Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1903-01-11


dangerous expeditions. The record OF
Fremont's life and services is part OF
the country's history, and even the share
in his labors taken by his wife who was
his private secretary and amanuens1s'
cannot be here adequately described. She
would go to meet him at the frontier, IN
the country Of the Delaware Indians. at
the times appointed for his return. join
ing him sometimes in tent, or a log
cabin, and in various scenes of western
adventure. Familiar with alno every
shade and grade Of society," she said that
she found "as much grace of hospitality.
though necessarily not outward show. III
a log cabin Of the pra1ries, or a farm
house on California rancho, as in the
Faubourg Saint German, or at princes
Of the Bcnaparte blood, or in the refined
home OF an English gentleman" At her
dinner table. Delaware chiefs. in courtesy
and Difference to others, have rivalled
the high bred ease of men accustomed TO
the elegant culture of the best society.
"A Norman elder Of much power and
many wives has been her guest, and she
entertained and has been entertained
Through not only the gamut but the
chromatic. scale of society"
GENERAL FREMoNTs COUP.
General F'renont's first expedition to
the Rocky mountains terminated in Oc-
tober, 1912. His second beyond that bar
rier was accomplished In July 1913. He
arrived in the Valley of the Sacramento
In May, l846. There was imminent dan
ger of the subsection OF California to
British protection. for during two cen
turtles England had had her eye on that
rich province, and now expected to seize
it in the Mexican war, then approa ching
At the critical moment General Fremont
snatched the possession from the hands
of Admiral Seymour, already stretched
out to clutch 1t, and conquered the coun-
try, securing 1t forever to the United !.
States. The result Of this service was
Mrs. Fremont's first experience in the
agreeable batteries of society. The gov
.rnment was pleased at the acquisition
of new territory without the cost of a
war. and pleased with the man who had
taken it on his own responsibility. In
Washington Mrs. Fremont received the
tokens of this satisfaction, complimentary
letters, the honored seat at dinners, from
the Presidents house through the circle.
Then followed the quarrel uetween the
land and water forces in California, which
turned the class feeling Of the army
against Fremont. causing animosity and
dnels, till he came home to be subjected
, to a trial by Court-martial. Resigning his
place, he went overland, in the winter.
to California, where he invested money
in lands that formed a magnificent estate.
Mrs. Fremont followed him in March.
but was detained seven weeks on the 18TH
| mus of Panama by the want OF a connect
ing steamer, and suffered severely from
the experience o. the tropics She was
| Hospitality received and attended by the
! family of General Herran. the minister
| of New. Grenada, whom she had known
in Washington, and on her return in the
| following year. when detained a month
by illness, she was again received by
l. 1n,o fn so Tor l,rcy s%o1s
The fourth expedition to California was
commenced in October 1s4s. General Ere
mont wished to prepare for the reception
| of his family. Mrs. Fremont accompanied
him as far as government post in Kan
| sas, just out of Missouri, and spent the
| day at her husbands encampment, her
| lodging being at the house of an Indian
agent. "A vast wilderness thence stretched
| westward, beyond the advancing march
IF civilization
In California, in the rough days of
1S49 when there was gold and nothing
else. Mrs. Fremont found a new expert
ence. Society had no existence, and men.
were released from all forms and obliga-
tons except such as individual conscience
might impose. Her experience confirmed
her fathers judgment, that there was
| more good than evil in human nature.
Especially had she reason to be convinced
of that native refinement and goodness
| of American men, which is so continually
the subject of establishment to foreigners
travelling in this country.
| The residence of Mrs. Fremont in CALI
fornia was at Monterey. Gold was not yet
abundant, and the fullest tide of emigra1
ton had not yet set In. Provisions we're
usually obtained from the Sandwich
Islands. Her only assistant in domestic
iabors was an English woman who had
emigrated from Sidney. The liberal hos
pita'ity exercised ia her house with such
limited help excited the wonder Of the
residents. The convention for making
Constitution for the State OF California
sat at Monterey. and many interests ia
vored the Introduction Of slavery. No.
servants could be had where labor was SO
highly paid in other branches. The mines
could not be worked at the tremendous
price and uncertainty of labor; and to the
owners 1t was the difference between
vast fortunes and slow and precarious res
turns for certain expenditures. There was
hesitation In the decision of the conven-
! ton Mrs. Fremont hau the pleasure Of
being assured that the practical evidence
of her example convinced many that
| home comfort and a liberal and cheerful
hospitality were possible without servants
Her experience was within the sight and
knowledge Of those voting on the question,
| and largely aided III the decision for free,
dom in California. 5s 81 9gsss.sssss,s
Mrs. Fremont had her full share IN
the adventure OF western life. At one
time. for six mont his. she was not once
| In house sleeping In travelling carr
lsriage and moving about during the day
When Jumps OF gold and bags Of gold
dust were brought down from the noun
tains there was no place TOR their: de-
post but under the carriage seat or IN
| her trunks at Monterey Some Spaniards5
9 wi IN