Rocky Ford enterprise. (Rocky Ford, Colo.) 1887-1950, 1898-08-18

loved her. This early love OF the gen.
eral is the widow OF the confederate
leader, Gen. Albert Gallatin jenkins,
and she now lives in n small cottage IN
q quiet street of San Francisco, blind,
poor. and almost friendless. Her life.
MS she relates 1t, is one of the romances
of the civil war. Her maiden name was
Virginia Southland Bowlin and she was
the daughter Of Judge b. Bowlin. OF
Fredericksburg, Va. He was congress-
man many years and aftcrward minis
ter to the United States OF Colombia
during the administration of President
buchanan. He was heavy slave
holder and an ardent believer in the
divine right of the master. The lack
of sight and the weight OF years and
sorrow have not quenchcd the natural
vivacity of this southern woman. and
she relates the events of her life with
m interest that never flags. She lost
her sight from the poison OF her hus-
bands wounds received at the battle
of Gettysburg. She. with her two
babies, had accompanied her husband
on the march, and she was his nurse
when he fell under the shots OF the
federals. The lack OF medicine and
supplies cost her dear. shutting out the
light of day forever. She loves to tell
the story OF early triumphs. and since
Gen. Merritt has been SO prominently
before the public she has rccounted the
story of their short engagement ana
parting Mt the command OF her father,
who was too fierce n southern sympa-
thizer to endure the thought OF a north
crn son-in-law.
This Is the story she tells Of her
meeting and engagement to Merritt in
the days Just preceding the civil war:
'It was while In attendance at Mime.
Condos academy" said Mrs. Jenkins,
that l met Gen. Merritt. Nine. Con-
de was the principal OF an academy de-
voted to department and the acquisi-
tion of the accomplishments. located at
Il Lafayette place. New York, directly
opposite the Astor library. Young la
dies were sent there to be finished
that is to say. made eligible to en-
trance in society. by their parents and
guardians. who had. according to the
mndam's code. to possess elements Of
eligibility"
what were those?"
well. first of all. parent or guar
dian must have ancestors-great-great
grandparents, whose names were In q
book. a sort OF Burke's Peerage. I sup
pose. Then the girls prospective So
cial position must be positively assur-
ed. So strict was this French lady OF
really superior Attachments that she
exacted n certificate OF baptism when
applications were made to her nunnery
Us 1t was frequently called
Then the institution was Catho-
lic?"
mo; nonsectarian. or professedly so.
though the madam her self was de-
voutly Roman Catholic. My people.
being high church Episcopalians. or
ritualists. found much to commend in
the character Of this boarding school.
and my devotional duties. either by
Nine. Condo or heT assistants. were
never interfered WITH"
and you met Gen. Merritt there?"
oh, dear. no. Young gentlemen
were not admitted at Nine Condos.
II any members of the opposite sex
CHANGED to stroll inside these austere
walls. in the capacity OF inquirers. mes
sengers or menials, was not given \
glimpse of them. for l was only 16
and guarded as were the vcstals in
Atahualpa's Casas del Sol. never
went out uncI.lperoned. and received
no letters except from relatives.
when my cousin. Col. William
Proctor Smith-a cadet at West Point
and classmate of Gen. Merritt-sent