The times., 1897-06-27
GEN. PHILIP SCHUYLER'S WIFE
Colonial Dame Who Is known as the
sseutIe~,otnan OF the Revoiut1oii.

olkN. i 4AAAA AOAAO
scssIoniaI Dam Who Is Known as the
sEantIewotnan of the Revoiut1on.
Catharine Schuyler the wlfe OF zen
Phillip Schuyler, was the gentle woman
os the Revolution All that wealth. eui-
sure. social position and the education
of the time could give were hers The
.o,lly daughter of John Van Rensselaer,,
the patron of Greenbush, from her
e,s-test wears she had known the pos
session of wealth, and the lavish gen
erosity and hospitality which marked
her fathers hame left their impress
upon her Indeed, the father was known
as too liberal man even to collect the
aust dues from his tenants, and the anti
rent struggles which almost conYulsea
New York in later years were 10y many
traced directly to the lavish bounty or
the Van Rensselaer, home. which ols-
bursed on every side, not always wisely
nor too web. But generous as JOIN van
Rensselaer, was to those who were de
o,,ndent upan him, his beautiful daugh-
Ter Catharine, received far more from
aim for All t4aat ire had was hers. She
shared in the management OF his vast
estates, WAS Taught 10 play lhe part oi
flte Lacy BouBta5al, and was the idol OF
her father. and the fayorjte in all the
region She learned to speak fluently
several languages beside her own and
WAS accomplished in all the arts Of the
finer life And yet she was never spoiled
She seemed to give the lie TO the cur
rent pToverb that wealth roOs young
people OF power. for all that money
could give only increased her strength
of character and generous disposition
Refined cultured, and yet strong, she
was ike a piece of finest steel, which
is ail the stronger because IL has The
highest temper.
II was only natural that p hilip Schuyler
whose ancestors had dwelt for 100 years
nearby at Albany, should be drawn to this
beautiful girl And when they were mar
RED it seemed to be the uaion Of W hat was
best and truest in ali the region. For
Philip SCHUYLER was on e OF the finest types
OF the gentleman the rough new world has
vet produced Wealth he had, but how he
regarded money can he judged from tho
fact that 10y the right of primo ogeniture he
Inherited all the vast possessions of his
father, hut he atonoe divided dhisinherita nee
Among ais brothers and sisters, although
Ies,au- not one Of them had any claim upon
him His grow ing power had already
brought him into prominence, and when
the vosslg officer with his noble presence,
strongrI.ind a nd ldcourteoasIEaBners,t drought
the slender, lovely girl to Albany as his
wife, the new home at once became the
Center of all that was best in the quaint
Dutch town.
Philip Schuyler was compelled to &c
abroad Ia 1890, ard the beautiful mansion
he WAS erecting WAS left unoompleted
Bet his wife was eqnsl to the emergency y
end ct once assumed the direction OF af.
fairs Ste9dily the work went On. Catha-
rine Schuyler experimenting alltbe details
andib was not Ion & before the Robledwelliug
was eouspleted. AS both husband and wife
were of Dutch descent, the Dutch stylepne
dominated in the quaint building, and
when 2 hilip returned it WAS tofind the work
t1ene and his own anexpressed wishes and
tastes all understood and translated intt
being by bis wife. The Old house stood on
the corner Of State and Washington streets
uBtila lrtIe after 1900. Init Mrs. Schuyler
was hostess to many of theleading officers.
and at one time fourteen captive French
officials were held there on parole How
thoroughly they appreciated the gentlenest
and kindness OF AIRS. Schuyler we shsllIearn q
further Oh
Unlike Lucy Knox, Catharine SchHy-
Her had no social ambitions Her home,
beT children and heI friends were her all
And perhaps Just because she dsd not try
to push herself into public life, she was The
more liz demand Thecbjldreacame rapidly
with her home, but she never allowed even
her social duties 10 interfere with her da-
ties as a mother. There are two stories
reoofGled. however, which shog that with
all her gracious and gentle ma nners she
could act with decision and profnptness
when the occasion demanded. Near Sara
toga. Gen Schuyler had handsome eoun-
tTF residence In the time OF Biugovne's
invasion this was threatened, and was, as
we know afterward burned by the order
of the British general But when tne word
came that ruin threatened d IL, asher husband
WAS with the army she would trust no one
to remove the furniture, which was made
up of many heiflooins Of the families both
Sides and. ordering her carriage, started
herself for the country place TO supervise
the removal.
While she was there he husband sem
her werd that be wished all the wheat on
his place to be burned 10 prevent il fTou
falling into possession Of the British. With
her OWE hands Mrs Schuyler set fire tC
the standing wheat on her husbands IS place
and then called upon all his tenants tf
follow her example, and the cloud of smoke
that soon came rolling in showed that hel
own example WAS not without influence
ftiihp Schuyler, In spite Of his gener
Gus ways and true heart, had made
enemies. The New England men were
Jealous Of him, and Gen Gates, the pretty
little dandy, was doing all in his power
to supersede him. For time Gen Gates
succeeded, and Schuyler was reiie sed oi
his command, bet, Indignantly deusa ndinl
az Investigation. be was acquitted and re
stored But it was only for brief time
as Gates again succeeded. and held tint
position which was 6chuy1ers by ever,
right. Here the fnfiaence OF Gatharine
Schuyler came in. with fun confidence