Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1897-10-07


and church entertainments One of
these public appearances is particular
ly recalled; it was the day after the
firing on Sumter, and before the first
great gathering of the people in war
times Mrs. Mattison sang gloriouslv
the Star Spangled Banner" and at
the same time held aloft with firm
grasp a partly unfurled flag. The
vast audience was made wild by the
enthusiasm she aroused. She was as
charming in private life as irresistible
on the stage, and the best people cult
waited her assiduously She was quite
indispensable to the success of grand
parties or balls, and whenever singing
was required in aid of sweet charity
she was sure to be called upon. In
1867 her husband was appointed super
lntendent of a new railroad in Cali
fornia- Robert Mattison was a thor
ough railroad man, but net much else
he certainly was not a society man.
By reason of their differing tastes
and emplOyments, the two had occa-
slonal tiffs if not more serious quarrels,
but their frequency and tendency were
not known to their friends. Had thew
been known worse might have been
prevented. They both thought it
would be eXpedient to leave Chicago
Mr.. Madison accepted the offered SUI
perlntendency, and Mrs. Madison set
about the work of breaking I'D her
domestic establishment. The people
heard OF their purpose with regret, but
Notwithstanding all wished them we'll.
Some Of them suggested for her fare
we'll benefit concert. This proposal
being well receied, Bryan Hall was Sc
! cured and Mrs. Mattison proceeded to
select those who should assist her and
| to write out the numbers. Her assist
arts were Mrs. Hattie B. Miller, Miss
Annie Main, Miss DePegrom, Charles
H. Severance, A. Baumbach. Jules G
Hubbard and w, Lewis. The numbers
were twelve-One of Mrs. Mattison s
numbers was, When the Quiet Moon
Is Beaming," favorite with the pub.
lie of the day as with herself and
which she gave with delightful effect
his concert was success in every
! way, society attended and the receipts
we're large.
Mr.. and Mrs. Mattison went to Cali
/ fornia in the fall of 1867. There he re-
manned, but she returned after six
months, and resumed to some extent
her old relations with society. She met
Arthur K. Curtis, a handsome, we'll
appearing young man, who had en-
ployment in the Chicago Burlington &
Quincy offices. The father of this
yC ing man was a capitalist of Boston
who held large block of stock in the
Chicago, Burlington & Quincy Rail
read company. The meeting of Curtis
with Mrs. Mattison resulted in his fall
ing desperately in love with her and
ultimately in an elOpement Society
vas for the moment stunned Mr.
Curtis had meney, and Mrs Madison
exchanged her diamonds for money
they gathered UP their other belong
ings, and escaped to New York. There
they sailed for Australia At Mel
be urne they resided for nearly ten
years, Curtis doing little or nothing,
while his Wife-for upon Mattison OBJ
tanning a divorce the eloped couple
were legally married-practiced music
as profession. She often sang in
concert in Melbourne, and word used
to come now and then from there
that her popularity was as great as it
had been in Chicago. She travelled the
Australian country extensively, giving
concerts in the principal towns. After
| ten years thus spent abroad, they re-
turned to Chicago. They were man
and wife, and Mr.. Mattison had an
other wife in California, therefore
Mrs. Madison, wife of A. r. Curtis. -
expected to be received with a degree
OF cordially by her old friends here.
Some few did so receive her. but she
was destined to live her life mostly in
secluslon for the rest of her days. All
had pity and excuses for her, some
visited her and others assisted her,
but she never regained even a little
OF her former standing in that COM
munity, nor did she for long attempt
to do so. She was a magnificent wo-
man, singularly gifted, and much was
forgiven her, but when she essayed to
sing again, as she once did, not many
people went to hear her, and those that
did so failed to hear the grand and
beautiful tones of her heavenly voice.
Some time last spring this remark
able woman, having tired not only of
life in Chicago, but of all life, and at
the same time falling i'll, her few re-
naming friends advised her to go to
some sanitarium and await the end.
To their credit, be it said a number of
wealthy men in the Second Presby-
terrain church, at the solicitation of
Miss Fannie A. Root, contributed each
a liberal sum in money, and the
amount was given to her toward her
comfortable support on the day of her
final departure from Chicago. The
Northern hospital was the place select
ed for her retreat, and there, as is al
ready stated, she died.
THE CYCLING GIRL.