The Houston daily post. [volume] (Houston, Tex.) 1886-1903, 1899-08-11

sonages that made Its history are re
lnquishing one by one. the places tina
they have held, and making way for other
who are coming on the scene TO act tn
part assigned to them in the drama oil life
Among those whose history will leave al
impress on the South is Mrs. Lucy Hol
comb Pickens OF Edgewood, wife OF thu
war governor of South Carolina, who dice
in this city yesterday, as has already beer
told in the press dispatches.
Mrs. Pickens was born In virginia, neal
Petersburg, in 1881. Her mother was MIS-:
Hunt. and her father Beverly Lafayette
Hocomb The family moved to West Ten
neesee from Virginia, then to Marshall
Texas, where their daughter reisned as the
most beautiful woman In the state. rms
was not her only gift. however, for intel
I lectually she had no superiors. Al TINS
! time when the roseate glamor oil glrihood
was upon her, she wooed the genius lit
erature, and her first effort, The yellow
Rose OF Texas" met with some success;
! 1t wac not gratifying enough, however 10
be continued, and the duties aud pleas
lres OF life displaced the nymph, SO her
first effort In this line was her last.
II is a well known fact that on one oc-
casion Miss LuSy Holcomb caused the Mis-
sissippi legislature TO adjourn for waat oil
a quorum. She stopped at the capital on
a visit, and in going away so many OF the
young legislators escorted her to the sta
ton and on the train that quorum was
not left in the house.
~
In the zenith OF her beauty, with her
crown of womanhood came her greatest
charm; homage was lavished upon her
and conquests were made without effort.
At White sulphur Springs Va, where she
was the queen of every gathering, wooers
were there by the score. but 1t remalncu
for gallant son of South Carolina TO
succeed where SO many others met defeat,
and in 1857 this lovely flower of the Lone
Star State was transplanted to the senlai
cline of South Carolina, where 1t has
ever since been nurtured by peoples
love and honor.
This marriage was an event long re-
membered in Marshall. Mr.. PicAens had
just received his appointment as uniteo
States minister to Russia, and 1t was
there he took his bride for a four years
sojourn in the Russian capital. me
beauty OF the young bride and the hign
qualifications of the distinguished husband
excited the admiration of the car and his
courtiers, and many tokens in jewels anu
silver attested the high regard in which
they were held. Among these jewels were
n set OF diamonds set in silver, consisting
Of necklace, earrings and brooch, that are
as unique as they are costly, and ring |
set with pear-shaped diamonds presented |
by the then ruling potentate, Frederick |
III. Silver of inestimable value that |
adorned the board of the palace that WIS !
the home of the minister and his wife
while in ST. Petersburg are preserved as
heirlooms to be handed down to genera
tons laces and precious stones in rich
settings are treasured by the grandchildren
who will recall with pride the triumph
If their ancestors.
~
Mrs. Pickens was possessed OF an i'm
though, withal, singularly sweet
disposition; accustomed to rule, she never
allowed the scepter to pass from her hand:
nut the iron rod was always wreathed in
lowers. In this connection 1t is related
# her that when in New York on her way
o sail for Russia, word was sent to her
Dom that the vessel would sail in short
ime. She replied that she was not ready.
Her husband. knowing that time and tide
Wait for no man, but forgetting there was
othing said about women, insisted that
he leave at once, and, turning to ner
naid, he said. "Is your mistress baggage
eady?' The baggage could go, but the
distress would not. At length the cap
ain came to see the cause of tho t-,ay. /.
nd was met by his bewitching young pas
enger who so charmed him by her wit
nd beauty that the time of sailing was
elayed three hours.
| ;
1t was while in the dominion of the
Ear, In the palace of the Neva that the
reatest joy came into the life of the
Dung wife, when a little girl was born y
he christening of the child was an event
| that stately old palace. AS the minis
= poured the water upon the head of the t
lfant and said; Il baptize thee, Frances. 8
ugenia, Dorethea, Olga. Neva," the n
roud mother took her child from the I
ms OF the princess godmother, Dolga- I
emil and pressed a kiss upon lis inno- n
mt brow. AT the feast that followed the h
Ear Frederick sent the wine to drink IN +,
le prosperity of his godchild. and be- q
owed upon her the old name by which u
re was always known. "Douschka." Fl
a.. ansIation from the Russian meaning. a
'y paFhng' Al the nuptials of Douschka is
=, Jtaio idteT, to Dr.. q
sorge Z: Dugar of Augusta, Ga. spark N
* hquio from the same vintage was a
ousht forth to speed the fair bride of I,
Is household as it had served the in T
Mt In the past ~
sne died several years ago. q,
~ "
AT the close of his term as minister t,s Of
miiy returned to South Carolina whore 9,
r. fickens was called to preside ,vsr q,
e destiny OF his State, then on the verge re
the trying times that were so soon 10 ne
unse the country into suffering and as
mage AS war governor, Mr.. Pickens pl
hded the ship of State through the hi
ssed waters with credit to himself and III
nor TO his section. re
u was during this time that the die.
lguishing traits Of true womanly charac- re
were notably evidenced by the wife ~ la
governor, who was all that true ct
lpmeet could be. Like isabella she sold In
Jewels to aid her country. and witt, ra
proceeds from number of her hand ne
nest ornaments she equipped the HoI.
no regiment, which she named In honor
her rather. Mounted on a spirited RI
ed, attired in riding habit of black
Vet, with large hat OF the same ma
i ia turned mp on one side. with long IN
ne plume rs It's only ornament, she re- INK
, neu Tue regiment, herself the most iet
lkihg hgure of that vast array. cit
Is mistress OF the executive mansion, IN
columbia. she presided with the came fill
my ana grace as In the palace on ia