Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1876-08-19
EVENING STAR.
GREAT MEMS WIVES.

English proyerb which says that "it n man
would thrive he must ask his wife's leave"
examples of women who havedone for their
husbands what Aaron and Hur did Tor
Moses; hey have held up their hands an, s1l
lives, and so turned what would have been
failure Into triumph and success. And they
accompanied far more ID dif ti tasS-thsi
OF sustaining and cheering when endeavor
and hope were dead. IL is only necessary 10
Vert and Lady Rachel Russell In proof OF
this. II may not be embarrassing 10 give a
few instances OF women In our own genera
ton who have been to their husbands help
ers and fellow-wor kers, as well as sympa-
thizing companions, and VINO have thus
taken position which Is unanimously ac-
able one-that OF hel pmate TO man. Among
these the name that Is first thought OF prob
ably because IL has so recently been brought
before public notice, Is that OF Lady Augusta
Stanley, the wife of the Dean OF westmin-
ster. Herself the daughter of peer, and one
OF the most Intimate OF the Queens personal
and a strength of Intellect which won respect
ard kindly feeling from all who came In con-
tact with her. She sympathized most
heartily with her husband both in thought
and work, while the poor OF Westminster
found In her tenderness and kindness a FREE
quent alienation OF their miseries.
John Stuart Mill TO the worth OF his wife,
which is TO be found In the de- cation to her
memory printed At the commencement of
one OF his essays: "To the beloved and de.
plored memory of her who was the inspirer
and, in part, the author OF all that is best in
my writings-the friend and wife whose
exalted sense OF truth and right was my
strongest Indictment, and whose approoa-
ton was my chief reward-I dedicate this
volume" 1t Ia said that such was Mr.. Mills
sorrow at her death that he continued TO re-
side at Avignon, the place where she was
buried, that so he might continually visit
her tomb, and he never ceased TO lament her
loss.
Thomas Carlyle, one OF the greatest intel
lectual lights OF this century. has recorded
his testimony TO the worth OF his wife on her
tombstone: "1n her bright existence she had
more sOrrows than are comm mon, but also q
soft amiability, q capacity for dlscernment,
and and noble loyalty Of heart which are rare:
helpmate of her husband, and by act and
word unweariedly forwarded him, as none
else could, In all OF worthy that he did or at
The wife OF Sir William Hamilton, pro-
| lessor of logic in the University OF Edin-
burgh, was true helper to her husband; in
deed, IL Is more than probable that without
| her many OF his best works would never
| have been written. When he was elected to
the professorship some OF his opponents de.
clared publicly that he would never be able
| TO fulnl the duties Of his position, as he was
| nothing but dreamer. He and his wife
heard OF this and determined TO prove that IL
work together. sir William wrote out
roughly each day, the lecture that was to be
given the next morning, and as he wrote his
wife copied 1t out; and again and again they
| sat up writing till far into the night. When
| Sir William was struck down with paraly-
sis, the result Of overwork, Lady Hamilton
him, read for him, and saved him In every
| way.
John Flaxman, the sculptor, had made
| considerable progress in his work when he
| married Anne DenmaD, q noble spirited,
| intelligent woman, full of love for art, and
with an intense admiration for him as an
| hQnnanaA O ha az nj
| he met Sir Joshua Reynolds, In whose opin-
| ion 10 man could hope to become an artist
who did not devote himself entirely to art,
and who had not studied patiently and rev.
erently the works of the great masters in
"WeiI, Flaxman," said Sir Joshua, al
hear you are married. You are ruined for
Fla1man went straight to his wife and
"Anne, 1 am ruined for an artist
| "Who has ruined you, John?'
'fIt happened in church, !" he replied, " and
Anne Denman has done It,"
and added, !" should like to have been q
And so you shall be, and 60 to Rome too,
| II that will make you one."
"How?" said Flaxmau.
| "Work and economize," she replied. Z" !
will never have 1t said that Anne Denpaar
ruined John FlaImsn for an artist"
economic. They worked patiently and
hopefully for I'VE years, never asked heir
rom any one, never mentioned their inten-
to Rome, where Flaxman studied and
worked to such purpose that he achieved
both fame and competency. His success
ith0 v snafso r 20 s .a di fu by hi:
him.
The wife of the late DR.. auckland consid.
eIably assisted her husband In his labors
She used TO write from his dictatien for
hours at q time. She herself furnished many
| OF the drawings with which his works are
Illustrated, and she skillfully and dexter
for her would have been useless.
me wife Of Faraday was true helper to
her husband. After twenty-eight years OF
marriage as an event which more than any
| other had contributed to his earthly happl-
ness and healthy state Of mind, and says
the union mas In no wise changed, except
only In the depth and strength Of Its charac.
Thomas Hood, the wit and poet, speaks
mus o. his wife: 81 never was anything
dearest, I'LL knew you, and have been q
better, happier, and more prosperous man
ever since. Whatever may befalI me, the
| wife OF my bosom will have the acknowledg-
ment OF her tenderness, worth, and excellence
Speaking Of Hood makes us think of two
| noleole instances OF great writer's OF our
lime VINO nave not been happy In their
Lytton. 1t Is neither pleasant nor thank-
ful task TO expose the spots which spoil the
beauty OF great works OF art, nor to call at
| tention to the littlenesses which detract from
| the admiration we feel for great men; never
theless, there seems ample reason for be-
| llev1ng that In both these instances what
ever fault there was did not lie wholly with
| the wives. ThackeraY, who has been fire.
| quently spoken OF as q similar instance was
most loving and beloved by his home circle,
but sustained deep affiiction In his wife
| losing her reason after the birth OF one OF her
children.
The constancy with which SO many women
nave cherished the memory OF their husba nds
when death has removed them from their
sides, cannot but call forth both respect aud
admiration. Our Queen Is herself a noble
example OF this. The depth OF her sorrow
Tor the loss OF the good Prince Albert, and
the fa1thfulness with which she cherishes
and honors his memory and teaches her chill
dren TO do so, are known TO all.
Lady franklin, too, holds q foremost place
among the faithful and true. When her hus-
band, Sir John Franklin did not return at
the expected time from his last expedition
70 The north seas approximations began to be
seriously entertained respecting his fate and
that OF his brave companions. Lady Frank
lin offered rewards OF e. 900 and g O00 To
any persons discovering or offering relief 10
the missing party, or making any extraor-
binary effort with this object. She appealed
to the American pa0nla In assist IN the