Watertown republican. [volume] (Watertown, Wis.) 1860-1906, 1898-03-30

and fOndness for change, she travelled
extensively. Her mother was her con-
slant companion and her only instructor
in early childhood The ablest teachers
were secured to develop her numerous
talents, and mother and daughter resided
for term of years in foreign lands to
facilitate the studies. Espec. lily in
Greek and Latin she eXcelied. speaking
French, Spanish, italian and German
very fiuently at an early age, writing in
all four prose and poetry.
She studied the dances of different ma
tons under the famous Nine. Vestris
and became a charming danseuse while
at the same time she mastered harmony
and composition in music. A rare So
pranO voice, flexible and sympathetic, led
her to sing the songs Of all nations. Her
general knowledge is not to be wondered
at when it is known that from her in
fancy the child was a profound student
with wonderful application.
At the age of II Della T. 5. ParneH
made her debut in Washington. A fair
girl, with eyes of deep sea blue, a tall,
supple figure, full. but classic il proper
ton. and universally pronounced ''beauti-
full" Charming in manner and conversa-
ton, generous, bright and joyous and
amiable-'a daughter of the morning"
said the astrOlogists, and who would soon
become the reigning belle of Washing
tom
sports, entertainments and charitable en-
terprises. At this time John Parnell came
from Ireland TO visit America, and pro-
ceeded to Washington, where, by his fine
presence, elegant bearing and charm of
manner-to say nothing Of his ''blarney"
he WOoed and won the Incompatible
Della Tudor Stewart, losing no time in
transporting his fair and gifted bride to
his grand and rOmantis home at Avon
dale, county Wicklow, Ireland.
One year later the maternal duties of
Della Z. S. ParneIl began, and continued
for over twenty years, in which time she
bore eleven children. John Howard Par
nell, a member of Parliament. being the
eldest; Charles Stewart Parnell, who
lived one year too long; Emily. Henry,
Fanny. fhe poetess), Anna, Theodosia
and others.
Mrs. Della T. S. Parne3: mad house
in Dublin, where she resided during the
Dublin season, when the Irish capital was
known as delightful Dublin She also
had Salon in Paris. And was often
the horored guest of Napoleon III. and
the Empress Eugene The night she
celebrities of Europe. This remarkable
woman was a magnet that attra cted to
her side the great and powerful, and was
considered one Of the few brilliant wom-
en-, even in Paris, who shone par excel
lence as a hostess.
Some years after the death of her hus-
band Mrs. Parnell came to this country
and was for many years Il power in the
Irish National league movement in the
United States, and became as we'll
known on the platform as any of the
male speakers for that cause She
demonstrated early in life that she had
great force of character and exquisite
culture and tact. During her residence
in Ireland and subsequent visits she
gained a thorough knowledge Of the COM
plicated mechanism of British politics,
which she used to great advantage in her
efforts as a nationalist.
When Charles $. Parnell was arrested
and thrown into prison. his patriotic but
then aged mother temporarily lost her
equilibrium by the shock She speculated
in Wall street with her own capital,
where she had hitherto been successful
i'll her ventures, determined, if possible,
to supply her family with funds for the
''agitation'' and to help develop Irish in
dustries,' and, above all, to make her
son financially independent, that he might
carry on his gigantic work with freedom
and hberality. But his imprisonment
ness. She lost $4,000 in Wall street
all the ready capital she possessed-after
which she mortgaged every acre of
ground she owned, and lost again:
Then came the death of the gentle poet
ess, Fanny Parnell. the "Parnell com
mission the ''Parnell-O'Shea scandal
the death of the Irish leader and the
disaster of the Land league movement,
and the hopes of the Irish people hope
lessly blasted. it seemed, for all time
The Parnell family were then in COM
parative poverty, ruin and ignominy, and
the aged mother IN sorrow and woe.
During the administra ton Of Gen Harri-
son the venerable woman was voted a
pension of $3.50 every three months with
which she endeavored to pay off some of
her creditors, economizing greatly to do
so.
During recent years she lived at Bor-
dentOwn, n. J., and it was there that she
was brutally assaulted and robbed i
crime that aroused the Indignation of the
whole country. After she recovered she