The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1899-12-03

Mrs. Mildred Mclean Haxen-
Dewey, the woman to whom the
heart OF the whole country
warns as the bride Of Admiral
George Dewey. was once favcrite figure
In Montana society? In .s72. says the
RED Col. Haxen. ana like true soldiers
wife, gave up the delights Of Eastern 90
cisty to coma West with her stAlwart
husband. That year Col. Haxen was as
signed 10 the command of Fort Buford.
the post opposite the mouth Of the Yellow
stone. just over the line in what II now
North Dakota Old Fort Union was near
by, and at those posts the brilliant young
bride won the hearts Of all.
There her FIRST baby was born. little NIL
dred. whose death six months later cast
gloom over both posts, for the child had
reigned a. . veritabls little queen. The
blow was terrible one to Mrs. Haxen. but
she emerged from her sorrow. saddened
but sweeter and more wornanly In char
acter than before.
Then Col. Haxen was assigned to duty
at Helena, where they lived for some time.
and there the same qualities that have
since made the present Mrs Dewey the
most brilliant woman In Washington So
ciety caused her to become the head and
front of social life at the territorial cap
ital
=
Dpty in the West during President Hayes
ADMINISTRATION and sent to Vienna as mill
tary attache 1t the American legation.
Montana saw the last OF Mrs Haxen. but
among tbs pioneers who knew her she q
Z tender memory.
At the Austrian court, the most -exclu-
sive and aristocratic in Europe, Mrs. Ha-
ZEN became Immensely popular. As she
was the only woman In the legation, she
was made much Of. Emperor Franz Jo-
seph and 'the late empress admired her
Immensely and took many occasions to
testify their admiration and high regard.
The personality Of this woman. who
stands foremost of her sex before the
American public today, il a rare one. She
Ia sprightly, witty and fascinating. She
possesses the rare gift of placing all per-
sons Immediately at ease, and. as one Of
her friends says Of her, making them
perfectly satisfied with themselves"
Her manner Is engaging. She is a bril-
liant conversationalist, and talks inter-
estingly upon all subjects, having a
wealth of information, to which she adds
q charming touch of humor and original
ity. She tells q story well and is equally
quick to appreciate and enjoy any anus
ing incident at her own expense.
Mrs. Dewey. although confessing to As
years, is decidedly youthful in appear
ance. She Is not many inches over five
feet in height, being much shorter than
Admiral Dewey, Her figure is beautifully
rounded, and she Is stylish to a marked
degree. and dresses always in exceeding
good taste. She has been described as a
demi-brunette. but her friends prefer to
class her among the dark blondes. Her
hair is fairly light, with Just a touch of
copper color.
Mrs. Dewey is a woman OF perfect man.
ner. She has exquisite grace and really
aristocratic bearing. The years of expe-
rience she has had In Washington society
have brought her unequaled tact and cul-
ture together with rare conversational
ability. There Is In her talk the very
slightest suggestion of the foreigner. She
is as enthusiastic and talks as rapidly as
a French woman. There are moments
when her gesticulations are even more
eloquent than her words. She Is never
at loss to convey her meaning.
In 1880 Gen. Hazen became chief signal
officer of the army. and the Hazers moved
to Washington, where as wife and widow
she has occupied so prominent a part in
the social life of the national capital. On
the death OF her husband In 1887, she went
to live with her mother MIS-. Washington
Mclean. in the magnificent mansion orig
finally built by Boss Sheppard" who re-
constructed the national capital. 1t was a
roomy, imposing house that had been &C.
cupied by the Russian legation. and had
been the scene of many grand function.
A year ago her second child, John, born
in 1876. died. and since then she has been
fn mourning.
This story would not be complete with
out some slight reference to the love af-
fairs through which Mrs. Dewey has pass
ed since the death of her soldier husband
or, rather, the love affairs that might have
been imposed upon her had she been VIII
ling There have been many suitors for
her heart and hand. No one may now say
how they came or how they went, but It
Is quite plain that they were all turned
away, some perhaps promptly, some per-
haps not. At all events. they passed. and
It remained for the admiral to be the sue
cessfuI wooer. Among those that tried and
failed whisper includes Hilary A. Herbert
who was secretary OF the navy; Gen. Scho-
field and Adjt Gen. Corbin. If they would
permit themselves to be interviewed they
might have some interesting stories TO tell
OF lie proud beauty who respected the
memory OF her first love until the second
came with the victory Of Manila bay.