The Van Buren press., 1869-06-29
Whom do Great Men Marry2

Charles B. Stevens, in the Phrenologi
cal Journal, answers this question as FOL.
lows:
Women, OF course But they show the
same diversity Of taste that is seen in the
lower ranks, and on the whole, make
worse mistakes They, however, show
the same sense in choosing wive. that
they do in managing other peoples af-
fairs, whether it do good or bad.
John Howard, the great philanthropist,
married his nurse She was altogether
beneath him in social life and intelligent
capacity, and besides this, was titty-two
years old, while he was but twenty
He would not take No" for an answer,
and they were married, and lived happily
together until her death, which occurred
two years afterward.
Peter the Great of Russia. married a
peasant girl. She made an excellent wife
and = sagacious empress.
Humboldt married poor girl because
he loved her. OF course they were hap
py.
Shakespeare loved and wed farmers
daughter. She was faithful to her VOWS,
but we could hardly say the same of the
great bard himself Like most Of the
great poets, he showed too little discrim-
nation in bestowing his affection on the
other sex.
Byron married Miss Mlbank to get
money to pay his debts, 1t turned out q
bad shift.
Robert Burns married farm girl
with whom he fell in love while they
worked together in the plow field. He,
too, was irregular IN his life. and commit
ted the most serious mistakes in conduct
ing his domestic affairs
Milton married the daughter Of "a coun.
try squire, but lived with her but q short
time. He was an austere, eXacting, litera-
ry recluse; while she was a rosy, romp-
ing lass, that could not endure the re-
straint imposed upon her, and so they
separated. Subsequently, however, she
returned, and they lived tolerably happy.
Queen Victoria and Prince Albert were
cousins, and about the only example in
the long line of English monarchs where
in the martial VOWS were sacredly OBJ
served and sincere affection existed.
Washington married widow with two
children. 1t is enough to say of her that
she was worthy Of him, and that they
lived as married folks should, in perfect
harmony.
John Adams married the daughter OF
a Presbyterian clergyman. Her father
objected on account of Johns being a
lawyer; he had bad opinion Of the pro
fession.
Thomas Jefferson married Mrs. Mar
tha Shelton, 4 childless widow, but she
brought him large fortune in real estate.
After the ceremony she mounted the
horse behind him and they rode home To-
gether. 1t was late in tae evening, and
they found the fire out. But the great
statesman hustled around and rebuilt it,
while she seized the broom and soon put
things in srder 1t is needless to say that
they were happy, though Jefferson died
a poor man on account OF his extreme
liberality and hospitality.
Benjamin Franklin married the girl who
stood in her fathers door and laughed at
him as he wandered through the streets
of Philadelphia with rolls of bread under
his arms, and his pockets filed with dirty
clothes. She had occasion to be happy
when she found herself the wife Of such
great and good man.
4 1t is not generally known that Andrew
Jackson married a lady whose husband
was still living. She was IN une lucated
but amiabe woman, and was most devO-
tedly attached to the old warrior and
statesman.
John c, Calhoun married his cousin,
and their children fortunately were
neither diseased nor idiotic, but they do
not evince the talent Of the great " States
rights" advocate.
Edwin Lytton Bulwcr, the English
statesman and novelist, married girl
much his inferior in position, and got
shrew for a wife, She is now insane.
Gen Sam. Hous on lived happily with
= squaw wife, while Gen Butler was di.
vorced from an accomplished lady. Ed
win Forrest, the great tragedian, married
a beautiful actress, from whom he was di-
yorced. Gen. Fremont married the
daughter Of Thes II. Benton, against the
lat,er's WISH which obliged him TO elopc
with her on stormy night. The union
proved happy one in spite Of the squal-
ly beginning. Horace Greeley married
a school mistress whose beauty was ques-
tionablc, but whose sense and goodness
satisfied one of the greatest men of hi,
time.
Gen. Sherman married the daughter Of
Thos Ewing Of Ohio, who was member
of Gen. Taylor's cabinet This alone
would have been good start for any
young man. JEFF Davis, for his first wife,
won the hand Of Zachary Taylor's daugh.
ter and Gen Grant married Miss Dent
Of st. Louis She apparently has mere
sense than show, and is therefore lit for Il
Presidents wife.
Ey New wheat is already selling in
some portions Of Middle Georgia at one
dollar and seventy.iyc cents per bushel