The death of Mrs. Mary E. Keene Constant, wife of Col. Ed. W. Constant, at her home on Atherton Plantation on Monday last cast a gloom over our entire parish. There were few held in higher esteem than this lovely lady, and her death is a sad blow to husband and son, who are left to mourn.

Mrs. Constant was the daughter of the late W. B. Keene, who died a few years after the war, and who owned the most extensive cotton plantations in the south.

The remains of Mrs. Constant were consigned to their last resting place in the pretty family burying ground beside those of her father, mother and brother on Wildwood on Tuesday evening. The large cortage showed the high esteem in which she was held, citizens from the first ward and all from the second ward and a great many from our town went down to pay their sad tribute of respect to the lovely woman.

Col. Constant and his son Frank, have the sincere sympathy in their sad sorrow of their many friends in East Carroll.

Mrs. E. W. Constant died at her home, Wildwood, East Carroll parish, yesterday morning at 9 o’clock. In her death a most amiable and loving woman has passed away; one who in her youth and early womanhood was noted for her dazzling beauty and universal popularity. Her name, prior to her marriage to the grief stricken husband who to-day mourns the loss of a devoted wife, was Mary E. Keene. In 1860, so famed in all the attributes of lovely womanhood was this young lady that one of the finest boats that ever plied the Southern waters was named in her honor. The steamer Mary E. Keene was built for the New Orleans and Bends trade, and surpassed them all in her palatial appointments and speed.

This boat was a perfect floating palace and cost several fortunes to build. Her owners were Felix Hughes, who afterwards fell at the head of his regiment at Baton Rouge, a brother of Maj. M. W. Hughes of this city; Capt. Frank Corkery, who now resides in New Orleans at a very advanced age, and W. B. Richardson of New Orleans. Miss Keene was the belle of the bends in those days and her name was honored throughout the valley, while among the creme de la creme of New Orleans society she out-shone the most beautiful and gifted. The boat ran successfully until 1862 when she was sent into the Yazoo river beyond the reach of the Federals and there destroyed. Mrs. Constant was about 55 years of age at the time of her death.--Vicksburg Dispatch.