Marshall County Republican. (Plymouth, Ind.) 1856-1878, 1876-11-23
NEW SERIES VOL. II, NO. "a.

he met Sir Joshua Reynolds, In whose
opinion no man could hope to become
an artist who did not devote himself
entirely to art, and who had not
studied patiently and reverently the
works Of the great masters Of Italy
ITSELF
We'll, Flaxman," said Sir Joshua,
Il hear you are married. You are
ruined for an artist"
Flaxman went straight to his wife
and said to her: 1ot- .-aFs
Anne, I am ruined for an artist. I"
~Who has ruined you, John?"
ut happened In church." he re-
piled. @and Anne Denman has done
it."
He then told her what Sir Joshua
had said. and added. II should like
to have been great artist
@And so you shall. and 60 to Rome
toe, IL that will make you one."
@How?" said Flaxman.
work and economize." she replied.
Il will never have it said that Anne
Denman ruined John Flaxman for an
artist" .,-s....
And so the brave couple did work
and economize. They worked pa
tiently and hopefully for five years,
never asked help from any one, and
at last went together to Rome, where
Flaxman studied and worked to such
purpose that he achieved both fame
and competency. His success was
not shared to the full, however, by
his faithful wife, for she died many
years before him.
The wife Of the late DIR. Buckland
considerably assisted her husband In
his labors. She used to write from
his dictation for hours at q time.
She herself furnished many OF the
drawings with which his works are
illustrated, and she skilfully and
dextrously mended many Of the fos-
sils which but for her would have
been useless.
Thomas Carlyle, one Of the great
est intellectual lights Of this century,
has recorded his testimony to the
worth Of his wife on her tombstone:
In her bright existence she had more
SORROWS than are common, but also
a soft amiability. capacity for dis
cernment and noble loyalty Of
heart, which are rare. For forty
years she was the true and loving
helpmate OF her husband. and by act
and word unweariedly forwarded him
as none else could, In all of worthy
that he did or attempted"
The wife OF Faraday was a true
helper to her husband. After twenty
eight years OF married life, he speaks
in his diary Of bis marriage as an
event which more than any other,
had contributed to his earthly happi-
ness and healthy state OF mind, and
says: THE union has In nowise
changed, except only In the depth and
the strength of its character"
Thomas Hood, the wit and poet,
speaks thus OF his wife: Il never was
anything, dearest. till knew you.
and / have been better, happier and
more prosperous man ever since.
Whatever may befall me, the wife Of
my bosom will have the acknowl-
edgement OF her tenderness, worth
and excellence from my pen."
Speaking Of Hood makes us think
OF two notable instances Of great
writer's in our time who have not
been happy in their wives-namely.
Charles Dickens aud Bulwer Lytton.
1t Is neither a pleasant nor thank
full task to expose the spots which
spoil the beauty Of great works Of
art, nor to call attention to the little
nesses whi,h detract from the admi-
ration we feel for great men; never
theless, there seems ample reason for
believing that in both these instances
whatever fault there was did not lie
wholly with the wives. Thackeray,
who has been frequently spoken OF as
a similar instance, was most loving
and beloved ia tho home circle, but
sustained deep affliction in his wife
losing her reason after the birth Of
one of her children.
The conetancy with which so many
women have cherished the memory
Of their husbands when death has re-
moved them from their sides, can
not but call forth respect and admi-
ration. Our Queen is herself q noble
example OF this. The depth Of her
sorrow for the loss Of the good Prince
Albert, and the faithfulness with
which she cherishes and honors his
memory and teaches her children to
do so, are known to all. 30
Lady Franklin, too. holds a fore
most place among the faithful and
true. When her husband, Sir John
Franklin, did not return at the ex-
pected time from his last expedition
to the North Seas, apprehension be-
gan to be seriously entertained re-
specting his fate and that OF his brave
companions. She offered rewards OF
$4,000 and $4,000 to any person dis
covering or affording any relief to
the missing party, or making any ex-
traordinary effort with this object.
She appealed to the American peo-
pie to assist In the search, and she
herself determined upon, organized
and to q great extent defrayel the
expense OF two expeditions to seek for
lost traces Of the missing party. For
years she refused to give up hope,
and 1t was only when Captain Nc
Clintock returned with what were
considered full proofs OF his death
that she rested in her endeavors to
prosecute the search. To quote the
words OF Sir Roderick Murchi.
son. Nothing dauted by failure
after failure, she persevered through
years of hope deferred with