The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1892-09-11
4 SOUTHERN BELLE
WHO POSSESSED BEAUTY, WIT
AND GOOD SENSE.

ern Beauty Who Was q Visitor at
"Fhe White"
From the Nero York sun.
The very interesting article in the Sun OF
last Sunday on the White Sulphur Springs
of Greenbrier county, West Virginia. low
ingly called by southerners THE White :"
and the mention of the many beautiful and
charming women who assemble yearly &C
that fashionable place, recalls the memory
OF one who years ago shone pre-eminent
among the brilliant throng, not only for
LONELINESS of person, but for the inexpressi
BILE charm of her manner, the brightness Of
her intellect, and the gracefulness Of her
wit; one OF whom the late Donu Piatt wrote.
hearing of her untimely death, that all who
visited g The White" in days gone by would
ever remember for her wit, her readiness
OF repartee, and the exquisite charm of her
conversation; as well as her remarkable
beauty
Her name was Matte Gwynn OuId. She
was the eldest daughter of the late judge
Robert Ould, who was widely known as a
confederate commissioner Of exchange. He
was leading lawyer In Richmond.
Miss Ould had rare beauty. She was of
very fair. She had a wealth Of brown hair
and head and brow as perfectly shaped
as any of Canova's models. Her mouth
was small, but expressive; her eyes were
dark brown and very beautiful; her maa-
ners showed perfect self-possession. She
sang and danced well, she was an accom-
plished and fearless horse-womAn, and she
always bore herself with ease and grace.
She was magnetic; she fascinated old and
young.
She could, if occasion required it, be Sc
we're, aud it is related that she silenced a
dude who devoted himself to her for several
days at THE White" he grew inQuisltive,
and whenever she spoke or bowed to any
one he asked her, in a confidential tone:
is he Tor she, as the case might bel in our
setl"
firing of his stereotyped query and learn
ing that he was engaged at home In a crock
cry store. she said to him, in a bitter tone,
when he again prop0unded his question.
Nv hich set do you meant Breakfast set,
dinner set or tea setP He dropped the in
terrogatory.
A southern gentleman who had heard of
her conversational powers related that she
soon convinced him of her superiority. He
was presented to Miss Ould the evening he
arrived at The White and he asked
her for the pleasure OF a walk on the piazza.
She consented, and as they started she said {:
Have you been long at The Whitel"
He replied: "No, only few hoursn
Then she said, cit will interest you,
perhaps. to know what the young ladies to
whom you will probably be presented go
on, and, if you wish to be informed, will
tell you"
He thanked her, and she continued:
miss A. has a reputation as q beautiful
woman. She goes on beauty, and you
must tiatter her personal vanity else she
will soon tire of you. Miss B. is a typical
southern girl. She goes on firtatious and
you must make her think that your scalp
Is within her reach, else she will vote you a
bore. Miss G. is one of the first families of
Virginia. She goes on ancestry, coats of
arms aud even heraldry. You must tell
her OF your blue blood, else she will con-
slider you common. Miss D. is rich. She
goes on money bags. You must talk to
her of investments, stocks and finance, else
she will think you tires)me. Miss E. is
literary. You must be able to discuss the
latest novels and magazine articles, else she
will soon weary of your society. Miss r.
is the daughter of Senator -. She goes
on politics You must be up on the Do
litical questions of the day, else you will
not suit her tastes. Miss G. likes horses
and she goes on them. You must ride
with her and talk horse, else you cannot
hope to make an impression. Miss II. is
daft on tennis. You must play tennis
and talk tennis ere you can steal her affec-
tions.n
Thus she cleverly gave him points about
a dozen or more of the bellies he would oon-
front, and when he thanked her and said /:
Miss Ould, you have been very kind in
telling me of others; may | asked you what
you go onP " she replied: Certainly sir Z"
Then she extended her right arm, touched
1t above the elbow with her left hand and
laughingly said: ION my muscle, sir" He
was satisfied that she was clever and nom
committal.
she was engaged to 9 gentleman whose
surname was Young, and her father hap
pening to come Unexpectedly into his par
Tor, observed that she sat with her head
resting on her lovers shoulder. She par
rled his remonstrance with the reply: 80,
it's nothing. This is not the first time an
old head has been found on young shout
dersn
Two Richmonders sought her in mar
Tiage. One was Mr.. Campbell, the other
was Familiarity called Nat. When asked by
a friend which she preferred, she laughed
and said: II am straining at Nat. yet /
may swallow Campbell When told that
Mrs. A. was dead she exclaimed: sit is
very sad. Another widoWer has been let
loose upon society"
She was equal to any demand for a clever
play on words. Let me give an instance,
and violate no confidence when l record
it in the words of the gentleman, George
Savage, a Baltimore lawyer, formerly of
Richmond, who was the subject of her wit.
He says: when l last saw Miss Matte
Ould it WAS at her home in Richmond. l
had known her from her childhood. After
very pleasant morning call | arose and
said: 1 must say Rood-by, and you know
what have always said of YOU She said
Tell me again, MIR. Savage. i replied: L
have always said, Miss Matte, that you are
fascinating, but She looked at me In
tently and said, coquettishly: Undesirable,
Mr.. SavageP l said: No, Miss Matte, but
unreliable
''She knew that referred playfully to
her disposition to firt She Immediately
said: You know / have always been ready
to do little missionary work among the
savages.' l laughed, and said; Thank
you, Miss Matte. but you cannot commence
with my scalp Then we shook hands
with mutual good-bys. I did not dream
that would never see her again"
A certain Richmond lady, noted for big
diamonds and bad gra mar, meeting Miss
Ould in the street, said as she approached
her: "Mattie, 1 seed you coming" I'M
mediately Miss Ould said: Eyes, saw
you seed me-"
Many other instances Of her mental quail.
ties might be cited. She had many adj
mirers. After a marriage of about year
to Mr.. Schoolcraft Of Buffalo, n. Y, but
a resident OF Richmond then, and q clergy