The times., 1899-02-05
THE FORMER MRS. DOUGLAS.
Her Social Duties as Wife of the
Distinguished Senator.

Her Social Duties as Wife of the
DISTINGUISHED Senator.
From the Chicago chronicIe.)
The former Mrs. S. A. Douglas, whose
chronicled as having occurred in Washing
ton last Thursday night, was at the time of
her marriage to Senator Douglas a de-
cided belle in the society of the Nations
Capital. Her reputation for beauty and
general attractiveness was as wide as the
country. Her marriage. therefore. to the
great man, who had his legal residence in
Chicago, was an event which interested
greatly the people Of this city. The date
of that event was November 20, 1856.
Great expectations were entertained here
OF benefits to accrue in consequence to
society from so splendid an acquisition.
Mr. Douglas had called and in part made
Chicago his home for about'ten years, but
what time he spent here each year eas
given up mostly to politics and the poll
ticians. His first wife. who before he
married her was Miss Martha Martin, of a
wealthy family in North Carolina, came
on his visits to his constituents. Indeed,
her first and it is believed her only ap-
pearance here was in 1s49, two years after
her union with Illinois great statesman.
They came by private conveyance all the
way up from the Ohio River. She was
not at all in Chicago society nor was she
much in Washington society, for she was
frequently in retirement in North Caro-
lima, where her children weres born. Her
early death cut off any prospect there
might have been OF her ever becoming
identified with society people here or else
where.
But brilliant prospect seemed to open
up in respect Of social matters when Sem
ator Douglas married Miss Adele Cults.
Beautiful as she was and popular as she
was on account of her beauty, she had be-
sides certain amount of acquired pres
tige which arose from her reported descent
from Madisons of history. 1t did not mat
ter greatly that this was a mistake, for
her fathers name was James Madison
Cults and it was known that her grand
mother was a relation of Mrs. Madison,
who in her lifetime was admiringly known
as Dolly Madison. Adele Cults, the for
| mer Mrs. S. A. Douglas. was a grand
daughter of a sister of Mrs. Madison. That
| her father bore the name of James Madi-
son was not significant of blood relations
| to the family OF the iIlustrious president
4 relation that did not eXist-but was
| enough still TO further dignity the ceie-
| brated daughter He was comptroller OF
the treasurer in Franklin Pierce's Admin
| istration, but lost the Office at about the
| time that Douglas broke with Buchanan.
| 1t was not till 1857 that Senator Douglas
| brought his new wife to Chicago. The
wa a har rit-al
Her first public appearance was on a Sun
| day morning at ST Mary's Church-she
| was deyout Catholic. 1t was in that year
| that the union of the two railroad COM
| panies between Chicago and Milwaukee
was effected and in the celebration of that
| event on the State line between Illinois
! and Wisconsin the Senator and his wife
/ participated. That fall they returned early
| to Washington. and it was not till the next
| summer that Chicago society was permit
! ted to know Mrs. Douglas we'll. 1t was in
| the year OF the great contest between Lin
| coin and Douglas. Her part in that cOu-
| test, purely social part, was modestly
/ but effectively performed. She was ac-
| casionally with her husband i'll the coun-
/ try but most of the time was passed in
| this city. In the parlors of the fremont
| House she received all that chose to call
| upon her with what dignity did she not
| receive, She never talked politics nor at
| tempted to bring men to the support OF the
cause in which she was so much inter-
| ested. She played simply and yet splen-
| didly the part Of a true lady who felt that
she had right to the homage OF her hus-
bands friends and of all worthy citizens.
There were many brilliant young lawyers
here then and many approved society men
who were Democrats, and these she in
spirited in the cause to high degree.
That same summer the Lake View Hotel
on the north shore, was new and attrac-
tive and Mrs Douglas spent part OF her
time there. She held frequent receptions
in the parlors overlooking the lake ant
sometimes gave lunches or teas in III.
grounds under the oaks. At the conclu-
sion of the great struggle for the les!s a
ture, as the victory was with Douglas. the
two went South on triumphal journey
The next winter Congress was in tht
throes of coming secession and Mrs
Douglas social duties in Washington
were arduous and difficult. Not mucf
more of her was seen in Chicago. for Will
her husband was conducting his campaign
for President she remained in her Wash
ington home. But when he made his pa
triotic tour through this State after seceS
sion was declared she was with him ant
when he lay sick and dying in the Ire
mont house in this city she was constant.
by his bedside She made arrangement
personally for the funeral. which wa
conducted by the Catholic bishop of III
day. and afterward permitted herself t.
be overruled in her declared purpose Il
take the remains to Washington 70
burial
The former Mrs Douglas life unde
the later name of Mrs Robert William
has been strictly private or entirely do
nestle. For a time. some years ago. she
! with her soldier husband. lived in tn:
, city, but few others than those who wor
} SHIPPED with her at the Catholic Cathedra
Church on North State Street ever sa,
much of her. Soon she went away t
Washington, where General Williams ha
the appointment of Adjutant General an
where she has reared and educated h
daughters by her second marriage. No'
that she is dead her memory will call OF
many words OF admiration and praise.