Public ledger. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1865-1893, 1871-06-16
THE SORROWS OF CHAs. SUMNER.
A Fearful Female Falls I'm Love
with Him.


The social atmosphere in the neigh
borhood of the Arlington was disturbed
last week by an event seriously affecting
our friend the Hon Charles Sumner. II
seems that an infatuated female, far of
in the regions of Maine, took the insane
determination in her female brain TO be
slave for life to her idol, the great
statesman. To this end she first ad
dressed letter to the unfortunate vic
tim, and then, being full of enthusiastic
tenderness, but not full of greenbacks
she set out on foot. At every stopping
place on the way she mailed bulletin
to the statesman. With the cunning Of
insanity she used the franking privilege
with the greatest liberality. Night after
night the great negotiator of foreign
relations continued to receive these
fearful messages; and like the dropping
of water upon stone, they wore upon
his brain. When his huge mail came in
his great heart sank within him. This
at last came to be terror. His fate
was approaching. His fate came slowly
but surely on foot. If it could have
been swift; if one could be put out Of
ones misery-but to know day after
day, to waken and toss through the
long watches Of the night, and realize
that the internal woman was on foot and
every hour brought her nearer, was ter
rible.
To some men under these circum-
stances three alternatives would present
themselves. One would be to fly, to
elope, to run away; the second, to get
drunk; the third, to commit suicide. OF
these the great Sumner could not avail
himself. He could not fly. Brave as
lion, he did not know how to retreat
To get drunk was simply Impossible
the strongest liquor only makes him
sick, not drunk. And as for suicide
what, die, and leave the lnscrutable
alive2-impossible.
But the dread approach wore on him.
He thinned and paled. He got to be
querulous and ugly. The many tif-
teenth Amendments, who acted as
menials about, stood in fear and trem-
bled as his deep voice came up like
vaulted thunder in hasty wrath
At last, one morning the door bell was
rung as if the Angel of Death, some
what behind time in his appointment
with the family physician, was taking
pull at the summons. The Fifteenth
Amendment, whose duty it was to re-
spond to the door, hurried up, and,
opening it, saw tall, slender female,
with a carpet-sack thrown over her
shoulders, armed with cotton UNI
brella, and gazing at life from behind a
pair of spectacles that served as did
the once feared masked batteries of the
civil war The proprietor Of these sew
eral disagreeable qualities thrust a note
into the darky's hand, and said in
shrill voice of command, Give that to
yer boss.
This was done. The learned states
man gazed from the window and saw his
fate. For a moment he stood dizzy and
irresolute Then he smote his manly
breast, started up, and cried, Sumner
Sumner show true courage-now the
hourl
The servant brought him the note.
He read:
"WAsHINGToN, D. G.
" Senator Sumner:
Il have accomplished my journey. |
am standing on your doorstep. May l
come in? Miss SUSAN A. GITz."
The mighty orator, beckoning to
policeman he had engaged in advance
to guard his premises, locked his door.
In moment the policeman asked ad-
Opening the door cautiously
an inch, Sumner said in deep tones, |
" Arrest that female at the door. But |
he spoke too late He heard hurried |
step upon the stair. He slammed the
door, and too much frightened to lock
it, fled and concealed himself in closet.
A brief engagement came off between
the municipal snapping-turtle and the
female. For a moment
victory hung doubtful. At last it was
decided in favor of enthusiasm. She
poked the guardian of the Senator in
the right eye with the end of her cotton
umbrella. He gave a great howl and
rell back. She entered the room. She
razed hurriedly around. The door of
,he closet stood ajar. She opened this
loor and saw her idol
81 am here, your Susan behold me,
7our guardian " she cried.
Woman, begonel" exclaimed the
Senator; i want you not. am de-
yoted to my country; | am welded to
ny books. Women annoy me; there
ore, begone
''Not want mel you stupid man. You
10 want me; you need protection; you
reed tender solicitude. Look at this
-ile place; see these indecent figures
md abominable pictures of naked wo-
men. / come to purify and sustain {
md / willl' ,
Here she threw out her arms-one
land welding the carpet-sack, the ,
,ther the umbrella. Either through !
.ccident or design she threw from its !
PEDESTAL to the floor, breaking in pieces {
N exquisite marble statuette of the i
1enus de Medicis The great Sumner I
Uttered a piercing cry Of anguish, |
Wretchl" he exclaimed "vandal, out v
aw, female furyl what have you done2 +
At this moment, policemen rallied,
nd, assisted by the colored fellow-citi- n
en- of the mansion, captured the frantic a
amale by throwing a rug over her head, v
nd, amid screams, kicks and fearful a
truggles, carted her off to an insane a
syluma c
The friends of the Senator have v
nee made up pony purse and shipped a
male enthusiasm back to her home in r,
Iaine. a