Cincinnati daily press. [volume] (Cincinnati [Ohio]) 1860-1862, 1860-06-21
A JuaIcIal Question for solomon.

The controversy which broke out on the
denarture of the redoubtable John G. Heenan
for England, between several women as to
their marital rights to the said Benicia Boy,
and which arose on the exclusive conjugal
claim which Adah Isaacs Menken, dramatic
daughter of Israel, set up to the man of mus
Gle, and which was complicated by the equally
exclusive claim set up by another deeply
injured, or deeply infatuated lady, has at
length been settled by the formal denial of
the said John G. Heenan, through his next
friend, George Wilkes, that he was ever mar
ried to any woman, much less to several
women.
We say settled; but people will have their
own ideas about it, and some may think that
this denial complicates the matter still more.
Il was q strange hallucination for the fair
Adah Isaacs Menken. 1t is true, persons
have imagined themselves to be teapots,
pump-handles, and various other utensils;
therefore, perhaps, charity should allow that
such matrimonial hallucination is possible
to woman, though the consequences to So
ciety if it should become generally subject to
such hallucinations, can not be contemplated
without concern.
Undoubtedly the spirited Adah is an ad.
mirer of muscle-men. This was always 6
marked feature of her race. During the palmy
days of their power their rulers were selected
for their superior size and muscle. Moses
Sampson, Saul and David, all demonstrated
their pluck and muscular power. The honor
which the daughters of Israel paid to David
when he returned from his mill with the
Philistine giant show the spirit of the He.
brew women; and Adah, perhaps, remembers
that the victor was rewarded with the daugh-
ter of the King for wife, and therefore con-
siders herself rightfully at the service of the
Greeco-A American Champion.
Perhaps, also, Adah's enthusiastic admira-
ton for the Benicia STRIPPING, when he wen
like the Champion of Israel, armed onlJ
with sings and his two punches of fives, t
meet the British Goliah, impressed her witt
the idea that they were one in spiritua
affinity. Or it is possible that she ma.
have felt as young persons say sometimes
though they always bitterly repent it, in th'
moral romances, when secret vows ar
trusted in anticipation of the ceremony o
the church, that they were "married in thu
sight of heaven"
1t seems, however, that the Benicia Bo.
felt none of this passional affinity; perhap
because his mind was too much
''On hospitable thoughts intent"
toward the terrible Sayers, in whose EN-
brace, as in that of the enthusiastic Adah, h
might say with James Fitz James,
''No maden's arms were round him thrown"
We fear that Benicia's denial is technical
and does not cover the whole ground 1t
true that considerable latitude was allowe
to strong men in ancient times, and tina
Sampson would hardly be regarded as Al
ornament to our daily prayer-meetings; bu
although the Scriptures are good for doc
trine for reproof and for consolation, thes
examples can not be initiated now withou
mourning the reprobation of society, as th
Benicia Boy will find. ~
The counter claim of the other Mrs. Johl
G. Heenan makes the matter more inexplca
BILE. We are not we'll enough versed in tn
modern improvements in the affections Il
know whether various atinities can exist 70
the same affection, 1t used to be held tina
but one disease could exist in the system a
time. It is possible that these divers
claims may be the coming of that time fore
told in the Scriptures, when Seven wome
shall lay hold on one man, saying we will ea
our own bread and wear our own appare
only let us be called by thy name to tax
away our reproach" which, at thi
time, would vastly mitigate the appreher
sions Of matrimony in our young men, an
on which, with one at time, most of thel
would be glad to compromise. s.-.als-
We commend this prophecy to our coten
porary, the Gazette, whose want of faith hi
led to serious apprehensions that the cost
mstrimony will soon be SO great that youn
men will not be able to marry, and so Il