The Birmingham age-herald., 1907-10-31
NOTES OF THE WEEK
 IN SOCIETY WORLD MT. DeLeOn on Beaux and BelIeS
 of the Sixties
SOME BEA9TIES OF PAST
The Fame of the Lovely Matte oud. Reminescences of an Alabama Belle, Now Mrs. Semnes
 of New Orleans.

Mr T. C. DeLeon's remarkably inter esting series of "Beles Beaux and Brains of the oos4 are being widely real Many beauties of the present century are learning more about the belles in theif families than they could possibly ever know, these exceedingly entertaining me- moirs of MT. DeLeon sayoring of some of the very delightful manuscripts that have emanated from countries more steeped, perhaps, ill romance, than in our own-france, for example. MT. DeLeon himself noted beau of the period of which he writes, is well able To prepare two or three volumes of interesting reeol- lections of noted beauties, belles and beaus of that tinre. There are certain bellies who would easily require a whole volume.
 In the series AIr DeLeon says: II is q singular coincidence that the two most noted beauties of the Richmond of the past should have come from the same household
 In common wGtli all who have repute for wit. Miss Mat5ie Ould had had many things attributed to her which she not only did not say, but could not have said. Perhaps the most tl=iveled one of these is that, when foend once with her head upon Gen. Pierce NJ. B. Young's lapel she only remarked cpolly:
 There's nothing odd about it; it Is only an old head upon young shoulders,' The thing is not like Miss Ould in either of it's aspects. Audacious az she was beautiful, the girl was no fool ever and only such publish little affairs. if they have them. Moreover, Young himself. on the last meeting we had previous to his death, told me that there was not tho least Foundation for the story He added in his blunt way, I never knew Miss ould very well and never had such lu,k as that
 Young was reckless and essentially a
 flirt,' as the slang goes, but in a cose intimacy covering years l never lnew him 10 lie, and l do know of more than one case in which he went out if his way to see that justice was done to a woman's reputation.
 Wo eAdIlples or MISS ould $ quchHesS l can personally vouch for. Sho}tly be- fore her marriage she was at a dnner in Richmond with several lawyers one of whom was noted Munchaustd; he was also q desperate drinker and held long ] sessions. lie was boasting of ne case in Which he had earned a s3O0o fee, and then spent il in single spree Her table naiplhDt4 uSl | ia credited the story. Her answer was rompt: I might doubt the stored carr but he's all right for that animated blstt
 Miss Mattie Onld did not enter her teens until the war was a yer old. At it's close and shortly thereafte, she had made perhaps wider reaching fame than any belle of the 60s Forced irto society when but a child her striking and pe- cular beauty had added to if il resistless manner and q wit that literally startled by it's andaeity and point M,n raved about her and women praised although she was the cause of many a lnights reereancy. But dazzling as was her beauty, II was probably her mental oIlgi- nality and her indescribable magnetism that made this mere girl marked figure among the noted women about her But her early triumphs were not presage e a bright or happy future. She did not hve to reach their full frution. Soon aftG the war. and while still in her teens, shf surprised her friends and set busybodies wondering by marrying Oliver SchooI. craft. Almost without d honeymoon tho gifted and beautiful young girl died. But young as she was, her beauty stands clear today on the memory of all who knew her. and Richmond men and women are still repeating her epigrams.
 Late in life General Ould made A sec ond marriage, the lady being the we'll known widow Handy. The beauty and society fame of her daughter, Miss May Handy. had carried the name to the bounds of the Union ere the lady made 4 tardy choice and became the second wife of James Brown Potter of New York"
 or an Alabama belle, now Mrs Thomas J. Semmes of New orleans. Mr. DeLeon writes:
 Mrs. Semmes was a queen among hos tesses antebellum. As Miss Myra Eulalie Knox of Montgomery she had queened the bellehood of her own and other cities. When she married the rising and bril- liant lawyer she held her conquests In New Orleans, the watering places and in the capitals of the old and new federa- lions. Gracious. quck-witted. and diplo- Natic, she had been educated in the more solid as well as the showier accomplish nents. She was born actress and an admirable musician. playing the harp with especial grace and excellence. Her ae- | cpmplishments coined charity into legal i tender for many a Virginia camp and | hospital, and her tact gave enjoyment and | p,oflt to the pretty and gallant helpers l she conscripted So there was no more | oAen house than the one opposite the ex- | eeutive residence and it held a singulariy | notable 'mess:' Vice President Stephens her husbands colleagues. Senator Spar row and Senator Garland of Arkansas Another habtue of the Semmes house.