Evening Star Newspaper, April 19, 1931, Page 79

THE SUNDAY STAR, WASHINGTON, D. C, APRIL 19, 1931. S Sl AR s New Facts in Washington’s 100 - Year- Old Mpystery Peggy Eaton Began as a Barmaid in the Capital, Married a Cabinet Member and Had More Influence on Polities in America Than Any Woman Before or Since—The Only Man Who Knew Her Real Secret Died Without Telling. Peggy Eaton as she looked in middle life, a]ter the “storm” had subsided. BY QUEENA POLLACK, ‘(Author of “Peggy Eaton: Democracy’s Mistress”). XACTLY a century ago, in the Spring of 1831, newspapers. of this country were ringing with cries of “Ameri- can Porfipadour,” “Democracy’s Du- Barry,” and “Unofficlal First Lady” against a woman who had caused the dissolu- tion of the President’s cabinet. Up to a cresendo rose the cries of public denunciation, such as has been the fate of no other member of the feminine sex in Americs, when it became apparent that she-had also eaused the choice of the next President. 1 Who was this woman, and why do "Americans know so little about her? Why has shic been deliberately deleted from patriotic text ‘books? d why have sobeily ' masculine historians Jed her a gocial “tempest in a teapot” instead of categorizing her correctly as -the political stormy-petrel of the Js&m adrhin- istration whose impertinent turned the tides of this Nation’s umxj;? . Principally because the ,nineteenth oenwry u' her as a petticoat influence "behind the presidency, which no citizen conscientiously cared to admit. Toddy, the twentieth century sees her in the light of her true political im- portance; sees her, too, as one of the most piquant and provocative personalities pioneer America produced. - Research among official archives in Wash- - ington has made all of the facts about her life available. Her eventful life-story is told for the first time in' the biography “Peggy Eaton: De- mocracy’s Mistress,” published by Minton, Balch & C6. « The following article drawn from this biography tells the true facts of her astounding career and attempts to explain why this woman wielded a power in this country that no one of her sex has before or since. Z/Her name was Peggy O'Neale, a name that was lilting like herself. From Irish forbears she inherited wit and vivacity, impudence and sudacity. The first-born of William O'Neale, » rollicking innkeeper in the Capital who often had George Washington as his guest, she early associated herself with her country’s official- dom. Often when the coach and four stood at the family’s tavern door to take members down to Congress Peggy was bundled up and brought down to watch her favorites enacting laws for the Nation, Aside from Congressmen, patrons at her father’s famous Franklin House included gay gentlemen with private incomes, and Army and Navy officers of the sporting and reckless type. Amid this atmosphere, Peggy O’'Neale, a born coquette, has a much-exposed childhood—and & very enjoyable girlhood. ITH merry blue eyes and loquacious tongue 5 she held attention which flowed naturally toward her for a fast-budding beauty. Besides, before she finished school, she captured the erown as the Capital's prettiest girl and best dancer in a competition which had Dolly Mad- ison, then First Lady, as judge. This presidential preference sent Peggy’s pride and ambition sky- rocketing. Cock-surely she wore her crown; that of an 1812 version of “Miss Washington.” The War of 1812 interrupted her schooling and sent her behind the bar at her father’s tavern. While serving out drinks to officials of all ranks, her quick ear and alert mind caught the rhythm of practical politics, then an un- heard-of addition to any American woman's education. Later the loosened tongues of the foremost politicians of her day served to set the stigma on her. But now it was purely social, for she flirted ‘“fearlessly and furiously” with law- makers, who responded to her lively wit as well as to her perfect Irish beauty. She herself always said that she was “the wildest girl that ever wore out a mother's patience . . . as gay as a lark, full of fun and nonsense . . . sometimes, maybe, a little original and lawless.” Her sprightly sayings made men seek her out; as early as 13 years of age she planned an elopement which, alas, never was consummated because she accidentally knocked over with her traditional bundle a flower-pot from off her bed room window sill. Yet soon she was all of 16, an age at which most girls then were married. And she, the prettiest of them all by public choice, hadn't been allowed to decide her mate. That was determined by fate. One day she leaned from the tavern window Andrew Jackson gave @ White House dinner and sat Peggy Eaton at his right « . . and the other ladies present snubbed her throughout the evening . . . while ell the men were glad to talk to her. - and saw a stranger riding by. - After sight of her he entered the tavern, where that evening they were engaged. Two weeks later they were married, quite according to all of the most romantic traditions, ER husband was John Bowie Timberlake, purser, U. S. Navy, who took her away from tavern life for a time. But before long her first-born boy died, and Timberlake, a restless, sea-faring fellow, was ordered to Havana. Circumstances beyond, her control contrived to pilot Peg dack to her father's tavern. Foremost among the new patrons there was John Henry Eafon, new young Senator from Tennessee, known chiefly as Andrew Jackson’s biographer. With 18-year-old Mrs. Timberlake —already married, 8 mourning mother, and practically widowed since her good-looking hus- band had gone back to his first~love, the sea— 28-year-old Senator Eaton formed a firm friendship. When Timberlake returned from his cruise, he, too, was drawn to Eaton, a gentle, dispas- sionate person who calmed the tempestuous sailor’s temper and used his influence with the Secretary of the Navy for purser’s posts. Tim- berlake rightly called Eaton his “best friend.” During his spasmodic absence at sea, he en- trusted his wife and two young dnushwrs to the Senator’'s care. Eaton’s best friend was Andrew Jackson, who came to live at the O'Nedles with him, for the general had known Peggy's father before Wash- ington was chosen as the Capital City. Peggy sat at table with Eaton and Jackson and en- joyed animated political discussion with them. Eaton was cultivated, thoroughly political-wise; Jackson was a downright patriot, and more than a presidential possibility. Soon Jackson became embroiled in the presi- dential race and his marriage to backwoods Rachel Robards was dragged through the press in as filthy a fashion as any previous or subse- quent campaign has witnessed. Eafon was active in repelling adulterous charges against Jackson, who had married, unwittingly, before his wife’s diverce was finally granted. UDDENLY news came df Timberlake's sud- den death on board the U. 8. 8. Consti- tution, famous Old Ironsides, then at Port Mahon, Spain. Immediately busybodies circu- lated reports that the purser cut his throat in a fit of despondent jealousy over his wife and Eaton. Jackson promptly championed them both and advised Eaton to marry Peg. S0, on January 1, 1829, Peggy became the wife of Senator Eaton. Washington's official society, now that dashing Peggy O’Neale had her lawmaker at last, was aghast, affronted by ‘her ambition. A tom-tom of tongues reverbe- rated the strain—the impudent - innkeeper’'s - daughter was mnow the wife of the incoming President’s favorite, who was almost certain to be a member of the administration. Unofficial ladies made it pretty plain to their official mates that if the uncouth President Jackson dared to appoint Eaton to high’ office, even though Eaton’s own talents might fit him for the place, they would not tolerate it, for Peggy would be placed above them, Peggy O'Neale, that social upstart. * The classes used to ruling took with ill- concealed contempt the vote of the masses which put Jackson in presidential place. Some satirical ladies even amused themselves with visions of dowdy Mrs. Jackson smoking her corn-cob in the White House, with Peggy fac- ing her in the fumes. “Birds of a feather,” they hinted significantly. But before Jackson actually occupied the White House his wife died. Jackson believed the scurrilous campaign slander had killed her, and came to Washington shortly after her funeral with an irreconcilable grudge against politicians who used women’s virtue for politi- cal purpose. Before long he had a chance to get revenge on this clique that had cut the heart out of his life companion because she wubomplebhnmdhckedthearuotme drawing room. . For when protests, first pflvnte then public, 'ere made against Eaton's appointment as Secretary of War, Jackson deliberately chose to champion Peggy. That she was exquisitely beautiful where his wife had been hardly, that Peggy outshone those born to the blue in her drawing room presence where his wife had been awkward and ill'at ease, was overlooked by the fiery general. He forgot that women seldom forgive another who has beauty, brains and impudence to boot. Before two weeks of the new regime, the ladies made Peggy “the scarlet woman of the administration.” T was a minister who brought out the privately whispered tales about the fire- brand Peggy for public consumption. In a lengthy letter to the President this pious gentleman pleaded with Jackson not to coun- tenance in high place a woman who had strayed from the straight and narrow path. He went into detail until Jackson was disgusted. In an even longer letter than he received Jackson denied each lewd charge. Nevertheless, as President he would investigate them. Im- mediately Jackson got busy. When checked to their sources there was not a shred of gubstance to the slanderous charges against Mrs. Eaton, although it was admitted that she was much more animated than con- vention decreed. Altogether the President col- lected a hundred pages of testimony on Mrs. Eaton’s innocence of all charges but impii'ence. The papers were greater in bulk than all Jack- son’s foreign treaties. Maria Christina, Queen of Spain, wha championed Peggy Eaton. But the more evidence on her purity he gathered the more soclety shrugged its shoulders and refused to receive her. No one in official- dom invited her anywhere. . Into ,this dilemma stepped & master of strategy. Martin Van Buren, Secretary of State, was an innkeeper’'s son from New York State and a wily gentleman in the bargain. Astutely he sided with Peggy Eaton, seeing that it would tend toward his ultimate political ad- vantage to please the irate Jackson where his other officials infuriated him. . For the cabinet was divided. Calhoun, Vice President, and three cabinet ministers had families absolutely, unconditionally, refused to receive Peggy Eaton. Jackson felt the shub was as much to him as to her. He became most enraged when his own niece, who was taking his wife’s place as First Lady, sided with the Calhouns. It was here that Peggy Eaton showed her power, for the President sent his niece, Emily Donelson, back to Tennessee, and Washington whispered that Peggy Eaton, that social-climber, was unofficially First Lady of the Land. In order to clear up his part in the proceed- ings the President called a’ cabinet meeting at which Peggy Eaton’s character became a ques- tion ‘of staté, Witnesses were ministers, but nothing, was proven except a definite cleavage fn_offcial circles. One was either pro-Peggy or anti-Peggy. The latter were listed as traitors to the administration. ‘The President soon called another cabinet meeting at which he discussed the evident dis- crimination against Mrs. Eaton.then prevalent in the Capital. Recognition of Peggy Eaton bécame an implied administration policy. - Neyvertheless ‘the cabinet was doomed, di- vided.as it was into two hostile camps which chaffed each other to such an extent that councils on state matters could not be held. Van Buren, Peggy’s active champion, was seen as the President’s constant companion, im ad- dition, of course, to Eaton, his best personal friend. Danie] Webster had a penetrating eye, for at this time he wrote that “the consequences of this desperate turmoil in the social and fashionable world may determine who shall succeed the present Chief Magistrate.” And so it turned out. Van Buren was clearly slated to succeed Jackson in the presi- dency; Calhoun’s high hopes were dashed to the ground. During a two-year struggle in which the President of the United States spent most of his energy on her eventual recognition, Peggy Eaton, secure in her marvelous beauty her nimble mind, maintained her niche as e President’s favorite. Peggy Eaton went to all the courts of Europe and captured them with her brilliance. When Van Buren became President and Eaton was appointed Minister to Spain, it was Peggy who took “the diplomatic concerns of the United States into her own hands” and who became the Queen Cristina’s favorite. On her return in 1840 the Eatons switched to the Whig camp and were received royally by the very side which 10 years before could not tolerate her. There was nothing left to fight for. So in the home in which she was born she and Eaton lived quietly until the latter’s death. r her husband had died Peggy Eaton see! to have little left to live for, when suddenly a double calamity in her family roused her to new activity. Her son-in-law Randolph died, and shortly after him her youngest daughter, his wife. ~ Mrs. Eaton adopted the grandchildren and gave them training in all the arts. Prunes Starred in Films. THE lowly prune has attained stardom in the films. As part of its educational campaign, the De- partment of Agriculture has issued a t film showing the entire process of harvesting and shipping the prune crop of the West Coast. The beauties of a plum orchard are first shown, after which the action gets under way. Students working their way through high school and college are usually employed as pickers, earning as much as $8 and $10 a day during the harvest season. After the crop has been picked, it is dried either by the sun method, as in California, or in dessicating tunnels, as in Washington. The average consumer of prunes labors under the impression that prunes are just prunes, the only difference being that some are larger than' others. In reality there are 10 or more differnt varieties being raised and sold in this coumtry.