Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1896-03-10
LADY HAMILTON.

ginning OF this century, when Admiral
Nelson, one armed, one eyed and gray
haired, was a bachelor sailor and the idol
Of the people on whom his skill and dar-
ing reflected SO much glory, it would have
been thought sacTilege to associate his
name with sexual love or to hint that he
had or might become the slave of q beauti-
full, fascinating adventures.
Emma Lyon, or Emma Haste-the
former is believed to have been her moth
er's name, for father she had none in the
legal sense-was born, it is believed, about
1850. Some biographies claim she was
born in Cheshire, England, others in
Wales, hut the place is quite as uncertain
as the year of her birth.
1t is now generally believed that Emma
Lyon was the illegitimate child of n servant
girl whose habits were such that no court
would have credited her had she attempt
cd by legal methods to establish the pa
ternity of her child.
While Emma was yet child her mother
brought her to London, and there at the
age of ID she secured q place as nurse
through the influence of the famous en-
graver Eoydell in tho family of his wife's
sister.
When Emma Lyon reached the age of
16, her rare beauty and n fascinating bril-
liancy of expression attracted the attention
of the keeper of a dry goods store, and he
prevailed on her to take a place in his es-
tablishment.
The girl became tho talk OF the shop
pers, and men, who do not usually care
for cheap dry goods, were attracted to the
place, and all focked about the counter
l,l I,,,x 81,
Then, as now, women, usually the most
attractive that can be found, are the wait
crs in English bars The keeper of a tav-
ern, the resort of artists, literary men, ac-
tors and army officers, saw in Emma Lyon
a drawing card, and when she was IS he
prevailed on her to take the position of
barInaid in his place at wage three times
greater than she had been receiving as q
shopgirl.
This was a good business stroke for the
tavern keeper. Neither his viands nor his
wines were SO attractive as tho beautiful
Emma. Then she had wit. Her intellect
was on n par with her other qualities, and
rs a barmaid sho showed the grace and
dignity of highborn dame.
At that time England recruited her
navy by impressment. Emma's cousin
was forced into the service, and on hearing
OF 1t she FASTENED to captain Wlilett. who
had charge OF the naval press gang, ana
induced him to let her cousin go.
Captain Willett, although already mar
ried, prevailed on Emma to link her fate
with his They lived together for nearly
-FOUR years, curing "hich tiime 'he captain
ueVo'eo hiihsen 10 inc eiri eoucation'
anu SO amazing was nee inteiiectuai apti-
tude that she soon acquired several for
eign languages and exceeded her master in
genuine culture.
Willett certainly loved Emma Lyon, but
his family affairs forced him to get rid Of
her. He plotted with an ally to compro-
mise her. She fell into the trap, but 1t is
doubtful If she ever lived with tho cap
tain's friend
About this time there appeared in Lon
don a Sco.chman named Graham, who
claimed to be a doctor, and that he had
discovered the secret of permanent health
and perpetual youth. How the charlatan