The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1891-04-19
GREAT MEN IN LOVE.
The Queer Franks Of Cupid in
Washington City.
JOE cHAMsERLAln.s couRTsHIP
How Archibald FERRIES, the War Corrs-
spondent. Married LuIu Meigs-
Barons Bodisce and Cateeaxy.

wAsHrxerox CrTY, April l3-rspecial
Correspondence I-Lovers are thicker in
Washington City than blackberries in
August, and the story Of the capital is .
chain Of romances. Down on the banks
of the Potomac, In the shadow OF the
Washington monument, still stands the
moss-coyercd cottage where Marcia Burns
entertained Tom Moore, the poet, and
where Clay, Burr and Hamilton all made
love to the old Scofchman's daughter.
She was captured by New York con-
gresham who got q big fortune with her,
and in the mansion which now stands be-
side the old cottage, the two spent money
in more lavish way than even the presi-
dent. Their house was modelled after that
OF the White House, and the pretty Marcia
was the envy of all the girls of her time.
Among her friends was Dolly Madison,
and doubt not that Mrs. Madison may
have met Aaron Burr at Marcia Burns
house, and with him gone over the story
of her iove-making.
How DOLLY MADISON CAUGHT A HUSBAND.
Dolly Madison's courtship took place at
Philadelphia when congress was sitting
there. She was a young Quaker widow,
and was living in the same quarter as
Madison, who was then over 40, and who
was supposed by all of his friends to be a
confirmed old bachelor. He saw the
pretty Quakeress and fell in love with her.
She kept posted on the things before con-
eress, crammed the books she knew he
liked, and was able to talk most learnedly
10 him. When he went back to Virginia
he left number of books with her which
were, it is said, beyond her intellectual
comprehension, and asked her to write
what she thought of them. She looked at
the books, and the more she looked at
them the less she thought of them. She
" as afraid to express an opinion, and she
took the books to Aaron Burr and asked
linn to write out an opinion upon them.
Ee did so, and she put this in her next
love letter to Madison. The future presi-
dent was delighted at the wonderful intel
ligence shown in the letter, and he pro-
posed instanter to the young Quaker
widow as soon as he came back to Phila-
Gclphia. Dolly made him splendid wife,
but sly wink must have passed between
the young woman and Burr when they
met after the marriage.
PEeGy EAToN's TROUBLES.
The romance of Mrs. General Eaton
still hangs about Washington, and you
hear old ladies talking about it every now
and then. Peggy Eaton was the daughter
OF boarding house keeper, who was very
popular among the congressman about the
time that Jackson was elected president
"Old Hickory" was very fond of q pretty
face, and he admired the lovely Peggy,
who was bold in her manners but who
he thought was pure and good notwith-
standing Among others who paid atten-
ton to her was General Eaton, who
thought enough of her to marry her and
thereby astonish Washington society. The
fashionable world here was much excited
over the marriage, and the ladies banded
together and said they would not call
upon her. President Jackson took her
part, and tried to make the women do as
he said, but for once he found his match.
1t came to such . pass finally that the
wives Of the men who would not call on
Mrs. General Eaton were made to suffer
through their husbands, and Martin Van
Buren,, widower that he was, curried favor
with Jackson by giving parties to which
he always invited Mrs. Eaton.
ONE OF BUcHANAN's LOVES.
There Is pretty little tradition extant
concerning the reason of President Buch-
anan's lifelong bachelorhood which has
not hitherto been published. The story
runs that the one woman whom he ever
really loved was none other than the
wealthy Miss Coleman, who owns and still
occupies the spacious house on the north
side Of Lafayette Square, between the Ar
lington hotel and st. Johns church. For
some triting cause the two quarreled and
each TO proud to make the first advances,
they never spoke again, and rarely even
met in society, though it is but short
and the president, had he been SO minded,
could readily in less than nve minutes,
have accomplished the brief Journey which
might have given to his own life and that
OF his lady-love such happier ending.
BAaoYs BopIsco AND cArEcAzY.
No account, even the briefest, of the
women Of Washington whose lives have
been marked by more than ordinary de-
gree of romance would be complete with
out mention Of the beautiful Harriet Will
Jams, who, IN all the perfection of girl
hoods charms, became at l6 the wife OF the
sertuagenarian, Baron de Bodisco, envoy
extraordinary and minister plenipoten-
tiary from Russia. The school companion
of his niece and adopted daughter, the
young girl lett her studies 10 preside over
The legation kept up in style COM
Iuensurate with the vast wealth of the
minister. Never before or since has any
foreign country been represented by a
more princely display than prevailed dur
ing the old baron's lifetime. Whenever he
went out TO drive with his wife, it was in
splendid gilt carriage drawn by milk
white horses, new one being added
to the number every time child was born
10 the couple, until span of six was
seen upon the fashionable drives
accompanied by iveried outride-s 1t
was at this time that Baron Catecazy
then young attache of the Russian lega-
ton. tirst came TO this country accompanied
by the beautiful women who subsequently
became his wife. The couple were IN such
straltened circumstances that, although
they lived in greatest seclusion at Bladens-
burg, the attache, for pecuniary reasons.
was compelled To make the daily journey
10 and fro on foot. Though by no means
himself knight without reproach, Baron
de Bodisco did not hesitate TO haul the
young attache over the Goals for his de-
parture from the rules of society. and in
consequence thereof completely ostracized
him on ali state occasions. Though fully
aware that he richly deserved such treat
mert at the hands of his superior, Young
Catecazy never forgot or forgave, as he had
afterwards ample occasion TO prove. After
the lapse of many years Baron Catecazv
was sent To this country as minister from
Russia, Baron de Bcdisco having long since
been gathered 10 his fathers. Oddly
was at that time an attache and Just mar
ried to the lovely young Charlotte Barton,
daughter of Mr.. Joseph Barton, of this
city. The beauty of young Bodisco's
bride, like that of his fathers before him.
was the theme of all tongues in Wash