Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1910-07-17

But she did not remain in Boston long.
When Washington became President hs
made Gen. Knox Secretary OF War. and
in the capital. New York. Mrs. Knox
was soon in her element again. The
Washingtons and Knoxes lived in adjoin-
ing houses on Broadway. and the PresI-
dents wife and the younger woman were
like mother and daughter.
Mrs. Knox managed the court" as
some people called IL. TO perfection. and
when the capital was moved 10 Phila-
delphia she continued her sway there.
Soon after the move to Philadelphia there
was a great accession OF visitors of prom
inence TO America. The French revolu
ton had started and thousands OF mobiles
were hurled from affluence to poverty. To
Gen. and Mrs. Knox many OF them
brought letters OF Introduction from
French officers who had served with him.
There is a story OF one OF them. the Due
de Liancourt, who bewailed his fate TO
Mrs. Knox.
Alas. madam" he exclaimed what
accomplishments have ] that | may turn
TO a means of subsistence who have
three dukedoms on my head and not one
coat on my back?'
She got a coat OF the generals and
true that he did not have a coat. He
was more fortunate than many OF his
companions, for few years later his
possessions were restored to him, and
when he died he was one OF the richest
men of France. But for three years he
lived on the bounty OF Gen. Knox
Another visitor was Talleyrand. Crafty
man that he was, he sought to make II
appear that he knew no English and pre-
tended too great stupidity TO acquire IT.
He really wanted to hear Americans con-
verse without reserve, and perhaps hs
wanted to catch people of guard. But
Lucy Knox was too clever for him. She
laid trap for the great minister and
when he fell into it no one could he more
gracious than he in acknowledging her
skill.
For eleven years Gen. Knox was at the
head of the war office, and for those
eleven years Lucy Knox held undisputed
sway in social matters at the capital.
Then the general retired. His private
affairs demanded attention. He was not
wealthy. but his wife was. The riches
that had been her fathers came to her.
She had vast estate in Maine They
went there and at Thomaston built a
splendid mansion, palace in its din:en-
sions. This was furnished magni1cently.
They called the place Montpelier, and
here they entertained even more lavishly
than did the great landowners of Vir-
ginia.
1t was not unusual so great was the
number Of visitors, for an OK and twenty
sheep to be killed on Monday 10 provide
meat for the week Frequently the SER
wants had 100 beds to make up. The gen.
eral kept for his own and his friends
twenty saddle horses and several
pairs Of carriage horses. The hos
pitaiity was unbounded. Everything that
could be desired was provided that would
contribute to the entertainment or COM
fort of guests.
Here they had another flock of French
emigres as visitors. Here came 1alley-
rand and the Duke de Liancourt, from
Philadel phia, and many others. Here. to-.
came the Viscount de Troailes. brother
in-law of Lafayette: Lord Ashburton and
many prominent Americans.
While this gay party remained the wilds
of Maine were enlivened by the most bril-
liant of the society of the capital. for
Philadelphia furnished regiment OF
guests regularly for Montpelier.
A glorious place was Montpelier. but
when Gen. Knox died in 1905 it be-
came a place of gloom. Thereafter the
woman who had been the first arbter OF
society in the republic Stunned all so
cial gatherings. Near the home he loved
the general was buried and for the
eighteen years Of. her widowhood there
never was day that she did not visit
his tomb.
Copyright, 1910, by Richard Spillane)