The farmer and mechanic. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 18??-19??, 1914-06-23
Was Esther Wake a MYTH,

IL wac < SI~
tanned by Lady Tryon and her lovely
sister the enthusiastic spirit If
a warm hearted people estimated even
the of their governor by the
grace, beauty and accomplishments
that adorned the domestic circles Of
ms palace The story of Miss Esther
viii serve for a beautiful episode in
the history of North Carolina. Amidst
the petty CaucuSSes Of a Province I'M
der the government Of a subordinate
military officer, it is gratifying to dis
cover the secret Source of power. even
IN the Volltlon OF a virtuous wouan
1t is better than an r~responsible
cabal of intriguing politicians and
when properly watched, will but sub
serve the interest and honor OF a
people.
- nave a number of private letters
illustrative of the power of Miss Es-
ther, which are almost too romantic
tor sober reality Of historical detail.
according to their authority she ruled
without an effort or design. though il
Is easy to imagine that the cunning
OF the Governor could continue to use
II Tor the advancement OF his own
interest. The younger members un-
questlonabiy yielded more easily TO her
Known or expressed wishes from an
ambitious hope of gaining her in mar
rage, but says Colonel John Harvey
IN a letter OF date the Goth of January
lIil, what can be said in defence Of
tnoSe gentlemen Of age and EXPERT
ence VINO to crafty a Governors wife
anu 70 De sure her very pretty sister
SnOuld vote ffteen or twenty Thousand
pounds to build a palace. when the
people were not able to pay even their
most ordinary taxes, and what is still
worse, tnen go to war with their com
trynen TO enforce the unjust law
- 80 EoWaroS' the private secretary
u IIyon' IN a letter to Judge Williams
OF GATE the 9th Of November. 1870
says. the Palace is finished. and w.
are IN 1t. The Governor is much
Pleased with it and the ladies are nov
ready 10 give entertainments in a stile
suitable to their rank and deserts
MISS wake is in fine humour and i:
every day planning her party She
has a complete set of new and snlen,
dld robe just from home, and wher
she gets them on, and gets the vouns
assembly men in the big parlor, sh,
can get a grant Of money to build an
other house for himself?"
among those who paid court t,
tne beauty Of Miss Esther was ST
William Draper, the of Ma
nilla and the antagonist of the cele
Orated JuniuS. He was the guest o
Governor TryOn in the Palace a cir
cumstance to which the Governor Q
ten alluded with evident s~atisfactio
! ana pr1Oe. The Palace itself was 0ed
lcated TO Sir William, whose nam
was inscribed on the vestibule, at tn
head of a few dozen verses of hi
own composition. 1t should have bee
dedicated to Miss Wake, for l lear
l such was its original and higher de-
tiny. Here is a letter of Sir Williar
, Draper to Sir Nathaniel Duckinfel(
. of North Carolina.
Dear Sir Nathaniel SEND one c
me (TOVPrnOr'C " r. Ill the r
your house to bear this apology fo
, not coming myself, agreeable to you
! very polite invitation and my oW
promise. l might appeal to my inge
nuity and frame you a hundred e>
cuses. which you could bu accep
! but the generosity of the lover if NJ
. Of the soldier, must forbid all sue
!, subterfugeS. So there My Dear S
Nathaniel take the truth as a gres
secret, l am in love, and Miss Esthe
Wake has g~raciously.'" 6The rest {
Jones' document is lOst).
Unless our modern historians al
prepared to charge Jones with inven
ing the letters Of Harvey, Edward
: and Draper, from which he quot,
, with SO much circumstantiality, as /
Esther Wake, they will have to revi.
their histories and do the lady tt
justice of restoring her to her place
pre-eminence among the heroineS
= North Carolina history.
Great Attention Must Re- Give