Virginian-pilot. (Norfolk, Va.) 1898-1911, 1900-12-16

the presence of many slaves, at Il
country house. Finally it reached its
destination in Newcastle, and proved
to be-a skeleton all the way from
New York, with his teeth and his ribs
as white as snow-a beautiful skele-
ton for the Doctors office. The lady
who slept with it under her bed had
genteel fit of hysteria when she
heard of him, for no man. dead or
alive. is welcome to rest under a lady's
bed.
MRS. HAMILTON.
Mrs. Sarah Hamilton, as she is now,
represents, therefore. Il lady identified
with all that was worth remembering
of Newcastle and the county's past,
When she was born it was Botetourt
county, and her home was near Fin
castle, on the old stage line between
Charleston and Lynchburg. She was
sent TO school in the distant towns
and was furnished with governess
and dancing master, and was in her
young days a fine lady in fine attire.
such as one may see in an old copy of
Godey's Magazine. That meant a good
deal in those days, for as far back as
1870 her father, with his own slaves,
built turnpike across the mountain
known by his name, and which his
grandfather had purchased from the
Crown of EnglaSi With French and
in the West.
Before this turnpike there was only
n bridal path, and pack horses brought
all the settlers luXuries to them. After
that the great conneStoga wagons
came, and they were on a public stage
line. Thus has this lady witnessed
with her own eyes the packhorse, the
connestoga, the freight train, come con-
secutively to her door with the COM
forts for her life.
Indians in war paint and blankets, dis
tlnguished chiefs in all the glory of
their ancient tribes, on their way from
Washington. where they went TO sign
a treaty. stopped at her home and re-
manned few days, being entertained
ped also as they returned over the
great western trail, and jabbered to
her father their childish observations
on the capital of the republic.
In those days the itinerant shoe
maker and weaver. and seamstress
were necessary adjuncts to the large
householder. And occasionally there
came an artist With his kit of old
world pigments and his clumsy brush
and courtly manners, as befit fine
gentleman. From one OF these rowing
artists, | learn in his published biogra-
ply. which some friend sent your cor
respondent 81 few years ago. that Mrs.
Hamilton-then Mrs. Wharton-was n
n
younger sister, Sophia, who afterwards
became the wife of n Southern planter.
DR.. Hugh M. Grant. OF Selma, Ala
bnma was once dainty girl Of L.
whose soft, black curls and rosy
cheeks to say nothing of her coquetry
and musical accomplishments. quite
won the artists heart. and he confessed
in his autobiography, published nearly
fifty years later, that he would have
returned to make her his bride had he
nj 1aHA
weather. gentleman. This artists por-
trait. rainted by himself. was presented
to Sophia, and is yet n solemn. bearded
ghost OF past generation. and know
irg his pretty story, having read his
love-lctters and read his autobiography
and heard the legend many times of
the intercepted letters | know that
hearts were just as warm and far more
true than they are to-day. away back
In 1910 or so. The artist I refer to be-
came successful one; was pupil OF
Tom Sully, in Philadelphia, and 1t was
from Sully's studio that the letters
were sent.
Mrs. DR.. Grant lived to be GO years
old, and read the artists autobiogra-
ply published--all her dainty coGuet-
ries, and her bushes and her smiles
recorded in cold type, and also the
gentleman's ardent and undimmed ad-
miration-before she died. If she had
any opinions on the subject she never
expressed them. 1t is certain, however
that she was very happily married to
DR.. Grant. Mrs. Hamilton was twice
happily married being the widow OF
Samuel Hamilton, OF West Virginia
She is still fine looking woman, with
strong. intellectual face. Her OBJ
servations of the changes that have
taken place during her life time. in all
branches of science. with which she
has kept up. and of this part of the
country. which is still primitive are
quite interesting to one who studies
the march of man.
E. S. G.