs WashDgtons,
the Rsndolphs, the Marehalls, end the Boil
l,nps we're dominant in the politics and
society Of the Old Dominion. Mrs. Lee be-
longs to the historic family of Bolir; :, one
of the prominent names among the earliest
c0lonists Cd The banks of the James. In her
maiden days she was MissMsry Tabb Boiling,
and was one Of the celebrated beauties, not
only of her native city of Petersburg, but OF
the State OF Virginia. Her father, George
". Boiling. is descended from the Indian
princeas. Pocahontae, OF that proud branch
of the Algonquin family of ahorigines, ruled
bv the mighty king, Powhe!en. Jane Rolfe.
the granddaughter OF Pocahontss, married
Robert Boiling, who was the p.ogenitor OF
that noted family liz Colonial snd State sf-
fairs. Mias Bollipg received her edu.
cation at Petersburg aaa in the
best schools o7 Richmond. Her un-
ole, Robert 8. Boiling, vas promi-
ueDtly associated with events in the history
OF Virginia during the past quarter of GEN.
tury. ID 1867 Miss Boiling, the belle of
Petersburg, became the wife of Gen. Lee,
who in bic young days, as en officer CT the
Sixth United States cavalry, served under
Col. Albert Sidney Johnson in the U;ah
expedition, bnt Ia 1859 resigned TO take care
of his estates in Virginia, in ths historic
county of New Kent. IL the late war he
rose to major general of Confederate cavalry
In the Atmy of Northern Virginia, and af-
ter wounds IL battle and capture and
exchange. he surrendered with his dis
,inguiabed kinsnan st Appomatiox. After
the var he returned to his plantation, where
be took bis bride and resided with old-iime
Virginia hospitality. During her husbands
State senatorial term Mrs. Lee visited Rich
mon6 and was greatly admired by the ariE-
tocratic society of the Capital OF the Com
rnonwesltb At the beginning of the OH
cia season Of the Fifcieth Congress Mts.
Lee eutered the social lifs Of tho National
Capital. She Is q woman of tall, queenly
fpure, with fair complexion and brilliant
black eyes and hair. Her manner is dis
tueuished By grace and yet is unaffected.
She seems to be utterly unconscious OF ner
beauty or OF the silent admiration which fol-
lows her es she passes among the brilliant
ladies and gentlemen In the fashion
able thTong of Washington life. Gen. Lee Is a
tall well developed type OF fmusculine statue
and vgor OF the old school. He was born
at Arlington, the rhetoric estate opposite Q
Washington, aud mingled IL the gatherings
there upon occasions Of polite entertain
mente. or for visits of etiquette during the
administration of James Buchanan. To
Representative snd Mrs. Lee is conceded
the palm of precedence se tne handsomest
married couple among the mevnbers OF the
tower house.
Mrs. Edward Darlington Vsnable, wife OF
tae representative OF the Petersburg district,
gho was Miss Helen SklpwiLh Wilmer, was
born in Philadelphia during her fsther's
pssto.ate at St. Marks Protestant Episco-
pal church OF that city. After g distinguish
ed career 10 the ranks of the clergy her
father was raised TO the exalted ecclesiassi-
cal Office OF Bishop Of Louisiana. The name
of Bishop ]. P. B. Wilmer is household
word among the members Of The Episcopal
Church OF the United States.
Miss Wilmer began her education In
Philadelphia and finished at New Orleans.
She made her debut in fashionable life at the
Crescent City and was oDe of the queenltest
bellies of that city, famed for tbs loveliness
ofits daughters. The mother Of Miss VIII
mer was grand daughter of sit Grey Skip
with, of CrestwsId. This celebrated scion
of the British paersge possessed Estates on
two continents, that in Virginia bearing the
same name as the patrimonial acres in old
England.
In 1878 tbs daughter of Bishop Wilmer
became the bride of Edward Darlington Ven
able. The young people met while Mr..
Venable Was residing for brief period In
New Orleans In 1876 be returned to mis-
native state of Virginia and became mem
Der of q prominent firm. bearing his family
name. The name of Venable is associated
with State and national affairs since the
early days OF the royal colony and the foun-
dation of American independence. In her
home at Petersburg Mrs. Venable entertainE
with the abundant hospitality and grace for
which Virginia life has always been pre-
verbal. The prominence of her husband In
party councils gave him wide acquaintance
among the leading men of the State, which
was rendered dcubly pleasant by the tact
with which the wife bore her part in the 80.
cial phases of her political surroundings.
Mrs. Venable made her fret appearance
In the gay life of Washington OF the begin
ping Of the late official season, and attracted
about her by her social gifts large circle OF
devoted friends end admirers Washington
Star.
ysucsxgau,s Arnica SaTyS