Freeland tribune. (Freeland, Pa.) 1888-1921, 1903-01-14
Mrs. John C. Fremont In Her California
Home.
A QUIET OLD ACE.

Home.
Privations of the Western frontier
and life at the courts of Europe form
the two extremes in the romantic ca
1eer Of Mrs. Jessie, Benton Fremont
who Is enjoying the closing years Of
her life in Los Angeles, Cal.
A Yirginian by birth, plunged at four
teen into the brilliant society which
gathered about her father, Senator Ben
,aton, in Washington, she eloped at six
teen with a fascinating young lieuten-
ant, John G. Fremont.
+ Though she returned almost jmme-
diately to her fathers home, she aided
>and abetted the schemes and explora-
tions which brought her husband such
renown as the "Pathfinder;" shared his
conquest Of California, which meant to
him not only political honors, but the
possession of gold mines as well; re-
turned with him to Washington when
California sent him there as her first
Senator, and in the heyday of his pros
perity and National fame queened it
royalty in st. Louis in a little court of
her own. From this she expected to
return to Washington to reign as mis-
tress Of the White House. but General
Fremont was defeated by Buchanan in
the Presidential race.
This disappointment was drowned in
foreign trip, made memorable by the
high honors with which General FIRE.
mont and his wife We're received at the
J English and European courts, where
the beauty and wit Of the accomplished
Mrs. Fremont made strong impress
sion. A good linguist and accustomed
from infancy to distinguished and cos
mopolitan society, she made many
warm friends. Among them was the
Empress Eugene, with whom she still
corresponds.
Mrs. Fremont's old age is spent In
her charming Los Angeles home-a
spacious two-story cottage presented to
her by the women Of California. At
the advanced age OF seventy-six, Mrs.
Fremont retains much of her bril-
uancy anG beauty. 1t is difficult to
think of her as old, or even helpless,
although she practically is so, owing
to q broken hip. which confines her
uuiihS lie udy ~ an luNullu CuulI
Before this catastrophe, two years ago,
she was the gayest of the gay, and the
accident is another of those pat illus
trations of the old saying that pride
2eth before a fall. 1t happened at
the time that she was rejoicing in
glorious sense of health in which she
Doasted one day, and in an excess of
spirits danced across the floor to dis
play her eXuberant vitality. But she
did not reckon on that snare or snares
rugs on polished floor. There was
a slip and a slide and down she went,
her walking as well as her dancing
days forever over,
She is of large build, wherein she
takes after her distinguished father,
Senator Benton, who was over six feet
and Of powerful physique. She has
strong, handsome, aristocratic features
and an expressive countenance, with
q regal poise of head and mien SO ma
jestic that as she sits and bows a
smile of welcome to her visitor she
gives the effect of q gracious parsonage
receiving in state. The bow is accom-
panied-if the visitor takes her fancy
,Sby wave of the hand to indicate the
seat nearest her, for this grande dame
is little deaf and does not participate
as much as formerly in the general
conversation.