The Wheeling daily register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1864-1878, 1878-02-28
atAeeliag graister.
THE ROMANCE OF KEALiTY.


A Graduating Essay That Won
uusbaud - How n Yankee Girl
AyoweL Her Intention OF Earning
Her own Living, and How an Ohio
an Induced Her 10 Change Her
Mind.
Mondays ErquiIer.
Among the graduates of the High
School at Biddeford, Maine, in 1873, was
a young lady OF nineteen, who read an
essay on AFTER Graduation, WhstY" in
which she gave utteraDce TO the follow
ing commemorate sentiment:
"rhe lords of creation have been com
pared to sturdy oaks, and we the vines
that clitg to and Irvine around them; but
this metaphor, if ever pertinent, TO use
slang phrase, has long since played out.
We have all heard OF the $4,000 oakiess
vines in Massachusetts,, to say nothing OF
the VI counted thousands in Maine, and
there are too many oaks that can scarce
" support themselves, to say nothing ot
their supporting any thing else.
l much prefer life OF activity and
honest exertion, and l believe that the
world owes me living If can cara 1t,
and 1 expect it on no other condition"
This essay was published entire IN
the local papers of the town, and attract
ed 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
from New York to his home in Youngs-
town, in this State, and he was SO struck
with the sentiment svowed that he cut
out the extract and placed it in his
pocket. book. He was then married
man. In 1876, his wife having
died, he inclosed the slip to
trend in Biddetord, asking him If 1t was
written, as had been asserted, by girl
graduate OF the High School there, and
II 30, if the lady was married or single,
sc. In due time he received an answer
giving him the lsdy's name, the fact that
She was still heart whole and fancy free,
and other particulars relating TO her lam
nv that were OF most agreeable char.
sc,er. The Youngstown man at once
opened correspondence with the lady
which, SIS it progi essed, drew them nearer
and nearer in spirit until at last an en-
gagement of marriage was entered into
between them. This fact was also pub
llshed in the papers, and not long since
the New York Tribune spoke OF the mat
ter as follows:
"a graduating essay may be maze
a. matrimonial advertisement, II o
country editor will only be good enough
10 publish it. A young lady in Bidde-
ford. Maine, wrote a beautiful one last
summer; took great pains In copying 1T,
80 as to give every & and every y a
long loop; linked the pages with delicate
blue ribbon, and then read 1t with such
charming grace that an editor published
it IN his paper. In this remarkable essay
the young sutboress decided that she fully
intended TO earn her own living without
aid from any man. Now, it happened
that an iron merchant of Cincinnati saw
the psper, read the essay, and honored
the girl for giving utterance to this SEN
timent; and correspondence ensueo
which gradually led up to wedding.
AS is usual in speaking of Western
men, the Tribune fell into an error about
the gentlemsns home, but otherwise the
asticle was all au tait 1t remains, how
ever, for us to tell the story correctly
About two weeks ago the Youngstown
gentleman packed his carpet-sack full OF
new clothes, kissed his three little chill.
dren adeu, shook hands with his friends
and took the train for the East, arriving
in due time at the home OF his literary
i,lamorata. He was warmly welcomed
BY the hospitsble Yankees, and after q
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 re-
quest your presence at the marriage of
their daughter, Eldens, TO Andrew j.
Packard, "Wednesday morning, February
n, 1878, at ten o'clock, at the residence
Of her grandfather, hon. John MILL
ken, Buxton, Ssco, Maine"
Mr.. Packard is native OF Warren u,
but he has lived for years In 1oungs-
town, where he IS prominently engaged
in the iron business. lie is one OF the best
Democrats on the Western Reserve, and
for years has been member OF the
Democratic State Central Committee.
We wish him and his bonnie bride all
the Joy tina. even they could ask.
In view of Miss Edena's success we
should not be surprised if the fsvorite
themes Tor graduating essays at Vassar
and other female colleges hencetorth will
be, "The Washtub as Hygienic Aid"
"The .Esthetics of Cooking" "Ten Dol
lars a week Enough land to spsre) for
Two" "Let's give him Tafy till he's