The Kansas herald of freedom., 1858-08-28
Diseellaleops.
Literature and Marriage.


"From the days of the poet Job,
whose wife was the original Mrs. Cau-
die, down to Socrates and Xanthippe,
and so on down to Byron, and finally to
Dickens, matrimonial unhappinesss has
ever attached to literary Exchange.
The person who wrote the above is a
mendacious ignoramus, and deserves to
be married to a she-wolf, for attempting to
make it appear that there is necessarily
some antagonism between literature and
matrimony. Matrimonial unhappiness
has ever attached to literary men," has it?
The assertion is so Palpably false that we
are almost ashamed to quote the facts that
prove it to be one of those reckless asser-
tiOns which are so commonly made, and
which, coined by the ignorant, find ready
circulation among the thoughtless. Sir,
Walter Scott was literary man Of the
very highest class; man who tried
many departments of writing, and sue
ceeaed in them all and he was married
for thirty years, made love match, and
was happy in the marriage state. South
ey was fortunate and happy husband.
Home was all in all to him, whereas it can
be nothing, or worse than nothing, to the
man who is miserably married. He mar
ried second time, his second wife being
lady of literary standing, and both were
happy. Mr.. Cooper, who was one of the
most successful of writers, was happily
married, and his domestic life was singu-
larly free from trouble. Lamartine is
well known to have married fortunately
in all respects. Moore's wife was one of
the noblest creatures that ever lived.
she made her husbands home happy.
lie was never tired of writing of her ex-
cellence. If Shelley's first marriage
the marriage of boy and girl, who
knew nothing of human life-was unfor-
tunate, his second marriage can be quo
ted as model union. Wadsworth made
alove-match, and his love was as lasting
as his home was blessed. Professor
Wilson, of Bleckirood memory, made a
happy marriage, and his wife is said to
have exercised more influence over him
than any other person. Her death was
the greatest misfortune that he ever knew.
DR.. Johnson, whose wife was old enough
to be his mother, with some years to spare
found nothing unpleasing in the marriage
state. His last biographer says he con.
hnued to be under the illusions of the
wedding-day till the lady died, in her six
ty-fourth year." the husband being bu
iorty-three. Sir Walter Raleigh was tht
hrst literary man of his day, after Shaks
peare aad Bacon, and at middle life b
married beautiful woman eighteel
years his junior; and the marriage wa
productive of much happiness. w
Know but little of Shakspeare's life
very strong presumptive proof that h
hved we'll; but what little we do know
Is sufficient TO show that, though when
ooy, ne married woman eight years hi
senior, ne was not unhappy as husband
win this fact in view, |" says Mr.. Halli
wei, alluding to her superior years, ant
relying on very uncertain personal allu
Aons In his plays and sonnets, it has bee
conlectured that Shakspeare's marriag
was not productive of domestic happiness.
Fof this opinion not fragment of direc
evidence has been produced, and on equal
y potent grounds might we prove him
nave been jealous, or in fact to have bee
~ ois own person the actual Representative
oi all the passions he describes in the pei
:, sons OF his characters. But "his wife an
laughter did earnestly desire to be laid
!he same grave with him." as the cler
1no informed Dowdall, in the year 1898
~ 1ms last fact is fne illustration of 81
~ ,nomas Brownies idea of the pleasul
.aas N unsatis6ed affections feel in Il
thought that they shall mingle the
asass with the ashes of those they Low
and touch in their urns.
The list of happy marriages made |
literary men might be almost indefinite
extended. Many living Americans cou
os named who have had no occasion to I
get that they have agiven hostages
fortune" but the matter is too delicate
Ge ., pursued in detail with regard to t
nslns The reason why it is so geners
y believed that literary men must
miserable husbands, is to be found IN {
unpisasing fact that some few OF til
lumber have married unhappily, and q
mere has been great deal said abe
sner domestic infelicities, either by the
selves or by others. If the truth ",