The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1868-12-16

A ROMANCE IN REAL .LIFE-How Mr..
lands, OF "VINELAND," CoURTED Miss
MEADE AND MARRIED her UNDER RISK OF
THE CoMMoDoRE's P1sToLs.- Every body
has heard of Charles K. Lands, the great
pioneer who has built /" "Vineland" in the
New Jersey pine woods, and made himself
millionaire by his enterprise and success.
He is the gentleman who recently married
the daughter of Commodore Meade, of
Brooklyn, and thus precipitated the sup
posed necessity for confning the old gentle
man in the Bloomingdale Lunatic Asylum.
He publishes in the Philadelphia papers
his version of the circumstances. He says
"I have heard Of men in olden times at
tacking castles and taking their wives by
force. have heard of their taking them
out Of third-story windows, and I'have also
heard of their quietly walking away and
getting married but never heard before,
either in history or fiction, of man first
confining his intended father-in-law in a
lunatic asylum and then Immediately mar
rying his daughter and am not ambi-
tious to be the one to start such prece-
dent" ",
He met Miss Meade at her home last
January, but was advised that it was worth
as much as mans life to pay any atten-
ton to his daughters-of the number of
suitors who had been actually driven
away by force of arms.'' Upon further in
quiry ascertained this to be a fact. When
l had decided to propose to my wife sent
8 formal notice to him and request for his
consent. His answer TO this was peremp-
tory order to desist from all attentions to
his daughter, reiterated by another letter
threatening serious consequences in easel
continued these attentions, and placing the
grounds of his objection as follows: First,
my age; second, my religion; third, being
an utter stranger. Being at the time thir-
ty-four years old, was at loss whether
he meant that was too young or too old.
did not care about adopting any new reli-
gion and being fully his equal in birth
and education, and having lived for eleven
years upon my own estates in New Jersey,
with my banners on the outward WALL
could not possibly sympathize with the last
objection"
He saw all the Commodore's family and
relatives, and they agreed that Mr..
Lands should "pay no attention" F" to the
Commodore, though the old gentleman
seemed likely to pay go much attention to
him, and that "the Commodore was suffer
ing under alteration Of mind, and had
been in this state for some time.". After
this, he WAS informed "that the Commo-
dore was watching around the Staten Island
ferries, that he might shoot me at the first
opportunity. | continued my attention the
same, and would have blushed at the
thought of anything like personal danger
influencing my conduct. For some time
previously my marriage was appointed to
take place on the l4th of October, at the
residence Of my wife's uncle, Charles A.
Meigs, Esq, Of Staten Island. A few days
before, I received o warning that the mind
of the Commodore was disturbed, and that
he would shoot me for certain in case he
saw me. I decided, however, that on the
18th Of October | would cross the ferry in
open daylight, in an open carriage, and
stand any amount of shooting that was ne
cessary. | felt that men had often risked
their lives for objects less worthy than
NINE" So he went ahead in this gallant
style, crossed over the raging waters Of ,ne
East river, and repaired to th" nnpsa n
Uncle Meigs, and was tbc 70 ;nformad bv "
Lieu1enan, commerce Lore Meade that the
taI fatha1 nSu ought it necessary to take his
i'',i''i - the asylum the previous day.
they suggested to MIR. c. that they
thought it probable he might consider this
reason for breaking off the marriage. Blu,
he requested that it should take place. My
affianced was not responsible for this heart
rending misfortune; and besides, if she
had lost her beauty or met with any other
misfortune, or if all the family had sud
denly become lunatics, l would have beer
all the more anxious to have the right and
the power to protect her. married her
thank God and, with His help, mean te
stay married, and shield her all her life
from every evil that may threaten.