Mineral Point tribune. (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1869-1938, 1890-07-03
A NOTED LADY DYING.
Mrs. Frances James is Making Peace
with Her God.
Mingled in Many European Courts in
Her Day.
Was an Eye Witness 10 the French
Revolution OF 1880.

gram Mrs, RANGES James mas presented
to Christ (Episcopall 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:
10 the wardens of Christ church Eau
Claire, Wisconsin;
VIII you kindly accept and allow to be
placed on thealtar of the church the accom-
paying desk, as a thank Offering to God
tor 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
mere She is apparently convalescent, but
her extreme age almost ninety pre-
cludes the hope that she can long dryive.
She was born in Lond N September Ii,
1900, and was the daughter of DIR, Thomas
"a celebrated physician whose name was
a household word IN London even in the
las. century, and who was of Welsh
pareutage She was married 10 Mr..
! James in 1898, and their nuptials were
! truly union of beauty and intellect which
was destined TO he blessed with the uch-
est fruits OF cougetuul tastes and pursuits,
There was difference of but wear IN
/ the ages of Mrs James md her husband.
! tits difficult indeed Go MS. ,jatn the bent
/ and wlthercd iNn of her who lies IN
| the little cottage here which has
| been her home, with the blushing
bride of sixty years ago, pIlghtug
! her trOlh 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 the
| Dumas of Engh ia fiction. The fortunate
! stars of love, genius and fame cast their
benignant hight upon the pair during
many ears They spent twenty years to-
gether in various parts OF Europe, ming
/ Eng with the shining lights of the reput.
/ lic of letters aud witnessing many notable
/ events. Ofthese experiences IL has been
/ the venerable iady's pleasure 60 recall
many incidents of much interest
The French revolution Of 1880, as she
has often related, found them III Paris
/ Mr., aud Ms James arrived in the capital
on the night of the issuance of the famous
ordinances Of King Charles \ which bad
much To do with provoking the first upris
| ing. already the shops were being closed
guards were out and the populace was In u
/
al 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 10 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 passport, and rs he
reached the government offices the sentries
were being slain by the populace lie OBJ
tanned 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 intlmi-
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 hter,
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, il
place of the white nagof the Bourbons
Some of their baggage had been left in Paris
and had been utilized in barricade, but
was subsequently returned TO them with q
polite note.
After a number Of years spent in travel
ing or in residence in France and ltlay
Mr.. and Mrs James and their children
came b. America in 1852, Mr.. James hay
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 tbs
noted authors works They subsequently
lived at Richmond, Va. the consulate hav
ing been removed thither in 1855, In
1853 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 h
America. From Venice 10 Eau Claire
From the enchanted realms OF fancy and
romance 10 the hard probabilities Of west
ern life Of 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 unimpalred.
She receives a pension from the British
government and this, with other means,
maintained her in comfort.
4 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
I Charles i. James, of this city, man 81
great literary accomplishments who is Of
note as 80 exponent Of anarchism. The
accountable affIiatiou Of her youngest con
with the follower Of the red flag is
a source Of sorrow 10 Mrs James. That a
son Of hers shouId cast of allegiance 10 the
principle Of church and state, has tinged