The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1874-12-11
Wives of Great Wen,


Mr.. George Dawson, the English lecturer
who has been so warmly received in nearly all
the large cities of this..country, lectured in the
Army & Navy course last evening. In person.
al appearance he is god representative of
the fine type of E.,glishmen. In speaking he
affects the Conversational manner, and is an en-
tertain.ag lecturer. Last evening he was SUI
fer.ng from that hoarseness which appears to
Seize upon our transatlantic cousins ABOUT as
soon as they land upon our shores The sub
ject of his lecture was wives of Great Men"
Referring to the idea entertained by some
that the wives of great men are collection OF
angels, he remarked that great men in the &C.
lection of their wives did not essentially differ
from the common people; some of those mar
riages were admirable, some Of them common
place and great many of them miserable.
The right principle upon which to found mar
riages should be thorough understanding and
comprehension of the word friendship. True
friendship, said he, was the drawing together
of two people through love, which was the
hottest and noblest of human prerogatives. In
this connection Mr.. Dawson made pleasant al
fusion to pretended friendships, such as are
expected to exist among relatives, causing
ing deeper into his subject he remarked that he
would take up and discuss four clerical wed,
dings, two of them happy, harmonious ana
true, and two of them unfortunate, lll-assorted
and miserable. In referring to unhappy IN
ions it was the custom for the world to CLASSIFY
them as ''afflictions' or judgments, lin accord
auce with the position the parties occupied.
The first of the four marriages he. should as
cuss was that of Martin Luther, who married
nun. This marriage was held to De charm-
ing and perfect one. Luther loved ms wi1e
with all his heart; they both left the Old church
and espoused the new one, and their married
life was one of unbroken happiness, made so
through complete understanding of each 9TH
er and mutual friendship
The marriage of Richard Hooker, great
man in the English Church, was next consid-
cred Hooker had fearful scold for wife
a woman who on one occasion, ordered MN
away from party of friends he was entertain
ing to rock a cradle. She was a coarse, vulgar,
illiterate hoyden, and their life one of the most
miserable. Though they became man and
wife, they never could be friends IL they hVed
together till eternity.
Richard Bakers married life was next re-
ferred to. While he was engaged in preaching
a woman heard of him and went to hear him
preach: she was burdened with the cares of
life, but as she listened to him they became
fate of some women to fall in love with their
pastors cloud applausel; they became firm and
warm friends and would have been friends had
they not been married; before they became
united they entered into an agreement-a sort
of protocol-each agreeing not to disturb the
other or interfere with each others preroga-
tives or rights; they lived together seventeen
years. and the union was one OF the happiiest
ever known. 1t was founded on a perfect
friendship
John Wesley and his marriage was his next
subject. To this great man woman was mys-
ho dp't N xvO loved
he was tutor a lover, pastor and master.
She was worldly woman, wore curls and was
fond of dancing and late suppers; but these she
gave up and became a Puritan. But wesley,
having no mind of judgment upon the subject
of marriage, submitted the question to party
of Moravians who came over in the same ship
with him. This circumstance incensed his be-
trothed and she became cool towards him; as
her GOODNESS increased her hair began to length
en- out and her old taste for balls and suppers
to lrevive. Eventually she married another,
and through Wesley she was accommodated.
He subsequently returned to England and after
awhile married widow. Their wedding ba-
rometer was "set fair" at first, then it became
stormy. She was very jealous woman, and
the barometer kept sinking. She opened letters
from some of his flock, but couldn't understand
or appreciate their contents, and the result was
that after twenty years OF married misery she
went off and never came back. The lack OF
sympathy and friendship was assigned as the
cause of all their troubles.
John Millions marriage was most disas'
trous one. He was the most learned man in
Europe, and in person perfect Apollo, yet
at thirty-seven years of age he went away and
came back with young wife She was mere
child, slim, straight-waisted, ignorant thing,
who cried for her mother, and ran off to her.
Milton brought her back subsequently,, and
though they lived together their marriage was
an unhappy one.
Sam johnson met the widow Porter, fat. fair
and forty-seven. johnson was very poor, and
she very rich, and she pited him. They agreed
to marriage, and after little trouble in re,
gard to who should be master, he triumphed
and everything was happy.
Albert Durer, the famous German painter
had wife which kept him constantly in hot
water; and John Flaxman. the sculptor, had g
most perfect and friendly marriage.
The life of Thomas Moore was next touched
upon. He married woman who was gooc
housekeeper and nothing more. While he was
in prison she visited him and tried to have hin
renounce his treason and return home.
Lord William Russell, politician, had loving
and true wife, and his married life was hap
Ply one.
From these and other illustrations, the speak
err drew the conclusion that it was great mis-
take for persons to marry when they would no
be friends without marriage.