Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1949-02-06
Fifty Years Ago

The Star OF January n, 1899, announced the
death of Mrs Robert Williams, zone Of the
most charming Of women"
Deoth of Her father was John Madi-
Mrs. Williams son Cults, controller Of the
Treasury. "At IA, she was
considered a beauty of the purest Greek type
- and her personal charms were no less
striking even at that time than were her
graces Of mind and character; Of her good
looks she was unconscious and of personal
vanity she had not particle" The great
niece of Dolly Madison, she first met Stephen
A. Douglas at White House reception. Their
marriage was a great event. When the Little
Giant made his presidential campaign, his
beautiful wife accompanied him everywhere
and was received with great eclat" After
Douglas DEATH his widow became q recluse-
until she met Adjt Gen. Robert Williams and
became again bride" BY her first hus-
band, the lovely Adele had two children,
by her second six. ITO the last she retained
the exquisite charm in conversation and man
ner which, with her beauty, made her q con-
spicous figure in Washington society" In the
picture representing the first communion Of
ST. Aloysius, hanging in st. Aloysus' Church,
Mrs. Williams appeared in the role of the
saints mother The painting still is available
at st. Aloysius' and may be viewed by visitors.
4
Rear Admiral George Dewey the hero of
the Battle of Manila Bay, was reported in The
Star for January %, 1899, to
Dewey's be seeking promotion to full
Promotion admiral. He had written to
President Mckinley, to Sena-
tors ElkinS and German and other friends,
expressing the hope that he soon would be
elevated to the highest position in the Navy
Dewey allegedly desired the honor "for the
glory of his country and not for his own salts
faction" When he won his famous victory he
was only commodore and eight months later
still was outranked by the naval officers Of
other countries in Eastern waters "A grateful
Congress finally obliged him with the rank Of
admiral Of the Navy, with the provision that
he should not be placed on the retired list
except by his own application"
William A. Clark a new member of the
United States Senate from Montana, was de-
scribed in The Star on jan
Senotor Clark uary 30, 1899, as a copper
AColIector king who had employed part
OF his large means in buying
works of art of value. He was native of
Connellsville, Pa, who had been a farmer and
a merchant before turning to mining in the
CDJeC.
tive, and he had become interested In copper
as an accidental alternative The Star explained
that he owned wire factories, sugar beet PLAN
tations, tea and rubber properties His net
income for 1898 was not far from So 900 O00"
1t followed that he well could afford to pay as
much as $4,000 for = single picture-as he
did for Fortunys Choice of Model" at the
Stewart sale in New York. Mr.. Clark was a
generous friend of the Corcoran Gallery, and
many Of his treasures are displayed there.
+
The Star for February l, 1899, quoted the
Honolulu Commercial Advertiser as saying:
THE close of each day
'Exnonsion' and brings the American peo-
'jmperiolism' pie nearer to a clear and
common understanding Of
the words expansion and imperialism. The
definitions of these words pave been loose and