The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1891-12-06
A sHODDY QUEEN.

Mrs. Paran Stevens, of New York city,
is probably near the end of her reign as
a social queen at Newport. where for q
number of years she has been leading
representative of the arrogant, a.sertive
American aristocracy, generally of goldfish
quality, that is never so happy as when
it can get live English lord, or a
drunken, decayed English duke, no matter
how disreputable, to be its guest. Mrs.
Stevens was originally Marietta Read, q
waiter girl in a restaurant at Lowell,
Mass. Paran Stevens, shrewd Yankee
hotel-keeper, had grown to be worth five
or six millions in 1861, when he owned
and managed the fremont and the Revere
in Boston; the Fifth Avenue in New
York, and the Continental in Phila-
delphia. When he grew rich his first
wife died and he married Marietta Read,
the Lowell shop girl. Stevens educated
her, and on his death his will provided
that his wife should receive his residences
in New York city and at Newport, a
legacy of 100000, and a further fund Of
81 900 900 to be held in trust.
On the death of her rich husband, In
1872 Mrs. Stevens went to Europe. mar
ried her daughter to Sir Alfred Paget, an
impecunious nobleman, who belonged to
'the Prince of Wales set," spent money
like water on all sides, quarreled with
John Melcher, who married her step
daughter and is one of the joint executors
of the estate. and a few years ago
petitioned for his removal. Mr.. Melcher
testified at the time that Mrs. Stevens in
one of her tantrums beat his Derby hat
into an unrecognizable mass, snatched his
spectacles from his face in an attempt to
tear his eyes out, beat him over the head
with an umbrella, and when elected from
his house stood outside raving and scold-
ing like a fishwife.
The accounts of the estate, which have
been in litigation since 1882. were settled
the other day in the New York supreme
court on the report of the receiver. The
personal estate of Mr.. Stevens, consisting
of his interest in the Fifth avenue. the Ire
mont, the Revere and the Continental.
was assessed at $3l6.773, and the partner
ships have been closed. The real estate of
Mr.. Stevens is found to be worth 81. 500 =
600, consisting of property in New York
city. Concerning the conduct of Mrs.
stevens the recent Judgment entered in
the New York supreme court recites;
IL appears 10 the court that the said Marietta
H. stevens has not faithfully DISCHARGED her
trust SIS executrlx; that she kss not kent r,-ons-
accounts as such executrix, nor taken proper
vouchers for disbursements made by her: that
she has promoted unnecessary and yexstions
L1igarons snd has insisted on unjust and I'M
reasonable claims in this and other htirstiouS
and that she has made frequent and uner
planned changes OF counsel. whereby the trial Of
this action has been greatly prolonged and
other parties interested in said estate have been
put 10 great expense ana greatly DELAYED in OBJ
tanning the settlement Of the estate
1t was found that Mrs. Stevens was paid
her legacy of 800, 900 in March. 1874: and
that she has received ali of the million.
dollar trust fund except $265, 1919. She
Is not permitted to deduct from the vaIua.
of the properties 22S and 30 Fifth ayenus
'he $4,000 she spent in tearing down the
buildings and erecting the Victoria hotel
which was credited 10 her in the trust
fund by the trustees.
In less than twenty years thi. Society
queen OF Newport has spent probably
not less than half q million dollars. Her
temper Is SO violent that she has more
IMAM once been arrested for violent treat
mens OF her servants, and refusing to nav
their wages. This is the kind of shoddv
creature that assumes TO be ga social
queen Of American society at Nsxpos.