The times., 1899-09-20
MADGE EATON IN HER DAY.
Reminiscent Tales Told by Blind
Chaplain Miiburn.
From the St. Louis Globe-Democrat.)

(From the st. Louis Globe-Democrat)
The Methodist Episcopal ministers re-
Gently passed hearty vote OF thanks to
Chaplain Milburn, of the United States
Senate, for an address which he gave them
reminiscent of the Senate before the Civil
War. There was ample reason Tor this
vote of thanks. The Methodist ministers
for years, probably, have not heard any
thing so spicy as this address OF DR. Mil
burn. Although blind man. Dr. Milburn
has managed, during his fifty years in
Washington, TO see a good many things
below the surface OF political Life which are
not recorded in the histories. He has his
own opinions, and expresses them, con-
corning several great events OF the nations
life.
Part of his talk was a semi-hunorous
account of the influence of the famous Mrs
Eaton, whom the women Of General Jack
sons Cabinet ostracized. Her revenge on
Mrs Calhoun" said DIR. Milburn, was
the defeat of John C. Calhoun for the
Presidency. l believe if Calhoun had been
elected President after General Jackson
that there would have been no secession,
and the civil war would have been aYerted
He was not elected, because of Madge
Eaton. You may talk about a niger in
the brush pile when there is going TO be
trouble but if there is woman in the
brush pile it is always a great deal worse
Mrs. Eaton's mother kept the boarding
house where Calhoun took his meals. MIS-
Eaton was a very beautiful woman, who
had been the wife of another man. and
married General Eaton after there had
been great dese of unpleasant tax about
her.
General Eaton was a member of Jack
sons Cabinet. Jacksons own wife had
been assailed SO malieiousIy that when
everyone was disposed to treat Mrs. Eaton
coldly the President sympathized with her.
And Mrs. Eaton also had the gift of CAB,
and was very amiabls. Jackson espoused
her cause, and ordered the wives cf all
the Cabinet officers 10 treat her as one OF
themselves. But the women had wills OF
their own, and, although Mrs. Eaton was
a lovely woman. she was cut by this one
and that one. Mrs. Calhoun would have
nothing to do with her, and Calhoun fol-
lowed his wifes example.
Madge Eaton all this time was keeping
a little account of the way she was re-
ceiyed by the women, and the name of
everyone who snubbed her was put down
on her blacklist. And Calhoun's was there
in large letters. Finally Jackson said, To
the victor belongs the spoils.' This phrase
ought not to have the ugly meaning that
IS sometimes given to it. Jackson meant
to Vindieate his wife He dismissed scores
of officeholders because they had spoken
against his wife. That was the way that
the spoils belonged to the victor. Mrs.
Eaton was invited TO the Presidents house,
and mingled Familiarity with his family.
But Mrs Calhoun left Washington rather
than recognize her. The outcome of il III
was that Calhoun's political hopes were
blasted, and Van Buren, who was
widower, and had treated Mrs Eaton with
studied politeness, came into power in
Calhoun's place.
The blind chaplain was favorahly dis
posed toward the much talked about wife
of General Jackson. she was said Dr.
Miburn, "one of the IoTeliest women God
ever created" Mrs. Eaton's life was traced
by DR.. Milburn beyond Jackson's Adminis-
tration, and he gave an amusing account of
her little speech at the reception given BY
Mrs Polk when Polk WAS President This
was during DR.. Milbdrn's first term as
chaplain of Congress, and he himself heard
the cutting remarks of Mrs. Eaton. she
had been in Spain with her husband for
eight years. said DR.. Milburn, ''and on
coming back to Washington she decided 10
call on Mrs. Polk and see how she would be
treated. 1t was a public reception day. As
soon as she came within sight of Mrs.
Polk Mrs. Eaton saw that Mrs. Polk was
not going to recognize her. But she paid
no attention, as she knew great many
of the representatives OF foreign countries,
and she stood smiling and bowling 10 all
She stationed herself near Mrs. Polk. and
smiled most graciously. and whenever any
one saluted Mrs. Polk that person received
a greeting in return from Mrs. Eaton
Presently Mrs. Eaton began TO talk tc
everybody in general. What a wonderful
country the United States was, she said, ana
how the poor, common people had an op-
portunity TO receive all the different repre-
sentative people of the various foreign
countries, just as she and Mrs. Polk were
receiving them that day. trd she and
Mrs Polk, she said, came from the very
poorest walks of life. Mrs. Polk there she
said who was receiving so beautifully, was
only the daughter OF a tavern keeper, who
used TO entertain the droyers on their way
from Nashville 10 Huntsville, Ala. And she
herself, Mrs. Eaton. was the daughter os
poor Irish boardinghouse keeper. After
this brilliant little speech. the ACCOMPLISH
ed Mrs. Eaton tripped down the steps OF
the White House, never to return"