New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1874-08-06
HER ,CTORY.

81 understood very well" said she, that
&" was not TO have the attention that many
"wives have. His talent and genius must not
abe narrowed down to myself" She was
nothing in her own eyes but a commonplace
little woman, and it was enough If stray
beam of the glory which radiated from her
heros presence fell across the humble figure
following reverently behind him. II he left
her unnoticed while be was making fame, and
filing his little world with beautiful phrases,
she accepted her lowly lot III meek content
ment. If he babe her ~ with him into public
places, she obeyed without word, and stood
aloof in the midst Of the thrOng, that she
might not disgrace him with her simple man
ner and her hOmely speech. To watch her
lord and master shining in the company OF
brilliant takers, and wits, and essayists, and
poets, was happiness enough for her. TO
make luxurious and refined home tor this
gifted being and his grand friends she was
willing TO 90 cold and hungry. Whatever
NAV have been her faults, it is easy to see
that she had q tender heart and sympathetic
nature. How many sad hours must there have
| been as she looked back to those early days
| when the young reporter knew no woman
more accomplished than his girlish wife, no
Measure more intoxicating than her society,
no glory greater than to win hor love. But
she never complained that he gradually forgot
his Quiet little wOrshiper while he was busy
setting the world to rights and making a
"name for himself" She never blamed him be-
cause he told her to keep away from him when
his fine company came, or scOlded about tho
uncongenial atmosphere OF his home, where
there was nobody but a simple wife anC
children to minister to his ambitious spirit
This WAS no common man. 1t was creature
whose talent and genius" must not b.
&c narrowed down. to the ordinary domestic
duties, being destined for the pride of thu
lyceum and the admiration of advanced tea
tables. and privileged in consequence to b
moody, cruel, and dissatisfied at home.
Poor woman. how she nursed his vanity ant
selfshness! Little by little. he got farthe
and farther away from her. He needed liter
ory companionship, and she was not literary
He vearned for the society of bold thinkers
and radical reformers of every eccentric vari
etv and she was only an oldfashioned bod.
who cared more for the tireside than tn
crowded hall. and wanted somebody to low
her. Loud-voiced women came TO confron
her at her own table. blatant prophetesse
made her parlors hdeous. The man who hat
taken her for better or for worse began Z
discuss her faiings and to question her homo
in the company of salacious social revolution
lists. Anybody might have foreseen the end
The hero stalked through two cities exhibit
ing his sores, and praying the world to behol'
how he was dishonored, while the wife RAJ
heart-broken to the cemetery and threw her
self upon the graves of he. children.
To learn the lesson of this domestic histor
il il needless to know who has sinned or how
mueb has been forgiven. The first fault !
nlain enough. There is no such thing a
social prosperity and happiness which doe
not rest upon the purity and union OF th'
family. What shallow charlatans are those
who seek to raise the condition of womeI
by crushing their own wives while they turl