Lewiston teller. [volume] (Lewiston, North Idaho) 1878-1900, 1878-12-27
THE SHERMAN TROUBLES.
The full facts of the trouble between
the General and Mrs. s., and
Toms esp0usal of the
priesthood, their present
arrangement.


columbus, o., Letter to Toledo Journal
So many conflicting stories have been
going the rounds Of the press concern
ing the reported difficulties between
Gen. Sherman and his wife, growing
out of the announcement of Toms de.
termination to enter the priesthood,
that we feel it nothing but right that
the public should know the facts ia the
case, as they come to us from the most
reliable sources.
Gen. Sherman's ambition was that
his son should enter the legal profess
sion Mrs, Sherman, from his early
childhood, had consecrated him to the
priesthood. At eight years old he be-
gan, under his mothers guidance and
counsel, to prepare for his vocation.
But all this was carefully kept from the
general, who, Mrs. Sherman had every
reason to believe, would be violently op.
posed to the project.
Last Summer, in accordance with his
long-formed intention, General Sher-
man entered into negotiations with a
ST. Louis firm, whereby upon the pay.
ment Of 81 900 or $4,000, he secured a
desirable legal connection for his son.
The step was taken with the full knowl.
edge of Mrs. Sherman and his son,
neither Of them interposing an objection
although knowing all the time the plan
would inevitably fail.
Then came the blow to the generals
dearest prospects, from which he will
never recover while life lasts, and
which during the months past has ere.
ated wide gulf between him and his
immediate family.
Gen. Sherman charges his wife with
systematic Jesuitism, with deliberate
plan Of deception practiced upon him
and his children, dating back to tho in
faucy of his sou. Mrs. Sherman denies
that this has been the case, but those
familiar with her entire course feel that
the denial is but a part Of her scheme.
1t is widely known that in all matters
pertaining to her religion she is wildly
ianatical, and an extremist upon every
point and dogma but the general, un.
I'll now, has been quite willing to take
his own course, leaving his wife to go
her way, taking her children with her.
When Mrs. Sherman was making her
warfare on dancing the general perpet.
ually shocked her by skipping at every
soiree and reception at Washington !;
and when she went to the confessional he
was tearing down the avenue behind
the lightest stepping horses in the city.
He ought not to complain if, ignoring
family affairs so long, he finds them ia
ken from him altogether.
Mrs. Sherman believes there is no
salvation outside the Catholic church,
and in accordance with this belief seeks
to anchor all her friends to it. When
the mighty intellect Of her venerable
father, Hon. Thomas Ewing, ST., was
lettering and he CROPPED like child in
bis dotage, she had him baptized into
the church and when her youngest
child was born nine years ago-she be.
ing in difficult labor and his life in dan
ger she sent for priest and had him
baptized before he came into the world.
But to the trouble. When Tom in.
formed his father that he was about to
become priest, the father tried to in.
duce him to break his determination.
1t then first dawned upon his mind
that he had been deceived aud duped
in the whole matter. His anger knew
no bounds, and resolved to keep aloof
from his wife and family, he rented his
furnished house in st. Louis, which
they had vacated temporarily for a visit
at Lancaster, O., for the following year
Upon learning this, Mrs. Sherman sent
her daughter Ellen to intercede with
her father, who was peremptorily re-
turned to her mother. Rachel then
went with no better success. In send.
ing her back the general told her to in.
form he- mother that he wanted to see
no more Of them. After that he com
municated in no way with his family
saving once by telegraph during Mrs
Sherman's illness, saying he hoped she
was better. Mrs. Sherman and her
youngest children have remained al
Lancaster, aud the breach between hel
and the general is az wide as ever.