The Lake County star. [volume] (Chase, Mich.) 1873-current, 1873-05-15
SQuier- -Brlnkerh0f Scandal.
Correspondence of The Detroit Tribune

Correspondence of The Detroit Tribune
BATTLE CREEK, MAY 6, 1878.
II has become a question with
many whether to laugh at or de-
plore the circumstances recently
brought to light in connection
with the extraordinary free-love
episode just enacted at this place.
One Of the most remarkable fea-
lures Of the case is that the hus
band of Mrs. Brinkcrhof, while
friends and relatives urge him to
Jreak ar the alliance between his
wife and Squier, smiles at them,
coneratulates himself upon his
good luck, and philosophizes
himself into contentment, and that
the wife of Mr.. Sqnier, who still
remains at the east, has published
a card, in which she states that
between herself and her husband
the separation was mutual, and
that she, too, considers her present
lot the more enjoyable, even with
three small children to support.
Mrs. Brinkerhoff stated in her
lecture at the Opera House last
week, that she first met Mr.. Sqnicr
threo years since, and from that
time until now had determined to
leave her husband, and il would
seem finally unto with Mr.. Squicr.
But the manner in which she made
the final engagement, (Which
was in leap yoar), is shown from
some letters just published, written
by herself to relative, in which
she attempts to justify her course.
They read as follows:
"Oue Cay, when / felt that all
the stars in heaven had gone ont,
| cid not know where to 60 that
| might be able to support myself
and pay my debts. l was SO nnbal
anced, physically, that could moi
lecture. lie (SquieD called.
talked a few moments, aud he
seemed at once to. fully understand
me. said, must love somo one
in order 10 save my life. l dc
not ask, said, any one to love
me; | only ask The privilege OF
loving, for | must have saviour
SAID I, 'are you man enough to
accept the situation, and not make
You forget your duty to your fam
lily, nor dislnalify you for the
discharge ofany duty9" lie replied
Il think l am. Love me as much
as you can, until you can find
some one more worthy"
This brought severe expostula-
iions from her relatives, to which
she replied:
81 know what am abont, and
am as fixed in my purpose as time
itself. | did not write because
wanted any counsel. and to me il
is a matter too vital, too sacred
to talk about with those whom
nature has removed so far from
me, therefore allow me too ask
yes. l insist that neither Of you
will ever again write me, or speak
to mo concerning it unless you
want to know when we are to be
married, and where we expect
to live. MIR. s. is the only person
| have ever met in Battle Greek
who lived among the stars cuough
to keep me company. He is so
infinitely above ordinary indi-
viduals, so muc, more grand,m more
divine, go much finer, more ap-
preciative than the mass around
him, that it would be strange in :
deed it he were understood. ]
understand him; and when the sun
refuses to light and warm the earth
| shall refuse to love him mot be.
fore.
This and more beside did she
repeat to her audience at the
Opera House, aud amid hisses
and interruptions sought to justify
her course by comparing her own
instance with that Of Ralph Waldo
Emerson, Margaret Fuller, Mfs.
Stanton, and others, whom, she
avowed, had been guilty Of all
that she had presumed 10 do. She
had searched the wo IDS by moon.
light. studied upon the banks Of
the river, etc, with Mr.. Squiers
aud it was no mere, intatuation,
but god-given unity of their
hearts. To the final remark that
she considered Mr.. s. but a little
below the angels, various demon
straiions were made by the audi