The Telegraph-courier. [volume] (Kenosha, Wis.) 1888-1946, 1897-01-28
MRS. cusTER's READINGS.
A Delightful Evening Spent With the
widow of Gen. Custer Saturday.


Last Saturday evening occurred one
of the most delightful social events OF
the winter DR.. Pennoyer generously
opened the Sanitarium for the reading
and reception of Mrs. Elizabeth B.
Custer widow of General Custer, also
niece of Madam Richmond, who,
with her daughter, Mrs. Kendall, OF
Michigan, is spending the winter at the
Sanitarium.
Mrs. Custer was introduced by the
Reverend Harry Thompson, OF st.
Matthews church. All who have read
Mrs. Clusters womanly writings of
army life on the far frontier, were
gratified in listening TO and meeting
this winsome author. Few have so
charming a personality or have had SO
romantic q life.
Mrs. Custer married her hero hus
band during the war days and went
with him at once to Virginia. Thence
she accompanied him on the fOrlorn
march across Texas and through the
cholera smitten camps Of Kansas.
With him she shared the dangers and
hardships of life on the plains when
hostile Indians swarmed about the
TANKS of the column and proWled
about the sentries at night. Sharing
her husbands tent in camp, and riding
by his side day after day, she grew to
Ix,>o,, +I,o oaoorc col1iaro and c0OlItc
their wives and families. She was
ever charming in her sympathy and
sweetness, and very queen in their
midst. Her name is held in reverence
and honor still.
Mrs. Clusters interesting recital of
. Garrison Life on the Frontier" as
she knew it twenty years ago, touched
only on the bright side, only an
occasional sentence indicating that
there was a sorrowful, heart breaking
pathos underlying it all. She pictured
the little frontier posts, the mud huts,
leaking like sleeves during a rain
storm, in which the officers lived, the
various routine occurrences that make
up the day, the utter absence OF for
mality and, after all, declared army
life on the frontier the happiest life
imaginable, because there was always
youth, health and happiness.
Mrs. Custer spoke only Of garrison
life in winter, and depicted in stirring
and picturesque words the starting
h0 nf
hunting parties.
She told of the fastidious taste in
literature that gradually cOndescended
to read any printed matter that came
to hand and of the fact that Ouida's
novels, like weeds, follow man around
the world, or rather precede him, for
they never reached a place but that
they found at least a few leaves of an
Ouida novel.
In speaking of the great woodfires,
that made the interior of the mud huts
bright and homelike, Mrs. Custer said
she had been asked how, on treeless
plains, wood fires were attainable, and
explained that the wood was furnished
by the government at an expense
sometimes of $40 cord, and she
graphically described how, with long
ing eyes, TIE women watched the boxes
containing commissary stores and what
wonderful things were done with them,
as everyone knows what marvellous
things can be accomplished by few
boards, a few nails, and woman with
hammer
After the recital reception was
given in the spacious parlor and recep-
ton hall, in honor Of Mrs. Custer, tC
whom the guests were introduced by
DR.. Pennoyer.
Refreshments were served and the
table had a center piece OF pink ano
white carnations, with colored lights.
Miss Dexter, of Milwaukee, and Mrs
Z. G. Simmons, of KenOsha, assisted
Miss Pennoyer at table. Among the
guests were the teachers and students
of Kemper hall. The Sanitarium is
noted for it's hospitality in social and
charitable entertainments.
MpC T Y KTTPFER DEAD