Year: 1871

exquisite complexion, the fairness OF
her skin never gave room for a doubt
that art had aided many way; she had
fine dark eyes with long dropping
lashes and a form of perfect proper
tiOns. Added 10 this she possessed
great taste i'm dress, inclinIng to the
subdued cOlOrs for the promenade: in
the evening the rich and elegant style
characteristic of the wealthIer and bet
ter class-not thnt il must be supposed
TO be meant that she belonged to either
for she did iiot. Whilst she Was still
living with Mr.. Fair, in the incipien-
cy of her HdisOa with Critten,ien, she
visited San Francisco several times,
not openly i'm his company, but osten-
sibly putting up alone at the most
stylish hotel, and creating that .furOre
which only woman of her elegance
and beauty could do, During these
visits she occasionally appeared at
some of the more fashionable balls and
concerts; if at ball, her superb appa-
rel, magnificent form, and beautiful
face were the event of the evening; if
at concert. she was more observed
than the performers. Her fame was
so well known that when she appear
ed the effect upon her own sex could
only be compared to that produced by
the sudden appearance of the daring
cOrsair amidst the convoy; such clos
ing up of ranks and unmasking of bat
teries, i'm order that husbands might
be more effectually protected. But
alas! il was too evident that the afOre-
said husbands rather inclined to strike
their colOrs upon the first appearance
of the enemy.


In point of personal resemblance, if
Lydia Thompson were little taller,
more rounded and fuller in form, had
dark eyes and lashes, greater wealth
of hair, she would bear striking like
ness To Mrs. Fair when at the zenith
of her charms. Without these chang
es the fair Lydia still closely resembles
her, in manner as well as person.


Mrs. Fair never appeared to the wri-
ter like a woman who could be capa-
ble of the killing of any man, yet she
evidently was woman of great de-
termination of character, but of very
capriciOus mind. 1t seemed impossi-
BILE that she could ever cling so closely
to any one as to cause her 10 commit
an act that would endanger her life
and property, for she was avaricious.
Her iiaisOn with Crittenden was doubt
less the event of her life-one that
proved in many ways the most flatter-
ing to her vanity as well rs the most
advantageous pecuniarily, and one
that she would most reluctantly give
up.


The infatuatiOr of Judge Critten-
den in itself shows that Mrs. Fair was
more than an ordinary wOman-that
she did posses some elements of char
acter and prOmptings of heart that
that were good-cise she could never
have had such an ascendancy of him ;
for he was man of great natural
goodness of heart, purity of cha; acter,
and refinement of manner. Like a
thousand other men just as good, he
made his blunder and paid his penal
Iy.


The feeling of horror at the deed that
pervadcd that community shows the
esteem i'm which he was held. Posi-
Gly of that entire eoplc there was
none that would not have been suspec-
ted sooner of such Il weakness than
Judge Crittenden. She had n strong
hold upon him long ere it was gene
rally known to the public, and when
known it was but the wonder of day
the beauty of the woman and promI-
nencc of the na:I only increasing the
interest over and above affairs of SINH
lar character of daily occurrence amidst
what was called the highest circles.
Mrs. Fair was not received or recog-
nized, of course, hy the wives and
mothers of good society, but she was
a queen i'm that large number that Oc
cupy the neutral ground, as it were, O
society, comprising those who were
| suspected too much To be encouraged
but not enough known to deserve con
demnatiOn.