Evening star., 1932-03-13
The Unknown Story of Abby Adams

one naU CHOSEN as q nuSD3nO a man Oh WealLn
and with prospects of becoming q man Of
prominence. Col. Smith had won the datter-
ing appreciation Of Abby's parents. Mrs
Adams wrote to her sister:
Your niece Is engaged to a gentleman
worthy of her; one whom you will be proud
to take by the hand and own a nephew.
With regard to his person. he is tall, slender,
and good figure complexion naturally
dark, but made still more SO by seven years
service in the field. He appears a gentle
man in every thought, word and action"
THE wedding of William Stephens Smith and
Abigail Adams was solemnized June H.
1786, under the sanction of the Archbishop
of Canterbury and the Bishop of st. Asaph"
Less than twelve month after the event, the
bride confessed to her brother, John Quincy
Adams, her disillusionment, revelation of his
darling sisters heart-grief that gave him "a
variety Of sensations" and caused him to ponder
long over her words:
a" If a young lady is capable of IN
consistencies, If she is deficient in judgment,
prudence ;. the fault Is not half so much
her own as Of those who have care Of her
education. We are like clay in the hands
of the artist :. earliest impressions Of the
mind /. :. often have the gratest effect &. -
The young matron gaining realistic
viewpoint of society and life and adjusting
herself to 1t. Royal Tyler, too, got command
Of his emotions and whipped himself into
form for his work In the world. The Spring
Of 1857 he was sent to New York q mission,
and for the first time in his life he attended
the theater. He saw "The School for Scandal"
and was stimulated to try his hand at writing
comedy. "The Contrast" was ready for pro-
duction in three weeks, was put on the boards.
and was an instant success. Congressman
focked to see this melodrama of broad comedy
spliced with Yankee dialect The house was
in an uproar Of laughter throughout the per-
formance- Royal Tyler had sprung into fame
overnight.
The Contrast" presented the plain American
in the character Of Jonathan" as contrasted
with those innoculated with foreign snobbery.
In Van Rough" the character of John Adams
was recognized, exaggerated but obvious; in
"Dimple," Col Smith was featured, in Maria"
Abby Adams; while the author himself appears
in the person of Manly" Royal Tyler had
found an antidote for the poison of his un-
fortunate love affair-he now had it 'out of his
system''-and could in the future give himself
to an active life and a new love. He married
little Polly Palmer. took her to Vermont where
he founded happy home, and where he
gained success in his profession, and was
honored as judge of the Supreme Court of
the State.
THE contrast between the rise and fall in for
tune of the Tyler and Smith families Is
dramatic While Royal Tyler was being toasted
in New York City as the great American
dramatist Mr.. and Mrs william Stephens
Smith were receiving congratulations upon the
birth Of their first child, son, christened
William Steuben Smith The parents were
then at the apex Of their popularity with the
pointer, however. slightly downward. John and
Abigail Adams had already returned to their
native land before many months Col Smith
g1IOQrcndnd a q uOf he
he with his family set sail also They were
instantly immersed in the gayeties of New
York's smart set
During the Inauguration of Washington.
Col. Smith, leader of a troop of horses in
the military parade, made striking picture
like knight in joust. Pageantry suited this
adventurous spirit. BY nature restless and am
bilious, William Stephens Smith could not
easily fall back into the steady jog-trot Of
civilian life.
The husband of Abby Adams, a brave, bril-
liant soldier, was lacking in steady poise and
calm torethought Repeatedly. he made grave
errors, both in public and private enterprise.
The year following his return to New York, he
sank large share of his fortune in land
speculation. Fifteen years later with impetuous
enthusiasm, he aided in the Miranda expe-
dition for the liberation of the Spanish Colo
n1es In South America. The youth, William
Steuoen, then IN his nineteenth year, vent
as adjutant, together with many of his young
friends
When the crew was captured and in danger
OF being executed as pirates the Spanish Min
lister through the consul at New York, offered
pardon for the Adams grandson on the pro-
Viso that Col. Smith reveal the complete plan
of Miranda In his attempted revolution, an
overture rejected with fine spirit by the father
of the boy. He would not save his own SON
at the expense Of his comrades. Nevertheless,
William Steuben Smith was released and re-
turned home and the mothers heart was
freed from its painful strain. Her suffering IN
behalf of her husband, however, continued.
On complaint Of the Spanish Government,
William Stephens Smith was brought before
the Supreme Court Of the New York district
and tried for connivance against a friendly