Newspaper clipping: 'The Life and Times of William Lowndes' — Ruth Simmons, the 'Childless Widow' of Edwards House, Charleston, January 29, 1956

A narrow vertical column of newsprint, cut from a longer article. Beginning mid-paragraph:

strict upbringing had taught her that.

She looked with dismay upon her future. To be a married spinster for the rest of her days — with the indignity of having been publicly abandoned — she would never forgive him for that. Frustration and the terrifying loneliness engulfed her heart and bitterness filled her heart for the man who had done this to her. One moment she hated him who could be so heartless — the next longed for him remembering how passionately he had wooed her — hearing his burning words, “Ruth, Sweetheart, I love you so.”

Love — Suddenly she began to laugh. Love — ? and as suddenly burst into tears. Burying her face in the pillows, little Ruth wept her heart out in the long dark hours.

The morning found her calm and resolved. In her mantle of pride she would accept her fate. Mr. Simmons — nor anyone else, would ever know but that her life was all that she could wish for. And so she was gracious always, apparently carefree and happy, her laughter rang out pleasantly, and to her husband she was unfailingly polite and courteous and exasperatingly content. The years passed and he came to pay formal calls or to preside at her dinners and receptions, leaving invariably with the last guests. Of an afternoon when they met on a drive around the Battery, they rose and bowed and were heard to say with grave courtesy:

“How do you do, Ma’am?”

“And you, Sir?”

Nevertheless, with the passing of the years, Mr. Simmons found little satisfaction in the situation, and what is more, he came to realize that his wife was living in a beautiful home, enjoying great prestige, while he dwelt in unimpressive surroundings. This became a source of annoyance to him and he determined to remedy it. And so, in 1800, he purchased from Mr. Izard a very important piece of property at 14 Legare Street. It cost him the comparatively small sum of 1200 pounds. The house being inadequate, he proceeded to have it torn down and to build in its place a magnificent one. It is now one of the handsomest residences in the city, known as the “Edwards House” for a later owner who added the beautiful pineapple ornaments to the gate posts.

Now — Mr. Simmons told himself, he would live in the proper elegance. It was gratifying to his pride to have a home more impressive than the one occupied by his wife. But — his satisfaction was short lived for he died soon after and the property was sold — for the handsome price of 20,000 pounds.

He died, never having lived — after an existence spent in nursing a false pride. And little Ruth, the victim of his vindictiveness, reached a ripe old age. [One more glimpse we have of her. In “The Life and Times of William Lowndes,” the great man who was her brother, have read that Mrs. Ruth Simmons, “a childless widow,” offered him a part of her fortune that he might regain his health.]

The “Childless Widow” played her part to the end. She never told, she never complained, but bravely made the most of a bad bargain. Her secret went with her to the grave. But — bear in mind that if there had been no secret there would have been no tale — and little Ruth has become a Charleston legend.

[Typeset at the foot of the clipping:]

January 29, 1956