The new Northwest. [volume] (Portland, Or.) 1871-1887, 1874-08-21
Matrimonial Infelicities of the Giants Of
Literature.


The matrimonial infelicities of Charles
Dickens, which have lately been the
theme of considerable discussion and
speculation on both sides of the Allan
tic, naturally suggest the inquiry, "Why
is il that literary men are so frequently
unlucky in their ventures after welded
bliss?" The question might with quite
as much propriety be put in this way,
"Why is it that women who marry lit
erary men are so frequently disappoint-
ed in their hopes of happiness?" There
ought not, surely, to be any incurable
incongruity between the pursuit OF let
ters and the liberal exercise of the do
mestic feelings. Because a man can
write a fine poem, a fine play, or hne
novel; because he can produce nooie
history, a splendid system OF philoso,
ply, or an elaborate treatise on physleal
science, is no reason for being bad, or
even an Indifferent, husband. The mere
fact that his intellectual faculties are
highly cultivated and fittingly en-
Moved. Ought-one would think-to
! Stimulate his affections and keep them
ALWAYS in vigorous and healthy eXer-
else around legitimate objects. Yet, in
! spite of the excellence of this theory, 1t
! too often fails, and fails miserably in
practice. Socrates Is almost as famous
on account of the terrible dance which
Xantippe led him, as for the treasures
of wisdom which he transmitted to pos
| terity. Shakspeare's experience with
Anne Hathaway could not have been
particularly pleasing, else he would not
have left her when he did as he did, and
/ bequeathed to her only his "second best
/ bed" It is hard, and at the same time
Of, In 70 ha nTr-
thor of Hamlet" Macbeth" and
"Midsummer Nights Dream" had such
a commonplace thing about his house
as a "second best bed" and plainly
suggestive that he should have a wife
who, in his opinion, was not worthy OF
first-class sleeping accommodations.
Addison and his friends thought he
was making magnificent match when,
after a long and tedious courtship, he
married DOwager Countess Warwick.
Dear old Spectator 90 How his high
blOOded spouse worried that gentle
spirit, and made him only too glad to
fly from the stately saloons of Holland
House, and take refuge in an humble
club-rOom with his book. glass, and q
boon companion. Many time, We
doubt not, he wished himself back in
his old bachelor garret, free from care
and curtain lectures, and undisturbed
by the unsOcial skeleton which con-
fronted him at the other end of the din
ing-table.
Burns was the sweetest of song writ
ers, and the champion love-maker OF
his day; but he was far from being sat
isfied with Jean Armour, and "bonnie
Jean" must have been a saint in petit
coats If she was satisfied with him. The
truth is that "the inspired peasant" +"
whose memory and whose verses will
live rs long as the English language en-
dures, was a sad fellow i'm domestic mat
tiers. Mrs. Burns has, of course, pass
port to Immortality in the same boat
with her liege lord, but it would have
been better for her had she given heI
heart and hand to some honest highland
/ lad whose name never penetrated be-
yond the limits of the parish where hC
lived and died.
Byron was worse than Burns. II,
commenced his matrimonial career Will
no love at all, and did not improve dur
ing the short year which the expert
ment lasted. Undoubtedly there wa
fault on both sides, but the bulk OF tn,
fault was with him. He was no NOR
suited to matrimony than he woul'
have been to the study of divinity
Had he married Mary Chaworth insteal
of Miss Milbank, the result would hav
been the same in kind, if not in degree
Swift may or may not have been mar
ried TO Stella, but he treated her ;
) badly that we imagine he must hav
had legal right TO do so. NRness
Jared no better; and both Esther John
son and Esther Nanhomright had caus
, to curse the day when they first locke
upon the face OF the great Dean.
We might lengthen the list of matri
monial bankruptcies among literar,
men, but the instances given will abun
dainty suffice.