Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1907-07-08
THE CADWALADER CASE.
Widow Coming Back to Take Up cud-
gel in Serial War.

PHILADELPHIA, July 8.-When the
ashes of DR.. Charles F. Cadwalader. leader
of Philadelphia fashion ten years ago, IA
nous scientist author soldier and art con-
noisseur. were buried with military honors
Wednesday In old Christ churchyard. after
having been lost for three days IN New
York's custom house. his family, proudest
of Phladelphia's old aristocracy. took ex-
traordinary precautions to prevent Mrs
Cadwalader. the widow. from coming I'M
expectedly to the church.
All Is part of one of the most sensational
social wars that has ever ragged In the east.
and one of the most curious and tragic ro-
mances since that of King Cophetua and
his beggar maid
DIR. Cadwalader married his housemaid.
Mary Bridget Ryan. Of Irish peasant orr
gin. He married her. he said. because she
had such beautiful hands and because In
her three years service for him she never
broke a cup OF his valuable china, never
nicked curio and never injured single
one of the delicate scientific instruments
with which he carried on his researches.
Social chieftain that he was. of family
that held the purity of Its stock almost be-
fore its religion. this marriage OF DR.. Cad
walader caused storm in Philadelphia
society the equal Of which has never yet
been seen Renowned by his family. os-
tracised by the society of which he had
been absolute ruler. the old scientist Che
was fifty-seven when he espoused the Irish
maid who was then only twenty fought
for five years the bitterest kind of battle to
win social recognition for his wife. That
battle makes one of the most curious. sad
dest. merriest and tragic pages IN Philadel-
phia history. Failing in his fight, he threw
his last defiance down at the feet OF his
old clan, and with his wife went into exile
in London. There two years later son
was born to him. In March this son died.
Tlr saIr lad
after and died from a broken heart
If Mrs. Cadwalader carries out the COM
mands of the Old leader there will be In
augurated when she reaches Philadelphia
one Of the bitterest social wars ever known.
At least, there will be an explosion. and
some pretty details concerning the spirit
ing away of the ashes 1t may be. of
course. that the widow will decide to re-
turn and live in the great house in Prince
of Wales Gardens that DR.. Cadwalader
made palace for her.
1t was through his pride In his collection
and his bric-a- brac that DIR. Cadwalader's
romantic love for his housekeeper was
born. Mary Bridget Ryan. a native-bOrn
Irish girl. of sunny disposition and rosy
cheeks. came into the mansion as house
maid. Mary Bridget Ryan was then only
seventeen. 1t is doubtful whether she
could even read or write. Nevertheless In
two years she had studied so hard that she
could have passed better examination
than many of DR.. Cadwalader's own kind.
1t is not known just when DIR. Cadwalader
first noticed his housemaid's beautiful
hands. but in the spring of 1897 society
was Mortified by the announcement that
its chief was about to take Mary Bridget
as his bride.
Mary Bridget Ryan. now Mrs. Cadwala-
der. welcomed society with dignity and
hearty handshakes. Society sneered and
laughed One daring bud had the impu-
dence to wish the bride long happiness and
to add: BE careful and break nothing.
Bridget" After the reception the war was
on. Society came no longer to the 4th
street mansion AT the New Year day
following the wedding not a carriage rolled
up to the Cadwalader doors.
For five years the old aristocrat fought.
and then he threw open his house at one
last reception to the plain people Poll
ticians. poor Stun dwelers. all who
| would come were welcome. They drank
OF the famous Cadwalader punch and ex-
| claimed at the Cadwalader collections Mrs
Cadwalader received them Then the doc
! tor gave up the battle. and in November
| 1904 society was again startled by the an
| nouncement that all the effects of the Cad
| walader home would be sold at public auc-
| ton. While the auction lasted social lead
| ers fought with one another for the relics
| Two well-known women once fast friends
| became bitter enemies as result of the
| Cadwalader sale.
| DIR. Cadwalader and his wife took UT
| their residence in great house at Bat
| telsea. in the Prince of Wales Gardens
| and there the son was born. Under her
husbands tutelage Mrs. Cadwalader had
| made tremendous intellectual studies She
| had assisted him in a book on Chinese
science and literature that he had been
writing and learned Chinese to aid him
| From loving her for her beautiful hands
| and her care of his treasures he grew tc
! love her for her brains and wit. Then the
| son died, and the scientist. humanized by
the child. could not stand the loss.