The spirit of democracy. [volume] (Woodsfield, Ohio) 1844-1994, 1871-12-12
Alice G3Ty'E love.

A story under the title Of the 'Un-
known Love Of Alice Cary" in the
newspapers, is still travelling through
the length cf the land 1t asserts that
in her youth she was aflianced to Rufus
W. Griswold that he was false to her
forsaking her for woman of the world !;
that long after, when ne returned to
New York, friendless, poor, and sick,
she forgave him the great wrong that
he had done and nursed him till he died.
This story, in many conflicting phases,
was often, TO her great annoyance, told
of her during her life. The fact that
Rufus W. Griswold did in his last will
bequeath to her his personal effects, was
made much of in public and private cir
cles, and used as unanswerable proof
that at one time he had been her lover.
Within a week ] have read in letter to
the New York Evening Post that the
will proved the love and relationship
between the two persons beyond a
doubt.
| Yet no less, in its foundation, the sto-
ry is false. Referring to it once, while
we two sat alone together, Alice said to
me: Il will tell you just the truth. Ii
you ever think it necessary, you can tel
it," | believe it to be but justice to her
secret life, with which idle gossip is yet
too busy, to tell it now. Bereavement
in death and in life had made her Wes-
tern home too desolate to be borne
These, with the impulse of the brave
will that served her TO the last, brought
her to New York to make, not the life
that she would lave chosen for herself,
yet life worthy to be lived ''Igno-
rance stood me in the stead of courage -
she said. "Had | known the great world
as have learned it since, / should not
have dared; but l didn't. Thus l came y
The leading literateur at that time
was DR.. Rufus W. Griswold. He had
complied the books called ''Thc Female
Prose Writers" and "Female Poets of
America" He was sharply On the look
out for every new genius in literature
that appeared. He had visited the sis,
ters in their Ohio home, and in 1850 OBJ
tained publisher for their first volume,
and had added both their, names with
selections from their poems to bis own
Poets of America He knew every
thing necessary to their success, in the
sphere of labor which they had chosen,
while they practically knew next to
nothing. He encouraged and helped
them in many ways, and thus comman-
ded their gratitude.
Rufus W. Griswold was man of po-
etic temperament, Of fine scholarship, of
generous impulses, and in certain drec-
tions of rare gifts; yet 10 less he was
a man of tickle fancies, of violent tenn
per, which often fell upon his dearest
friends, of monstrous vanity, and of IN
governed passions. 81 was never en-.
gagged to him in marriage; I never low
ed him." said Alice Cary to me. 81
could not have loved such man, though
learned him in his best phases.
came to pity him, because he was his
own worst enemy. As friend owed
him much, and before his death l found
it in ny power to pay back in part my
large debt of gratitude. When he re-
turned to New York, poor and sick, with
certain death before him, /, with Miss
--, hired room and nurse for him.
From that they have made the romantic
story of my nursing him for unrequitt-
ed love. 1t was old 9etsey who nursed
him. You know how big and strong
she is; yet even she became worn out
for his sickness was long and very pain
full Many unkind, even cruel things
have been said because he willed to me
his personal effects Besides the books
and pictures which he bequeathed to the
Historical Society, these we're ALI that
he possessed, and he left them to me
not more out of personal regard than
from desire to repay. as Ear as able,
the money which l had expended for
his comfort during the last sickness"
In the profoundest sense Alice Cary
never loved but once. The man whom
she loved is still alive; yet gossip, with
its keenest scent, has never found or
named him. With all her fu'ness Of
affection, here was an eclectic and soli-
tary soul. He who by the very patent
of his being was more to her than any
other mortal could be might pass from
her life, but no other could ever take
his place. A proud and prosperous
family brought all their pride and power
to bear on son to prevent his marry
ing girl uneducaled; rustic and roor.
Il waited for one who never came back.
she said "yet l believed he would come
till l read in paper his marriage to an
other. Can you think what life would
be-ioying one, waiting for one WHO
would never Gomez"
/! He did come at last. I saw him. His
wife had died. Alice was dying. The
gray haired man sat down beside the
gray haired woman. Life had dealt
Iprosperously with him, as is its wont
with men. Suffering and death had ta-
ken all from her save the lustre of her
wondrous eyes. From her wan and
wasted face they shone upon him full
of tenderness and youth, Thus they
met with life behind them-they who
parted p!ighted lovers when life was
young. He was the man whom she for
gave for her blishted and weary life,
Will smile of parting as diyine as ev-
er lit the face OF woman.-N6iy Glenn
mer 4meS.