Publisher's Synopsis
This historic book may have numerous typos and missing text. Purchasers can usually download a free scanned copy of the original book (without typos) from the publisher. Not indexed. Not illustrated. 1901 edition. Excerpt: ... ii. sarah jay, wife of john jay. Born in New York, August, 1757. Died at Bedford, N.Y., May 28,1802. "She exhibited from her youth, amid trial and hardship, a steadfast devotion to her country, and amid the gay society of Paris and New York preserved unimpaired her gentleness, amiability, and simplicity."--John Jay, Jr. "I Am going to let in some of the air and moonlight of this beautiful night, my guests," said Mrs. Jay and, as she spoke, she opened the door that led out upon the terrace of her pleasant villa at Challiot. "How mild your French weather is," she commented. "At home 'tis never like this in January," and she lingered a moment looking out into the clear bright night, a graceful figure in her high head dress and brilliant evening gown. The scene that stretched before her, the stone court and winding garden paths, the grassy slopes and distant river-view, lay white and still in the soft light. Her glance rested upon it musingly, while her thoughts went back to other January moons which had seen her skating on the Hudson or sleighing over the rough country roads of her New Jersey home. She was recalled to the present by the merry raillery of her guests who sat, cosily sipping their tea, in her pretty pink and white salon. They had turned toward her in smiling recognition of her abstraction. "La belle Americaine is sad," they remarked in teasing tones, using the name by which she had come to be known in Paris circles; "she is homesick for her husband." Mrs. Jay protested with a gay laugh and, shutting out the moonlight scene, returned to her seat among them. "I wish that Mr. Jay were here to-night to see you all," she said cordially; "he loves an evening like this spent in his own home with a few chosen friends about him." The...
