Saint Mary's beacon. [volume] (Leonard Town, Md.) 1867-1983, 1872-05-09

DgAS Swrrr's MARRIAcE.-Swift hac
written each day to Stella . journal Of th.
'variods events that had sooshcd his an,bi
ticn or satisfied his pride. and named III,
great mobiles who were his frequent com
.paniops, the power be had won in III,
councils Of the nation. the most minute
cscnts Of his daily life. his dinners. hi,
diseases. his giddiuess. the misconduct o.
Patrick. and The melancholy end Of Pa.
tricks lark, the adventures Of the box o
snuff. the heat Of the weather yet there
was one passage of his London career upon
which he was ever silent He had found Q
new pupil. and Stella had learned BY re-
port of ;hat gay and graceful rival to
whom all Of Switi's leisure was devoted
Ester vanhonrigh. the Yanessa Of the
mysterious romance. was young. wealthy,
beautiful. q member Of the gli,,cring cir
Gle ofTory fashion in which her master
was now moving with singular applause
Her father was dead. her mother kept n
hosptatie house. and here Swift found a
friendly reception. and forgot in the ca
ger homage Of -Vancssa his duty to his
betrothsd. the gentle pupil Of Moor Park
lie woke suddenly from his delusion.
and. when The death Of Anna drove him.
Il moody exile. TO his dcanery at Dublin.
had resolved. perhaps. to part forever
from Vancssa. On his return he fonnd
that grief and natural jealousy had
thrown Stella into a deep melancholy
Her health declined A common friend
carried her complaints TO Swift. and, with
strange reluctance and singular precaution,
he at length determined to prove his con-
rtancy by going through the form of mar
ri.gc. The ceremony was performed Sc
eretly in the garden Of the deanery of the
Bishop Of Cloger. l7l6, but upon condi.
ton that it was never to be acknowledge
publicly. and Stella was to live apart from
her husband in the same guarded way in
which they had 80 long dc6cd the scruti-
ny Of tho world Agi.ated and gloomy
Swift had yielded as If to some fatal nsces-
si.y In his mysterious marriage.
Soos aiter. his friend. MIR Delany. met
him coming from an interview with the
archbishop Of Dublin. lie looked like
one distracted. and passed Delany with
out speaking. Delany found the archbish-
up in tears. Upon asking the reason. he
7iplicc: .'You have just met the most un.
happy man on earth. but Of the cause Of
His wrctchedness you must never ask a
question" Swift hid himself in seclusion
for several days after his marriage, and
then came forth to resume his usual course
Of life and to treat Stella only as below.
cd friend. Every year, on her birthdsy
he celebrated her virtues in graceful vers.
es. and proved the sincerity of his affec.
ton BY his devotion to her while living
and the anguish with which he received
the tidings Of her death.
What fatal barrier existed TO their per.
feet union. what strange confession Swift
made to the archbishop of Dublin. Why he
ever refused to publish his marriage with
one he 50 deeply loved. no research has
eser uaiolded. and no tongue has ever
told. Swit. carefully preserved his secret,
and even when his intellect sank into i'm
becility. upon one point he was always
prudent. In oil bis writings he made no
confession. The mystery of Swift and
Stella sleeps with them, where they were
placed aide by side. in the Cathedral Of
81. Patrick. Blu, conjecture has never
ceased to explain their story II was said
, that after his marriage Swift discovered
ths, Stella was his sister. that they we're
both the children Of Sir William Temple,
and that the secret vac malicious,y reveal.
ed BY Mrs. Dingiey. Stella's companion,
when ths CEREMONY was ended. Several
cireumsts nees seen 20 confirm the theory.
They had both been inmates of Sir vii.
4ism's house. had been treated By him
with constant regard. sad had received
considerable legacies in HE will. Some
likeness was traced between them and
their supposed father. and it was not in.
credihls shst one might have remained
igaosant Of the others parentsge. bu
SeoGs beiiesed that 10 bad perfectly refased
the theory. Ry some writers il has beer
sasaessed that Swift was insane. and .ha
In conduct 10 Stella and vanessa showed
only the Wild freaks Of . madmaa. 9th.
ers have accused his .6eEcs ambition aud
his pride. thai led him to crush viii
neglect his humble companion and wife
some -asssrt ,has be. would save the liz,
of yxnsssa: that he married Stella. ba
loved Der rival, But Tor an these coniec
tufes no sufficient argsment can be ad
daced. IL t