The Newberry herald and news. (Newberry, S.C.) 1884-1903, 1894-03-14
fAtlanta Copstitution.)

.sThe Countess Percele has. lost her
head" Such is tho news that comes
from fsr-of Japan. The Countess often
before happened with this misfortune,
figuratively speaking, and notably, at
the great court of the white Car of all
the Russians, but at the court Of the
willy little Mikado, she fell a victim,
like Mary, the beautiful but unfortu-
nate Scottish queen, to malice and
Jealousy, and lost her head at the
hands of the axman, her marvellous
beauty and indiscretion being tie au-
thor OF her ruin.
"And who was the Countess Percele?"
Who this distant princess that we Of
the South should be interested in her
sad ending? At one time the 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 Newberry District in lS43,
and was ranked by common consent
the most beautiful and accomplished
lady in the State. Her father was
MIR. 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 its domestic trouble, Boozer COM
mitted suicide. The widow then mar
ried Mr.. Feaster and took up their
abode in the aristocratic city OF Co
iumbia.
Feaster being q man Of wealth and
having no children of his own, lavished
his money upon the stepdaughter, CIV
ing her all the education and accom-
plisbments that wealth could bestow.
She grew in grace and loveliness, as
she merged into womanhood, and be-
came 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 charming man,
ners. In fact she was said to be per-
feet model of grace, beauty and lowell
ness. Her rare accomplishments and
dazzling beauty, to say nothing of her
wealth and social standing, 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
aud fancy free" The war came on
and the young SWANS deserted the BALI
room and scenes of poetic gayety for
the more real snd prosaic battlefield.
With war came ruin, devastation and
upheavels in society. Paradoxical as
it may seem, this light-hea1ted, bril-
liant blue blooded Southern bell and
her mother took sides with the Union.
A batch of yankee prisoners were inn
prisoned in Columbia during the pro-
gress of the war and her interest in
their welfare and her zeal for the cause
she had espouseG caused her to be So
cially ostracised and kept continually
under military surveillance. She ef-
fected the escape of young officer
from Ohio and kept him concealed in
her own house till the city was evacu-
ated by the Confederates.
When GeneralO Ord, commander of the
Infamous ninth corps entered Colum-
bia, theofcer emerged from the place
of his long concealment, and lost no
time in proclaiming it to the army the
name of his fair irhenefactor. Genera! Ord
fastened to the presence of this beauti-
full and bewitching little Southern trail
Tfess, and hearing from her own lips the
stofSssf her many acts Of kindness to,
and th8l leeiared friendship for the Unicn
soldieapEdnring their Incarceration in
Coluns ,da, and the danger that beset her
in consequence, prevailed upon her to
accompany him North, promising to
aid her in every manner that lay with
in bis 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 erratic, tai
ented, beautiful, once idolized but now
scorned enigma, left the land of her
birth, the home of friends and kindred
and began her grand triumphal march
10 the vsn of the army, the despoilers
of the country, the fots Of her people.
It was in the line of duty Of the writer,
as commander of a company Of scouts
for General Johnston to often be near
her and witness the grand ovation
given her by the officers and men of
Sherman's army, and he can truthfully
say her equipage and retinue WAS of
oriental sp!endor, and she gracefully
performed the roll Of q veritable
Cleopatra, such was the magniicence
of her display, the tribute and homage
paid to her beauty and the romance Of
her career.
On reaching Washington bill was
rushed through congress giving her
$4,000 for the service rendered union
prisoners and the losses she sustained
in so doing. At the capital she soon be-
came the social lion and the best and
most exclusive society felt honored in
admitting this wealthy and aristocratic