Marshall County Republican. (Plymouth, Ind.) 1856-1878, 1873-05-29
Summers DiyOrce-The Facts in the
Ease

1t is announced that the Hon. Charles
Sumner has obtained a divorce from his
wife on account of five years willful
absence from bed and board, which is a
ground for divorce under the laws of the
State OF Massachusetts,. We have a sus-
plclon founded upon the gossip of Mrs.
Grundy, who in this instance, we are
quite sure, has not made a mistake, that
Mrs. Charles Sumner has really secured
h sundering of the marital tie rather
thanher istinguishedhusband although
it appears in his name. Mrs. Charles
Sumner was, at the time of her mar
rage, a widow, young and blooming,
still IN her twenties, and, we believe,
without children. Her first husband
was the eldest son of Mr.. Hooper, a
millionaire Congressman from Massa-
chusetts. 1t is believed in Washington
that Mrs. Sumner had a good legal
ground for divorce against her husband,
recognized as such under the laws of
all countries and States, but that she
was unwilling to plead it both from mo-
tlves OF delicacy to her and to himself,
and that, therefore, it was mutually ar
ranged that she should absent herself
for a period of time that would give the
Senator a legal right to cancel the matri-
monial contract.
We know not how it may be. but it
has been said that a jealousy on the
part of the honorable Senator had con-
siderable to do with this unfortunate
proceeding. When the parties were
married, one, we presume, was in the
nelghborhood of three score. and the
other a score and a quarter. There
was, therefore, naturally a disparity of
years and of tastes and habits. This
almost universally produces an unhappy
marriage. But in this instance it was
aggravated. Mr.. Sumner was not only
a bachelor of ~long-matured habits, but
he had formed other connections and
associations peculiar to himself even
aside from that fact. For instance, it
was said that he always had his carriage
at the door at any ball or party they
mutually attended, at which he would
say, Madam, it is o 10 clock it
IS time to go home, and our conveyance
is below" She would reply, 81 am
happy to hear it. You are sleepy and
tired. Go home and go to bed, but 1
am not yet ready. viii follow you by
and by. So good night, my dear"
Then, as we have said, the Senator was
said to be morbldly jealous of a certain
gentleman connected with the Prussian
embassy, whom he had himself intro
duced to his wife and extolled in the
highest terms; and which gentleman
afterward escorted her to many evening
amusements which her husbands habits
forbade him to attend. One day this
young attache received a very peremp-
tory letter from Berlin ordering him to
return home Immediately, and recalling
HIM from the Prussian legation. He
was thunderstruck by the intelligence );
not conscious of any otfense against his
Government, he could not conceive what
it meant. He, therefore, wrote to an
influential friend at home to make in
quiries of Count Bismarck as to what
was the real reason of this very extraor-
binary proceeding. In reply he was in
formed that the Chairman of the Senate
Committee on Foreign Relations, who
was then Senator Charles Sumner, had
written a letter requesting his recall,
and that the Count did not consider that
he was authorized to refuse a request
coming from such an influential source
in the Government to which he was ac-
credited. OF course the young Prussian
gentleman informed Mrs. Sumner of all
this, and rumor hath it that that lady
was not at all pleased with the conduct
of her husband in the matter. The
German secretary returned home, and
for a time that cloud upon the marital
relations OF the Senator disappeared.
But, by and by, as it was announced
to the public, and, we think, by an
agreement between the parties, Mrs.
Summers healthrequired that she should
leave the American continent, and
breathe for a time the air of Europe.
This was accordingly done, and the at
mosphere has been so bracing and the
scenery SO pleasant-to say nothing of
her companionship-that she has lin
gered there so long as to enable Mr..
Sumner to obtain a divorce for willful
absence, required by the statute. Mr..
Sumner will resume his bachelor rela-
lions, and his late wife-a young, hand
some and wealthy widow-win be a
prize to be contended for by gentlemen
of position who are in the matrimonial
market. Cincinnati Enquirer.