The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1894-04-15
The AMERICAN GIRL.
Her COnquGStS in the Ranks Of the
Diplomats.
Some Famous Foreign Alliances.
Washington Girls Capture Big Mat
rimonial Prizes-The Elverson Mar
From the Baltimore Sun.

The marriage of NJ: Patenotre, first
French ambassador to the United States,
to Miss Elverson. recalls the historical
fact that NJ. Genet. the first French
minister ever sent to this country, mar
ried an American girl, Cornelia Tappan
Clinton, daughter of the governor of New
York. This was just about 100 years ago,
and it appears as though fate intended
perpetual friendship between the United
States and France.
Some seem to think that the Washing
ton girl is losing her luclz-that the big
matrimonial prizes are now attracted to
other markets. In the case of the French
ambassador, M. Patenotre, this is not
strictly the truth, for Miss Elverson was,
in certain sense, a Washington girl.
Her mother, whose maiden name was
Duvall-Sallie Duvall-was born and
raised in this city. Here her marriage to
Mr.. Elverson took place. The old manor
house of Clifton, above Georgetown, was
purchased by Mr.. Elverson about twenty
years ago. 1t has since been rebuilt, the
original mansion having been destroyed
by fire.
Mrs. and Miss Elverson have always
kept home at Clifton. and when on this
side of the water have passed as much of
their time at Clifton as in Philadelphia.
They have never taken any part in Wash
ington society, so that when Madame Pa
tenotre, as the French am bassadress, re-
ceives the polite world of Washington, it
will be truly her debut here.
SOME FAMOUS ALLIANCES.
In the olden days it was no uncommon
event for distinguished foreigners to find
their wives in Washington. The Marquis
de MontholOn, son of the marshal who &C
cOmpanied Napoleon to st. Helena, mar
ried the daughter of Gen. Gratio&, chief
of the engineer corps of the United States
army. At the time of the marriage Mon
tholon was secretary of the French lega-
tion. Subsequently he was sent
here as minister under Napoleon
III. The Montholons then lived
in the Corcoran house, now occupied by
Senator Brice. They entertained in the
most superb manner, and Montholon COW
cred himself with diplomatic honor, for
he was Frances representative in the
difficult days of Maximilian's occupancy
of Mexico. With the downfall of the
French emperor, Monthoon disappeared
from the public life of France. One of
our ministers to France, Mr.. Washburn,
was related to the Montholons. His SON
Gratiot Washburn, died in Chicago three
or four years ago.
In the days of Gen. jackson, NJ. Pageot,
the French minister, married one of the
bellies of the capital, Miss Eyre, daughter
of William B. Lewis Eyre, one of the
auditors of the treasury. A daughter of
Mrs Gen. Eaton peggy O'Neal). the IA
nous beauty who broke up Gen. Jackson's
cabinet, married one of the secretaries of
the French legation, who subsequently
inherited a title. Miss Sue Benton,
youngest sister of Mrs. j. c. Fremont,
and daughter of Senator Benton of Mis-
souri,, married Baron BOilleau, charge d.
affairs of t'panpp in this citxr of
wards French minister to Brazil. Baron
Boilleau became involved in one of Ere
mont's railroad schemes that brought
him into legal difficulties in France
These proved disastrous to him and his
wife. Both are now dead.
AMERICAN BEAUTY CONQUERED.
The first Turkish minister ever sent to
the United States, Blacque Bey, was
blest with an American wife She was a
charming woman of many accomplish
ments. A trained musician herself, the
musicales at the Turkish legation were
the most distinguished social events of
the administration of Andrew johnson.
M. Blacque evidently had prejudice in
favor of American women his first wife
having been daughter of the celebrated
DR.. Valentine Mott, of New York. Mr.
Baltazzi, secretary of the Turkish lega-
tlon under M. Blacque, married a New
York belle, and, l believe, he Is still
consul at New York
Nsarly every one in Washington is IA
mlllar with the name of Potestad For
many years the name was always repre-
sented in the Spanish legation The first
Spanish minister Potestad. married Miss
Peters, of Virginia, an ideally beautiful
woman, who had a brilliant career in
Washington. Senator Calderon de la
Barca married an American lady while
Spanish minister to the United States.
Madame Calderon de la Barca was a near
relative of Mr.. Carlisle, one of the plain
tlH's lawyers in the Breckenridge case.
Hence his Spanish surname of Cal
deron. Count Bertinatti, for years
Italian minister to the United
States, married a beautiful widow
from Mississippi. Mrs Bass, who
at the time was residing in this city. AS
Countess Bertinatti, the American
woman ably sustained the reputation of
her countrywomen for beauty and ele-
gance at The Hague and at St. Peters
burg. Count Bertinatti, to the end OF his
life, was employed in the diplomatic SER
vice of his country. After his death
Countess Bertinatti returned to the Uni
ted States. A couple of years ago she
spent the season in Washington.
MAY-DECEMBER MATCH.
Count Sartiges, the French minister,
ana Count Banuelos, the Portuguese min
lister, married American women. Both
inherited money from the late Allen
Thorndyke Rice, who died suddenly in
New York. inst p 10 bo