El Paso daily herald. (El Paso, Tex.) 1881-1901, 1900-11-03
She WAS PETTED
BY LAFAYETTE
interesting "reminiscences
Of a Daughter of the
Revolution.
M AKES HER HOMF HERE
EI paso Is Honored in HAVING so OILS.
tlnouished a Daughter of the
Revolution as a Citizen

Susan Spratt Polk Rayner to the peo-
pie of FL Paso two weeks ago she has
been overrun with admiring visitors.
II is a rare opportunity of the students
of history to meet one so closely re-
lated with the great characters of the
country. and many have called to honor
her since learning that she is the
daughter of the revolutionary colonel.
In a life so full of important incl
dents covering a period of American
history so full of interest and SO close
ly related to the lives of Americas
greatest statesmen. a starting place
is difficult to find. Mrs. Rayner re-
calls so closely incidents in the lives
OF such men as Andrew Jackson. Ham,
ilton Fish. President Grant and others
that have never found their way into
the history of the country that an hour
with her is worth weeks in the best
libraries in our country.
She is one of the few Americans
living who was a personal acquain-
lance of General Lafayette. She was
a tiny tot when she met him but she
says she remembers the time well. In
1S24-5. when he last visited this coun-
try her father. Colonel William Polk
went in his carriage to the state line
to meet the nations guest Her broth
er. Thomas. was then captain of the
escorted the cortege across the state.
Lafayette was escorted to the Polk
mansion in Raleigh and spent almost
week with the distinguished politi-
clan While there he often took Mrs.
Rayner and her younger brother on
his knee and told them stories of the
revolution. He never forgot to men
ton the bravery and valor of the
American soldier and Is was these
stories that Mrs. Rayner remembers
so well. He called her his little pet
and never tired of her attentions and
pleas for a story.
After a week with her father Gen
eral Lafayette kissed her good bye and
went back to Washington to prepare
for his journey back to France.
Her memory of another great man
is Expressed thus: When was
seven years old my parents visited
their very dear friend General Andrew
Jackson. and | went with them to the
Hermitage. / remember his unlock
ing door and showing us his wifes
room. which had not been changed
since her death. On one side of the
fireplace hung a green baize contain
ing her tobacco and two pipes just as
she had left them. You know that his
devotion to her memory was beautiful
The next time | save General Jack
son was at the white house: / vas
nearly twelve years old. My brother
Lucius. who had married his niece.
took me to see him. He was in "A room
alone: before him on table was his
open bible. and by il lay the miniature
of his Wife
Her checkered career. checkered by
circumstance and mischance has
changed the good fortune of elegant
MONIES. surrounded with all that wealth
and the society of eastern capitals
could afford. but the association of the
people who created and preserved our !
country Is that not experienced by !
many. While now a citizen of a !
western city. she is as truly gentle !
as when her home was in Raleigh and !
washington. and entertains herself in |
the memory of olden times
Misfortune after misfortune has
sought TO wreck her earthly estate and |
while IL has not succeeded il has tied |
her possessions in legal disputes and
deprived her of the immediate use of |
her property. She is the sole owner
Of the land destroyed when Real Foot
lake fell in above Memphis. This was
the property of her father by grant
rom hte general government When
me land sank and was covered by wa
Ter Colonel Polk had more land than
ne could look after and paid no atten-
non to ii. a few years ago. however.
when Mrs Rayner's friends in con-
sress learned that she was in need of
ne property. bill was introduced to
pay her $4,000 Ior it. The land is
now being reclaimed from the water
md much of it can be cultivated. The
Dill Will likely he changed this win
-er TO pay her twice that amount for
Z.
Colonel Polk once owned over 80. 900
lcres OF land near Memphis. and Hon.
Kenneth Rayner. Mrs. Rayner's hus-
,and. owned equally as much. but most
IF il was sold when cheap to paw for :