The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1891-04-05
TEE LOUISE HOME
Its Forty Inmates and Their
Luxurious Living.
SOME ROMANCES OF THE WAR
Talk With Curious Old Lady on the Race
Question Calhoun's Sweetheart
AUNT Hartley"


AUNT Hartley"
WASHINGTON, April Q, 1S91-TSpecial
correspondence of THE HERALD. lin
the centre Of fashionable Washington,
within stones throw of the big palace
of Vice-President Morton, surrounded by
the mansions of statesmen, generals and
judges, stands the most aristocratic charit-
able institution in the world. There is
nothing else like it in the world, and there
will be nothing ever founded which will
compare with it in exclusiveness and re-
spectability. 1t is a home for the blue
blooded only, and its inmate has to have
her genealogical tree 1t is home for
women who have never worked, for women
who have been rich and have become poor
and more especially home for the reduced
gentlewonen of the old families of the
South who lost their all in the late war. II
was founded twenty years ago by the mil
lionaire philanthropist, Mr.. w. w. Cor
ccran, and of the S7,000,000 which he spent
in charity none was much better expended
than the amount which went into this. He
Louise Corcoran Eustis, who was the wife
of member of Congress from Louisiana
and was related by marriage to Mr.. Eustis,
the present United States Senator from
that state. Louise Corcoran sympathized
greatly with the South and when she died
in the south of France shortly after The
close OF the war, she asked her father to
make some provision for the women who
had lost their fortunes in it. This home
was her idea. 1t cost 500, 900 at the start
for its building and grounds, and Mr. Cor
coran gave in addition an endowment of
a quarter of million. A large tract of land
surrounds it, and this has become very val
liable within the past ten years. Its old
ladies trot around through gardens the soil
OF which would sell at auction for Sc per
square foot and they have quite little farm
surrounded by the most expensive of resi-
deHces.
TWO SCORE SOUTHERN LADIES.
Only forty inmates are admitted to this
home at time. They come upon invita-
ton, and once invited they are expected to
stay in it for the remainder of their natural
lives. Invitations are given only to those
who can show satisfactory certificates of
blue blood, education and refinement and a
list Of candidates for entrance is kept.
which is consulted the moment one of the
old ladies dies. Once admitted. the old LADY
has as pleasant home as she could have in
first class hotel. She is cordially well
coined and she is under no restrictions
other than those of a hotel. She has her
own rooms and a maid to keep them in
order, and if she wishes she can take her
meals III her room and receive her company
there. Surrounded with all the comforts.
she spends her time here with her books
hnVUnrC ar nc of oo11 Id
work. She trots about the house, PLAYS on
the parlor piano or visits about among her
friends at will. Her washing is laundried
in the finest of manner for her and every
Friday the clothes come in immaculate with
no bill attached. She can go about the CITY
and call upon her friends and she knows
that these conditions will continue for her
until the day of her death.
LEAF FROM THE SOUTH LAND.
This great home is peculiarly southern
institution. 1t is a big three-story and
Mansard brick with windows all around il
on the three sides of which the sun ever
shines, and upon ali of whose walls grow
the luXuriant vines of our southern climate,
1t has many shade trees and the magnolia
blooms side by side with the trees of the
north 1t is more southern, however, within
doors. The moment you enter It's wide por-
tails you turn your face from Yankee land
and find yourself in Dixie You feel as
though one of the old southern plantations
surrounded you ana as you chat with these
gray haired old ladies there passes in men
tai review before you the luxurious life of
the master and the simple rolicking exist
ence OF the slaves. Nearly all of these old
ladies were bellies in their youths aud thew
can tell you stories of conquests in Rich
moDd, Charleston and New Orleans Most
OF them were misuresses of splendid homes
till the government freed their slaves and
the war left them poor and helpless. Is it
any wonder that they sit together here
dreaming of the dear old days, or that they
take from their wrappings again ana again
the Confederate nag, or gaze frequently at
the pictures of Confederate heroes which
so consplcuously adorn their wallsl They
know naught Of the present The past
alone exists for them and here, surrounded
By luxury, they love to recount their thrill
ling war experiences or dwell upon the
pathetic aftermath.
JOHN C. CALHOUN LOVED HER.
Notably among the old ladies is woman
whose name has appeared with every pub
lie mention Of the Louise Home since the
opening. This is Miss Hartley Graham.
called by wide circle of friends. "Aunt
Hartley,''an who still at the age of eighty
one retains the grace and elegance and
much of the beauty that made her a noted
belle sixty years ago. Miss Graham is a
Virginian by birth and descendant of the
famous Scottish house of the warlike
Graeme. Her direct ancestor, DR.. William
Cooke, was sent by Queen Anne as secre-
tary to the colony of Virginia in 1712, and
her grand uncle, Mark Catesby, was cele
brated naturalist of that period. The story
of Miss Graham's girlhood is vivid picture
of the old idyilic life of the southern plan
tation, and the latter's pictures and old
souvenirs, which the visitor may see in
her room, attest the long line of her dis
tinguished friends. Among the treasured
heirlooms Of the family she shows with
great pride delicate pearl and jewelled fan
that was carried by her ancient ancestress.
the wife of DR.. Cooke, formerly a Miss
Catesby Of the royal Stewart line. Belong
ing to the same grand dame is tiny '.patch
box'' fashioned of mother-of- pearl and lapis
lazuli. Coming down to the distinguished
friends of her own time. Miss Graham who
retains her intellectual vigor of youth. talks
charmingly of her acquaintance and asso-
citation with John G. Calhoun. with Webster