Year: 1878

The Romance In the Life OF the


igan.


Detroit Nsws.l


Emily V. Mason was reputed to
be the most beautiful woman in the
Northwest. Her family were pa
trician and all her associations were
elevated. In 1888, when her father
was secretary of the Territory of
Michigan, she enjoyed a political as
well as "a social distinction, and
later, when Michigan was erected
into State, her brother, Stevens
L. Mason, became its first governor,
and she presided over the house
hold and dispensed a liberal and
graceful hospitality. The guberna-
torial mansion was the center of
the culture and fashion of the
Northwest, and Miss Mason was at
the head of the society Of the Vol
VERNE metropolis.


While Miss Mason was discharg-
ing the duties of the first lady OF
the State, Major Lewis Cass was at
West Point. During his vacations
he visited his home and was thrown
much into the society of the bril-
liant Emily. He was younger than
she, and if he was smitten by her
beauty and accomplishments he
never summoned the courage to
propose.


The sudden death of Governor
Mason and the breaking up of
the Mason homestead and the re-
verse that followed obliged Miss
Mason to look about for means Of
support. She was a girl of proud,
independent spirit, and with the
remains of the property she pur-
chased a market farm in Fairfax
county, Va, and began business
like y practical woman. She de,
veloped energy and commercial
foresight, and soon enjoyed abuu.
dant prosperity. She supported
herself and her orphaned nieces il
elegant style, worked hard and ac
quired a competence.


At the outbreak of the civil war
her home was one of the most de.
lightful in all Virginia, and she
was enabled to devote a considera-
bic portion of her time to literature.
The war, however, scattered her
fortune to the winds aud left her all
but destitute. She was now a fully
matured woman, over forty years ol
age, strong, resolute and energetic.
Driven from her home, she went to
Richmond and became a nurse in
the hospitals. The Federal prison
ers who came under her ministra-
tons were objects Of her especial
care.


At the close Of the war she de-
voted herself to the education of
Southern orphans, and published
several works of an educational
character. She dwelt in Washing
ton for while, and her home on
Pennsylvania avenue was the resort
Of some Of the most brilliant men
and women in the capital. She oc-
cupied a position in one of the gov
ernment offices for a time, and
everywhere commanded respect and
admiration. She finally took up
her residence in Paris.


Many years before this Major
Cass had established himself in the
French capital, and had become a
Frenchman in his tastes and
methods of life. The two met, and
the concealed passions of early
years, rekindled in the breast of the
old gentleman led him to offer Miss
Mason his hand and fortune, but she
said that she had resolved never to
marry, and the major asked her to
do him the honor of granting him
her friendship. Then until his
death, which occurred rather sud
denly, Miss Mason was his COM
panion in that friendship in which
the French IN the decline OF life
know SO well how to associate, aud
she closed his eyes and took charge
of his remains. Under the terms
of his will his body was embalmed
and brought to Michigan. Aplain
tomb, to cost not more than 5000.
will mark the resting place Of
Lewis Oass, the self-expatriated
descendant Of Michigan,s s greatest
son. The will of Major Cass be-
queaths to Miss Mason $4,000, three
diamond rings, which the testator
dearly priced, and makes her the
joint executrix of the instrument.


Beaux In London Hail Rooms.
London Cor. Baltimore SUM-


A bad habit Of the male habitues
Of London fashionable balls was
that they adopted Charles Lambs
system Of going to his office. They
come late and make up for it by
going away early. This is not toll
Grated now. He who drops in at a
late hour is marked. The young