The Anderson intelligencer. [volume] (Anderson Court House, S.C.) 1860-1914, 1894-03-07
COUNTESS PERCELE.
Tho Famous and Notorious Adventures Of
South Carolina Beauty.

COUNTESS PERCELE.
Tho Famous and Notorious Adventures of
South Carolina Beauty.
"The Countess Percele has lost her
head" Such is the news that comes
from far-of Japan. The countess
often before happened with this mis-
fortune, fguratively speaking, and
notably, at the great court Of the
white car of all the Russias, but at
the court of the willy little Mikado,
she fell victim, like Mary, the beau
tiful but unfortunate Scottish queen,
to malice and jealousy, and lost her
head at the hands Of the axman, her
marvellous beauty and indiscretion
being the author Of her ruin.
"And who was the Countess Per-
cele? Who this distant princess that
we of the South should be interested
in her sad ending ? At one time the
whole State Of South Carolina would
have listened with bated breath to
catch one word Of this famous beauty.
She was of the South, and South
Carolinian. She was born in New
berry district in 1843, and was ranked
by common consent the most beauti-
full and accomplished lady in the
State. Her father was a Mr.. Burton,
who died while Mary, the subject of
this sketch, was yet child. Her
mother married Mr.. Boozer, who
adopted her, and gave her his name
and fortune. For some cause, gossip
has it domestic trouble, Boozer COM
mited suicide. The widow then mar
ried MIR. Feaster and took up their
abode in the aristocratic city Of Co.
lumbia.
Feaster being man of wealth and
having no children of his own, Law
ished his money upon the step daugh-
ter, giving her all the education and
accomplishments that wealth could
bestow. She grew in grace and love-
illness, as she merged into womanhood,
and became one of the most beautiful
and fascinating young ladies in the
whole State, and her personal charms
were surpassed, if such was possible,
by her brilliancy, her wit and charm
ing manners. In fact she was said to
be perfect model Of grace, beauty
and loveliness. Her rare accomplish
ments and dazzling beauty, to say
nothing of her wealth and social stand
ing, made her without dispute the
social queen Of Columbia, and her
hand was often sought in marriage by
sons of the wealthy planters of upper
tendon.
But to all such overtures she turned
deaf ear, and remained "unfettered
and fancy free The war came on
and the young swains deserted the
ballroom and scenes of poetic gayety
for the more real and prosaic battle
field. With war came ruin, devasta-
tion and upheavals in society. Para
doxical as it may seem, this light
hearted, brilliant blue blooded South
ern bell and her mother took sides
with the Union. A batch of yankee
prisoners was imprisoned in Columbia
during the progress Of the war and her
interest in their welfare and her zeal
for the cause she had espoused caused
her to be socially ostracised and kept
continually under military surveillance.
She effe,ted the escape of young
officer from Ohio and kept him con-
cealed in her own house till the city
was evacuated by the Confederates.
When General Ord, commander Of
the Infamous Ninth corps, entered
Columbia, the officer emerged from
the place of his long concealment, and
lost no time in proclaiming it to the
army the name of his fair bcnefactor.
General Ord hastened to the presence
of this beautiful and bewitching little
Southern traitress, and hearing from
her own lips the story Of her m4ny
acts of kindness to and her declared
friendship for the Union soldiers, dur
ing their incarceration in Columbia,
and the danger that beset her in con-
sequence, prevailed upon, her to ac-
company him North, promising to aid
her in every manner that lay within
his power, promise he faithfully
kept.
The finest carriage that could be
found in the city with magnificent
span of horses were taken from the
rightful owner and placed at the dis
posal of the mother and daughter, and
in this, surrounded by regiment OF
cavalry, as an escort, this cratic,
talented, beautiful, once idolizcd but
now scorncd. enigma, left the land Of
! her birth, the home of friends and