The Washington herald., 1909-02-09
WASHINGTON CHAT.
~ THE sPEcTAToR.

I 4
his latter days. and made her and her
mother wanderers FOR a number OF years
William Worth BeIknap was President
Grants Secretary Of War, position Civ
en- him by that military Executive IN rec
ognition Of his gallant services IN the
volunteer army throughout the civil war.
IN which he gained the rank of major
general Gen. Belknap was a great
hearted. big souled man Of real ability.
His first wife was a beautiful, graceful.
and cultivated woman, and their home
in Madison place was one OF the most
! popular Official centers IN Washington
Mrs Belknap died in Gen. Grants first ad-
ministration after a long and cruel III
ness. Not long after his wifes death.
Mr. Belknsp married her sister, and Of
/ this marriage Alice Belknap. who has re-
/ Gently become Mrs. van Kaathoven. was
] the only. offspring. The second Mrs.
Beiknsp was even more noted for her
lavish hospitality than her sister. She
! entertained from the beginning Of the sea
son 20 the end, and was the center OF as
brilliant a circle as ever cOngragated-
Her beauty was lauded. her bon mOts
we're quoted. but at the very zenith Of her
popularity a scandal arose that astCnlshed
and shocked the people at the Capital,
/ which IN the DAYS following the war were
Injured TO scandal II WAS charged that
! Gen. Belknap had used his Office for
his personal ends and sold the Indian
post traderships for his own advantage
/ The whole country was alarmed and out
I ragged AZ such nnalfeassnce. and before
- -aF.-
i BeIknap resigned Like many Of his as
soeiates In those days ne was q careless
administrator. his work was left more or
less to subordinates. and things went on
under his nose OF which he had no cog
nizance as was sbundsntIy established
by his friends later, who proved that Mrs.
Belknsp had been the guilty one, that It
was she who had sold the post trader
ships and she only who had benefited by
the sales, the returns from which had
furnished the means for the lavish enter
tanning for which she had become noted,
but with knightly chivalry Gen BeIk-
nap mad taken the whole guilt upon him
self and bore his burden uncOmplaingly
and CALAMITY until his death
The end OF the story is pathetic !n the
extreme Mrs. Belknsp with her it;ls
daughter left az once for Europe. where
she remained for some fifteen or sixteen
years. while her husband made his home
in Washington. q saddened. broken-heart-
ed man. but still possessed Of many
friends whose belief in his innocence had
remained mistaken, and who admired bin
Tor HIS course when the charges Of which
ne was gUiltless were brought. In assu:n-
ing them All himself. and allowing no
pablic stigma OF reproach 20 be placed
upon his wife
Mrs. Beiknap returned 10 America some
fifteen years ago. when she introduced
her daughter 10 society. which had for
gotten her past. and accepted Alice for
her fathers sake, for her own personal
qualities. and her great beauty. for Alice
Belknap was a beautiful girl. with an ex-
qulsite complexion, blue eyes, fringed
with black Iashes, and a mass OF blond
hair. Al the end Of two years she mar
ried Barkl5e Henry, OF Philadelphia This
seemed a brilliant match. when al things
were considered. and one that promised
happiness, but Il developed that there
vas nothing congeuisI between the two.
and after a few years E-rs Henry S
friends IN washington began 10 hear of
cisagreements. which terminated IN her
divorce Her marriage 20 Dr. van Kaat-
| h0ven. memDer OF the old Philadelphis
family OF that name. which took place
! in California the other day. was not IN
expected. for he had long been sssiduous
in bis attentions, and when she vss ILv-
ing IN Dakota had visited her there
. Dr.. van Kaathoven Is several years
younger than his wife a brilliant and
clever man. They vii make their home
in California
II is said by them closest 10 him that
Attorney General Bonaparte wiz lay
down his portfolio without regret with
the incoming administration. which seems
strange, since he was one CT the most
strenuous members OF the Cabinet when
he was first appointed to the head OF the
Navy Department. and even when he
: vas transferred 10 his present post. But
nearly four years Of Cabinet life should
be enough to satisfy the ambition OF
. any statesman. for the duties are exact
ing, the rewards not commensurate with
the Iabors and sacrifices. criticism con
stsnt. and glory rare. Mr. Bonaparte
holds a unique position in America. He
{ is the grandson Of a king. and his father
stood IN direct line Of inheritance tc
E the throne Of France. When Louis Ma
= poleon. by that historic coup. made him.
self emperor in 1851. he offered 10 his
nephew. jerome BonapaTte the son oi
! his brother. the King Of Westphalia- and
: beautiful Betty Patterson. OF Baltimore
: the privilege Of being his successor. with
, the rank Of imperial prince. This ar
: arrangement would have been a SOP to the
Catholic party in France. for the mar
rage OF Jerome Bonaparte and Betty
Patterson. OF which the Attorney Gen
, erals father was the only offspring, had
always been upheld by the Popes. and
Napoleon's recognition OF II could not
! have failed but strengthened him with ths
Catholic element Jerome BonapaTte went
, 10 Paris as the guest OF Napoleon III &c
discuss the matter. was lodged al The
, Elysee Palace. and treated as an hOnOTed
I relative. but nothing came OF Il. Like
= Caesar. he refused the crown, and re-
. turned 10 this country to I've the life oi
an American citizen Nor was his son
: the late Charles Bonapa-te. tempted by
: the offers made By his family and theil
supporters TO become their candidate FOR
the throne OF France An American Nc
was born. and an American he remained
/ 10 the end Of his days His son jerome
and his brother Jerome are equally loya
20 the country that gave their beautifs
grandmother birth, and. while they mus
always have peculiar interest in French
politics Il Is an entirely impersonaI in
teTest. and there is no one OF the Amerj-
can Bonspartes in this generation who
Will claim the French crown. nor vii
there be in the next, since Attorney Gen.
eral BOnaparte has no children and HI.
nephew, Jerome Is unmarried
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