The Vancouver independent. (Vancouver, W.T. [Wash.]) 1875-1910, 1878-11-14
A Graduating Essay that Won a
Husband.

Among the graduates OF the High
School at Bidlefurd, Me in 1878, was "a
young lady OF nineteen, who read an
essay ON after Graduation, WHAT" in
which she gave utterance to the following
commendable sentiment:
The "lordS of creation have been com
pared to sturdy oaks ,and we the vines that
cling to and Irvine aroGnd them; bat this
metaphor, ii ever pertinent, to use slang
phrase, has long since "played OUT We
have all heard of the 60, 900 oakless vines
in Massachusetts, to say nothing Of the
uncounted thousands in Maine, and there
are too many oaks that can scarcely sup
port themselves, to say nothing of their
supporting anything else.
much prefer lffe Of activity and honest
exertion, and | believe that the world
owes me living if can earn it, and |
expect it on no other condition.
This essay was published entire in the
local papers OF the town, and attracted
considerable attention, the extract we
have given above being copied into many
of the leading journals of the larger
cities. One of these papers fell into the
hands of gentleman who was returning
town, in this State, and he was so struck
with the sentiment avowcd that he cut
out the extract and placed it in his peck
etbook. He was then married man.
In 1876, his wife having died, he inclosed
the slip to II friend in Biddcford, asking
him if it was written, as had been assert
ed, by girl graduate Of the High School
there, aud, if so, if the lady was married
or single, etc. In due tihe he received
an answer giving him the lady's name,
the fact that she was still heart whole
and fancy free, and other particulars re-
lating to her family that were of most
agreeable character. The Youngstown
man at once opened correspondence
with the lady, which, AS it progressed,
drew them nearer and nearer in spirit
until at last an engagement of marriage
was entered into between them. This
fact was also published in the papers, and
not long since the New York Tribune
spoke of the matter as follows:
A graduating essay may be made as
useful as matrimonial advertisement, if
a country editor will only be good enough
to publish it, y young lady in Bidde-
ford, Me, wrote beautiful one last sum
mer; took great pains in copying it, so
as to give every "g' and cvery"y'a long
loop; linked the pages with delicate blue
ribbon, ami then read it with such alarm
inc grace that an editor published it in
his paper. In this remaikable essay the
young auth0res, declared that she fully
intended to earn her own living without
aid from any man. Now, it happened
that an iron merchant in Cincinnati saw
the paper, read the essay, and honored
the girl for giving utterdnce to this scntl-
ment; and correspondence ensucd
which gradually led up to wedding.
As is usual in speaking OF Western
men, the Tribune fell into an error about
the centleman's home, bat otherwise the
article was all az faU 1t remains, how
ever, for us to tell the story correctly
About two weeks ago the Youngstown
gentleman packed his carpetsack full OF
new clothes, kissed his three little chill
dren adicu, shook hands with his friends
and took the train for the East, arriving
in due time at the home of his literary
inamorata. He WAS warmly welcomed
by the hospitablc Yankees, and after a
few days he was Instrumental in having
his intended father and mother IN law
send us the following invitation:
Mr.. and Mrs. John W. Eden reques,
your presence at the marriage of their
daughter, Eldena, to Andrew j. Packard
Wednesday morning, February %, 1873
at 10 O'Clock, at the residence of heI
grandfather, the Hon. John Milliken
Buxton, Saco, Me.
Mr.. Packard is native of Warren, O..
but he has lived for years in Youngstown
where he is prominently engaged in the
iron business. He is one of the best
Democrats on the Western Reserve, and
for years has been member of the Dem
ocratic State Central Committee.
In view of Miss Elden's success, we
should not be surprised if the favorite
themes for graduating essays at Nassal
and other female colleges henceforth will
be "Ihe Washtub as II Hygienic Aid,
"The .Esthetics of Cooking" Ten Dol
lars Week Enough (and to Spare for
Two Lets Give Him Taify Till He's
Caught" e.c.-Cncinnati Enquirer.