The Washington times., 1904-08-28
The Story of a Kentucky
Lad Who Fell Into a
Legacy of Mystery.
Lewis Alexander and
His Marvellous Life and
Eccentric Father.
Born to Riches and Dis
tlnction, Has Made His
Own Way in the World.

MI LA. an ole rayriad-wr,nkled
negro woman. lay dying IN the
dimly lighted second-story
back room % the frame building at
S. { Street northwest. Gathered near
her bedside were n few white persons
who had known OF her roo5 work. ana
had come % comfort her IN her last
hours on earth, In the ants-roon OF the
death chamber was q priest who. having
administered the sacrament Of extreme
unetion. was making ready 20 leave the
house Tor the night promising ne would
return in the morning.
As the night wore on. the little group
looked synDatheticaily at the diving
woman, and spoke 20 one another IN
whispers as they noted the patients
gradually falling strength Occad onaIly
her half-siGhtless eyes would LOOK
searchingly around the dsrkened room
and words OF inquiry would fan indis-
tinctly from her lips.
HAS Lewis Gomez"
While in the attitude of apparent
prayer, the friends OF the old woman
Z we're awakened from their meditations
BY the movement OF the patient, and. sit
weight upon her left arm. the old ,1e-
gress looked mysteriousIy around the
room again
Has Lewis Gomez she asked. ad-
dressing one OF the attendants.
For answer there was rcEretfuI shak-
ing Of the head by a sympathetic young
white woman. who had known some
thing OF the old wcman's Kindness.
Lewis is sick. my dear" said this
sweet-fsced friend. Don't SOU remem-
Der? He wrote you that he was In the
hospital. He loves you. and he will
come 90 you l. he possibly can. Per
haps he will be here in the morning"
she added, pressing the old negress'
hand tenderly in her own.
A Deathbed Request
II wish he was here" said the dying
woman II want 90 see him nov-be-
fore ! go Lewis-Lewis-Lewis she
repeated. as though she were giving
him her benediction rather than sum-
moning him TO her side.
Go TO sleep. dear said her stten-
dant. Lewis will come to you IN the
morning. 1 have the papers you gave
me, and I'll give them to him as soon
as he comes"
The papers inquired the dying wo-
man. The pIPers? Yes; yes-the pa
pers. Lewis-Lewis. The papers. Don't
forget--to give Lewls-the papers. Tel
him-tell him-to keep them-always.
He will-un-der-stand." and closing
her eyes, the old negress turned her
wrinkled face toward the wall and went
quietly TO sleep.
An hour later she was dead, and on
the third day. when her funeral had
been preached at st. Cyprian's Church.
they buried her reverently in Mount
Oiivet Cemetery.
A Remarkable NegTess.
In the death Of this old negro woman
Mary Alexander AlmaroIia-there
passed away one Of the most remark
able members OF the African race
known in the District OF Columbia with
in the last half century. and with her
burial Is disclosed a secret that has
shocked inexpressibly political and So
cial circles in Washington, in Ken
lucky and wherever American diplo-
ulatists meet the world over.
II is one Of those stories that prove
incontestably that truth is indeed
stranger than fiction. and that the mys-
teTies and miseries Of human life arc
living realities, and not the prJGuct II
imagination alone.
Strange Story of Her Life.
Mary Alexander Aimarolia was the
daughter Of Mike Simmer. an almost
thoroughbred negro. Her mother was
also OF African descent The daughter
was attractive in her early womannood.
and. though dark-skinned. was married
TO an Italian OF gentle birth, who. hav-
ing quarreled with HIS parents In the
old country. had sought 70 win his for
tune In the United States
Extraordinarily talented she studied
under his direction. and became IN ac-
complished linguist and musician. she
read. wrote. and readily understood
English. French. German. Spanish. and
Italian Accompanying her husba nd,
she Travelled widely in Europe. visiting
ell tho capitals, and becoming IN ner
younger days a recognized figure in So
cial circles OF a certain class in Eng
land and on the Continent.
Service in the Civil War.
During the civil war. she was an
ardent Union synipathizers. and was
helpful TO the Federal authorities IN
Washington and in London. Her ac-
ouaintance with prominent politicians
and army officers at the National Capt.
tai was more extensive than that Of any
other negro woman on the continent
On more than one occasion she dis
Euised herself and worked as a cook
on trans-Atlantic steamships In order
20 get valuable information from Con-
federates and Confederate symparhiz-
trs. who were passengers 20 and frors
Europe
Returns to Washington.
In the early seventies. when her hus-
band died, she returned TO Washington,
where she had inherited property from
her father, Litigation followed. misfor-
tune overlook her and the gales of ne
eessity blew somewhat pitilessiy against
her In heT straitened circumstances.
she iapsed into a vocation which not a.
few women OF her race have found me-
rative IN large urban centers through
out the country. Among her % irons
were persons not a little distinguished
IN American social and political life
She was regarded as 2 woman Of re-
msrkable discretion. tactfulness. and