Martinsburg gazette. [volume] (Martinsburg, Va. [W. Va.]) 1833-1855, 1845-08-14
A WIFE WORTH HAVING.

All persons in this country understand
the character of the patriotic and departed
LAFAYETTE-they comprehend the ardor
of his nature, and his love OF plain Re-
public. There are not so many, however,
who know any thing of the ,oje whom he
loved as past of himself, and with whom
he lived for many years in the happiest
connection. From letter written by the
gallant husband after his death, in 1908,
and translated from the last memoirs of
LAFAYETTE lately published in France,
we extract the following. by which it
would seem that the General regarded his
lady as the younger D'Israelin these mod.
erndays regards her whom he proudly ac-
knowedges to be his "best friend and
perfect wife." Ofsuch women he writes
thus:
During thirty-four years of union in
which her tenderness, her goodness, her
elevation, the generosity of her soul, char.
med, embellished, did honor to my life,
was so accustomed 10 oil that she was to
me, that did not distinguish her from my
own existence. She was fourteen years
Old and was sixteen when her heart am
algamated itself with oil which could in
terest me. Thought loved her, that |
could not do without her, but il was only
when lost her, that | was able to discov.
er what remained 10 me, for the close OF
a life which had been so diversified, and
for which nevertheless there remains no
longer either happiness or even content.
Though she was attached to ne, ! may
say so, by the most passionate sentiment
never perceived IN her the ligh:ost shade
of authoritativeness (derigence} or dis.
content; never anything which did not
leave me the entire freedom in all my IN
denakings. And if 60 back to the days
Of our youth, find ia her traits Of an uu-
exampled deicacy aud generosity. You
saw her, socs!ed, heart and soul, in all
my sentiments, my political wishes, eoiov.
ing everything which might confer honor
on me; still more, as she would say, what
mazda me 10 be wholly known, and more
than all glorying m those occasions when
she saw me sacrifice glory to a sentiment
Of goodness. Her aunt, Madame Jesse,
said to me yesterday, Il never could have
imagined that one could be so fanatic for
your opinions, and yet 50 free from party
spirit. Indeed her attacbmen. to our doc.
trines mover for moment abated her IN
diligence, her compassion, her good will
for persons of another party. She was
never soured by the violent hatred Of which
was the object; the III treatment and in
furious conduct towards me. were regard
ed by her as lollies indiiisfentio her, from
the point from which she looked at them,
and where her good opinion chose opIace
me,
"Heye was most entire devotion. |
may say that during thrty-lour years, |
never suffered for moment the shadow
Of restraint, that AL her habits were, with
ont adectaton, subordinate to my con.
yeuence, that had the satisfaction 70 see
my most scepical friends as constantly
received, as we'll beloved, as much es-
teemed, aud iheir virtues as completely
acknowledged as Il there had baen no
difference Of religious opinion, that she
never expressed any other sentiment than
that of hope, that in continuing 10 reaect,
lw:th the uprghness OF heart which she