Page:Woman of the Century.djvu/734

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TWIGGS.
ULMAR.
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came to this country in company with Gen. Oglethorpe, bearing a large grant of land from George III. Gen. David E. Twiggs, of Mexican War fame, was hergreat-uncle, and she is a sister of Judge H. D. D. Twiggs, the distinguished Georgia barrister. Her father was a successful southern punter, who cared more for blooded horses and well-trained pointers than for literary pursuits. Her literary tastes were inherited from her mother, who was a woman of ability and culture. She is the only daughter in a family of five children. From a life of southern ease and affluence, on which were built the airy castles of a poetic temperament, she was awakened by the rude shock of war, in which her fortunes sank. Then followed the sorrow of an unhappy marriage and a succession of sad family bereavements. In 1885 she found herself, with two small children, in the national capital. There she succeeded in achieving a comfortable independence. The sterner phases of her altered life closed for her, in a measure, the literary avenues which were more in accordance with her taste, yet out of the shadow she occasionally sent flashes of a lamp not wholly extinguished. One of her poems, "Nostri Mortui," and several idyls, which appeared in southern journals, elicited flattering mention. She is now writing a book, which will be published in the near future.


TYLER, Mrs. Julia Gardiner, wife of John Tyler, tenth President of the United States, born on Gardiner's Island, near Easthampton, N. Y., in 1820. She was the oldest daughter of David Gardiner, a man of wealth. She was educated by private teachers at home until she was sixteen years old, when she was sent to Chegary Institute, in New York City, where she was graduated. After leaving school, she traveled with her father in Europe. Returning to the United States, she visited Washington, D. C, in 1844. She and her father went with President Tyler on a steamboat excursion to Alexandria, and on the return trip the gun "Peacemaker" exploded while being fired, and Mr. Gardiner and several others were killed, and many others were injured. The body of Mr. Gardiner was taken to the White House, and President Tyler, then a widower, was thrown in the company of the grief-stricken daughter. They became engaged, and on 26th June, 1844, they were married in New York City. For the remaining eight months of President Tyler's term of office she presided in the White House with grace, dignity and success. Leaving Washington, they retired to Mr. Tyler's home, "Sherwood Forest," in Virginia. They remained there until Mr. Tyler died, 17th January, 1862, in Richmond. Since the Civil War she has lived in her mother's home on Castleton Hill, Staten Island. N.Y. She has several children. She is a convert to Roman Catholicism and is active in the charities of that church.


ULMAR. Mrs. Geraldlne, singer, was born in Charlestown, a suburb of Boston, Mass. In her eleventh year she made her debut as "The Child Soprano" in three juvenile concerts in Worcester, Mass. GERALDINE ULMAR. She was trained for the stage, and in November, 1879, she joined the Boston Ideals, singing first with that company in "Fatinitza " She then appeared in "The Sorcerer," "Boccacio," "Pinafore." "The Chimes of Normandy." "The Bohemian Girl," and all the Sullivan operasexcept "Princess Ida." When the English "Mikado" company came to the United States, in 1885, Sir Arthur Sullivan, who heard her sing the part of Yum Yum, insisted that she should be engaged permanently to sing in that rôle. She went to England and there scored a brilliant success, both artistically and socially. She has since remained in London, where, on 30th March, 1891, she became the wife of an American musician, Felix Tilkin, known to the' musical world as Ivan Caryll. One of her greatest triumphs in London was won by her performance of "La Cigale." Her acquaintances in London include many persons prominent in society.


VALESH, Mrs. Eva McDonald, labor agitator, born in the village of Orono, Me., 9th September, 1866. The McDonald family is Scotch- Irish. Mrs. Valesh's father is a carpenter in Minneapolis. Her mother, from whom she inherits whatever of poetry there is in her nature, is at the age of fifty years a remarkably handsome woman. Mrs. Valesh is the oldest of a family of seven children. Her schooling developed no great promise. She was a bright child, but full of mischief, and she had an annoying habit of saying unpleasant truths in a blunt fashion without respect to the feelings of her teachers. In 1877 she moved with her family to Minneapolis, and so close was her application to her books that in four years, at the age of fifteen, she was graduated from the high school, to embark upon a career of many experiences. After leaving school she learned the printer's trade, and she began to take object-lessons to prepare her for the work before her She was employed on the "Spectator." In due time she became a member of the Typographical Union and still holds a card from the Minneapolis Union. Her father had built a house in what was then a well out-of-town section, and Eva was put in charge of a little grocery store, which occupied the front of the building. The young girl harnessed up the delivery horse, delivered the goods to customers and brought to the store the supplies for the day. She grew fond of the horse and big black dog that always followed her. She also worked in stores and several factories until the age of twenty, when she attended the Minneapolis teachers' training-school for a year