Gallipolis journal. [volume] (Gallipolis, Ohio) 1837-1919, 1851-08-07
Grea, Men. wives.

traordinary simplicity and lgno-
rance of the world. The circum-
stances connected with the marriage
were these: Having been appointed
TO preach at St. Paul's Gross, he
went up to London from Oxford, and
proceeded to the house set apart tor
the reception of the preachers. He
was very wet and weary on his arri-
val, and experienced much kindness
from the housekeeper. She Persua-
ded him that he was man OF very
tender constitution, and urged that
he ought, above all things, to have a
wife, TO nurse and take care OF him.
She prolessed TO be able TO furnish
him with such, if he thought fit to
marry. Hooker authorized her to
select wife for him, and the artiul
woman presented her own daught-
er-"a silly, clownish woman, and
withal a mere XantiPpe." Hooker,
who had promised TO marry whomso-
ever she should select, thought him
self bound TO her, and he dds They
led a most uncomfortable life, but he
resigned himself as he best could, la
menting that "saints have usually a
double share in the miseries Of this
lih." When Cranmer and Sandys
went to see him at his rectory in
Buckinghamshire, they found him
reading Horace and tending sheep, in
absence OF the servant.-When they
were conversing with him in the
house, bis wife would break in upon
them, and call him away to rock the
cardle and perform other menial Off
ces. The guests were glad TO get
away. This unfortunate wife was
long a thorn in his side.
The famous Earl of Rochester ap-
pears in a very favorable light in his
letters TO his vile: they are remarka-
bly, tender, affectionate, and gentle.
In one of them, he says: "Tis not an
easy thing to be entirely happy; but
to be kind is very easy, and that is
the greatest measure of happiness. !
say not this TO put you in mind Of be-
ing kind TO me-you have practiced
that so long, that have a joyful con-
fidence you will never forget it--but
to show that | myself have a sense
of what The method OF my life seemed
so utterly to contradict"
DRYDEN married Elizabeth Howard,
daughter OF the Earl of Bershire. The
match added little to his wealth, and
less TO his happiness. 1t was alto
gether an unhappy union. On one
occasion, his wife wished to be a
book, that she might enjoy more ot
his company. Dryden's reply was:
"Be an almanac, then, my dear, that
] may change you once year." In
his writings afterwards, he constan-
tly inveighed against matrimony.
Addison also "marIied discord in a
noble wife" He was a tutor to the
young Earl OF Warwick, and aspired
to the hand of the Dowager Count
ess. She married him, and treated
him like a lacquey. She never saw
in him more than her sons tutor.
Swift This cotemporary,) cruelty fir
ted with two admirable women: he
heatlessly killed one Of them; and Sc
cretIy married the other, but never
publicly recognized her; she, too,
shortly after died.
Sterne treated his wife with such
severity, that she abandoned him, and
took retreat in a convent with her
daughter; she never saw him after.
Who would have suspected this from
the author of "Lefevre," and "The
Sentimental Journey!"
Farquhar, the play writer, married
early in life, a woman who deceived
him bv pretending 10 be possessed OF
a fortune, and he sunk, a victim TO
disappointment and over exertion,
in his thiriieth year, leaving behind
him "two helpless girls;;" his widow
died in the utmost indigence.
These are rather unhappy instan-
ces OF the wives of great men, but
there are others OF a happier kind.
Indeed we hear but little of the hap
py unions: it is the brawIing rocky
brook that is the most noisy: the
slow, deep waters are dumb. Every
one will remember the wife Of Lord
VIM. Russell, whose conduct by the
side 0f her husband, on his trial,
stands out as one of the most beauti-
iul pictures in all history. How de-
votedly her husband loved her need
not be said: when he had taken his
final farewell, all he could say was:
"The bitterness Of death is now pastlr
She lived many Years after the execn-
ton of her husband, and delightful col
lection OF her letters has since been pub.
lished.
BunYan speaks with the greatest ten
derness ofhis vile, who helped to lead
him in the paths of peace. He says:
"My mercy was to light upon a vile.
whose father and mother we're counted