The record-union., 1897-09-03
JESSIE FREMONT.
HERE Is A NAME THAT CALLS
UP MANY MEMORIES.
The Wife of a Brave Soldier Pass
ing Her Declining Years in
California Home.

4reSlQental campaign OF 1000 II gave d
flavor of romance that kindled the chiv-
airy in many a young voters nature
The union of the Rocky Mountain hunt
er and the high-spirited daughter of
''Old Bullion" as her father, Thomas H.
Benton, Senator from Missouri, was at
fectionately called, as much as the prin-
ciples the new party embodied, gave
fervor to the famous, freesoil cam
paign.
There are those of to-day who will be
glad to know something of the beautiful
life that is now so peacefully being
lived under the shadow of the Sierra
Madre Mountains.
1t was my privilege to visit Mrs. FIRE.
mont in her lovely home at Los Ange-
les this summer. and to hear from her
own lips some of the incidents which
have enriched her life. Although Mrs.
Fremont has occupied prominent posi-
tions all her days. and is known through
her publications, yet she has been so
retiring that comparatively few peo-
pie are familiar with the events Of her
later life.
''If you know" said Mrs. Fremont,
.'how often 1 am obliged to refuse un-
known interviews you would not be
surprised that avoid publicity.
'"rhe impression has gone out that l
decline to see them on account of fee
blesness,' which fortunately is not true.
1t is because I do not want my private
life-open.
"a man came who asserted his right
to an interview on the ground that his
mother-in-law had named me at my
birth in ST. Louis for their favorite
clergyman, when the truth is mine is a
family name and I was born at my
grandfather's house in Virginia"
But Miss Fremont, the devoted
daughter stands like wall Of adamant
between her mother and merely curious
people, and it is only by special grace
and favor that this insight into the cir
Gle of the home is granted. The inter
view from first to last was extremely
felicitous Mrs Fremont was in her
most gracious and communicative
mood, and her intellect was clear and
comprehensive. Words came readily,
sometimes eloquently, as though her
heart would gladly pour out its best
treasure. Her lovely eyes. not yet be-
reft of all their youthful luster, were
bright with emotion.
She told me something of her eventful
life, of her home in Washington, where
for thirty years her father, as United
States Senator, lived out the honorable
principles which have crystallized into
history, but with characteristic reti-
cence she withheld the graceful part
she had borne in that history; how at
that time she was an acknowledged
belle of the old regime, and that in her
We're centered the finer qualities Of
long line of illustrious ancestry of which
she might well be proud. More than
this was apparent; the gifts and graces
inherited from the famous men and wo-
men of the Old Dominion, so renowned
for beauty, culture and refinement, still
cling to Mrs. Fremont
Il love Washington" said Mrs. Ere
mont There is an agreeable form of
society, a repose and elegance, also a.
spirit of liberation from the varieties of
people meeting there that I like very
much. In fact, Washington is the draw
ing room of the nation. I would have
preferred to spend my days there, but
the political conditions after 1856 made
it unpleasant, and we went to New York
where we lived nearly thirty years, with
occasional long visits to California and
Europe"
In speaking of this she said: ''The
Queens Jubilee brings back to me our
first visit to England. 1t was in the
early days of her reign; Prince Albert
was still living, and 1 was presented at
court and saw the Queen in all her
happy youth and royal state. She made
a beautiful picture, and her countenance
and manner showed that she entered
into the presentations with interest
Prince Albert, tall and much hand
somer than a man need be, wore white
and gold uniform, and the two COM
pleted the truly royal picture.
81 saw them both a few evenings
later, to even better advantage. Each
time the Queen made the same impress
sion of womanly goodness, combined
with a look of power, a simple and un-
conscious manner, but that of unques-
toned authority.
I'VE were there in the hight of the
season, and had been presented at the
Easter drawing-room. where I was
asked to remain through the whole GER
emonies, which were over two hours in
length. At that time no sorrow had
touched the Queen. She was sur
Prince Albert, her mother, and all the
nearest members of her family.
while in London General Fremont
had a delightful recognition by the
Duke of Wellington, and L suppose
that except Nansen, no one had reused
more interest and been more honored
by the Royal Geographic Society than
the General. From them he received
the founders medal
General and Mrs. Fremont, with their
family, spent year in Paris, and from
their home on the Champs Elysee they
witnessed many stirring scenes, among
them the official entrance OF Louis Ma
poleon as Emperor. The whole story is
charmingly recorded in Mrs. Fremont S
Souvenir OF My Times" One para
graph may be recorded: I'VE went
forth from our home atmosphere of per-
feet harmony and most lovely sur
roundings into the fine palaces. and had
nowhere a Jar to the sense of complete
ness
Mrs. Fremont belongs to that class Of
favored women who are born to give
social pleasure. She has an ease and
grace of manner that puts one at their
best when in her society.
In the course of this interview she
remarked: Il have not lived for any
design or purpose but just for home
and to be happy. My father and my
husband had the intellect and purpose.
and I have gone along in the wake of
their big ships. When Admiral Porter
was in command of the Western River
fleet he had the gunboat Benton for
his flagship, and he named his tender
L. 1,.nr nlr