Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1899-10-15

( the most exquisitely beautiful women Of
her day. She was born in fredericksburg,
and was the great granddaughter OF
| Mary Washington and The niece OF
George Washington. She married, when
a slip of a girl one Mr.. Gray, who died
within a year afterwards. Her second
venture i'm matrimOny was more brilliant,
as she took as her husband Achille Mu-
rat. a nephew of the great Napoleon, son
of Caroline Bonaparte and Joachim Mu-
rat. Caroline's taste was for costly sur
rOundings. and her powerful brother pre-
scented to her as a bridal gift costly set
Of forks and spoons with several ladies',
which he had taken from Spanish mo-
mastery This magnificent service was Of
solid gold. with SeVres handles. IL passed
from Caroline TO her son, Achille, and
from him to his Virginia wife She died
childless, and bequeathed the plate TO her
brother, Mr.. George Willis, Of wood
Park" Loudoun county, Va. rms gem
tieman was so wealthy before the war
that he was known as the Gold Spoon
Wills" Afterwards his wealth diminish
ed and he sold his gorgeous gold forks
and spoons to his wifes first cousin. Mrs.
William K Vanderbilt, but he retained
the ladle himself. The young Duchess OF
Marlborough. rumor says, took the gold
plate 10 Blenheim with her.
The exhibition of Maryland silver
about four years ago I'm Baltimore, was
perhaps moro magnificent than the Rlch-
mond exhibit for war had scattered the
Virginia silver.
.,rhat sugar dish" said a Maryland
lady. pointing TO d quaint and chaste
heirloom. belonged 10 Charlotte Tree
rant Cross OF course, she was beautiful;
AN erandnothers are. Her husband was
Cautain william George Cross, OF South
Carolina He was but a boy AT the battle
of Fort MOultrie, but ne suppHeo liY
garrison with the last round OF amInu-
milton. though he had to pass through
hot fire from the enemy 10 get H. ne
boarded the British ship Action When
she was afire. struck the British colors
and carried them off with the snip oeil
in triumph" The Cross house IS one OF
the historic landmarks Of Charleston,
standing in quaint dignity at the corner
Of Meeting and Tradd streets.
An old Maryland teapot was the pro-
perty Of Colonel Thomas Lloyd Halsey, OF
Providence, r. l. Colonel Halsey was an
intimate friend OF Rocha mbeau, and en-
tertained him at the old Halsey house, IN
Providence. in 1916. The house still stands
on Prospect street, con the Hill" When
Rochambeau was there II was In the
midst of green fields. Now ii is in the
centre Of 2. fashionable street. The tea
Dot and the old tankard have passed
from this historic mansion to descendants
! OF Colonel Halsey, who live in Baltimore.
At the Maryland Exhibition large
punch bowl attracted much attention. II
/ was the property of Mrs. Charles Howard,
| the last surviving child Of Francis Scott
Key. The bowl once belonged TO ColoneI
/ John Eager Howard who kept open
1 house at famous "Belvidere." There this
bowl set upon the sideboard, and was al
ways trimming with apple toddY.
John Eager Howard was only 80 az the
| close OF the Revolutionary War, In which
he greatly distinguished himself Soon af-
ter the war ne married Margaretta, one
OF the beautiful Mss Chews. of "Clire-
! den" where the battle of Germantown
xyas fought This old mansion sim stands,
with balls imbodded in It's solid 'front.'.
! Miss Chew had a history. Major Andre
was engaged TO her. The night before ne
| left philadelphia on mis- fatal errand he
wrote her the following verses, when
have never before been published:
" II at the close of war and strife
nv destiny once more
Should IN the various paths OF lie
Conduct me TO this shore;
Should British banners guard the lahu'
And faction be restrained,
And Clireden's mansion peacetul stahu
No more with blood bestained-
say. Wit thou then receive again
And welcome to thy sight
The youth who bids with stitied pain
This sad farewell tonight
A Baltimore nrm has two agents ira
yelling through Virginia in search OF an
tiques, silver, cid mahogany, ana emma.
TO many an impoverished household TINS
win be a great temptation. but IN hine
cases out OF ten the pinch OF grim want
will be infinitely less painful than part
ing with these cherished herl0oms.
-.ts RUTH NELSON ROBINS.