Public ledger. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1865-1893, 1878-03-08
THE ROKANCE OF REALITY.
A Graduating Essay that Won n
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Cincinnati Enquirer
Among the graduates of the high
school at Biddeford, Me-, in 1873,
was a young lady of nineteen, who
read an essay on CATER Gradua-
ton, What?" in which she gave
utterance to the following com
mendable sentiment:
"The 'lords of creation have
been compared to sturdy oaks, and
we the vines that cling to and
twine around them; but the meta
phor, if ever pertinent, to use a
slang phrase, has long since played
out We have all heard Of the
$1,000 oakless vines in Masaachu-
sotts, to say nothing OF the un-
counted thousands in Maine, and
there are too many oaks that can
scarcely support themselves, to say
nothing Of their supporting any
thing else. = + 1 much pre-
fer life of activity and honest ex-
ertiOn, and | believe that the world
owes me a living if can earn it,
and expect it on no other condi-
tons
This essay was pWbhshed entire
in the local papers of the town, and
attracted considerable attention,
the extract we have given above be-
ing 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
Youngstown, Ohio, and he was so
struck with the sentiment ayowed
that he cut cut the extract and
placed it in his pocket-book. He
was then married mau. In 1876,
his wife having died, he inclosed
the slip to a friend in Biddeford,
asking him if it was written, as had
been asserted, by girl graduate of
the high school there, and, if so, if
the lady was married or single, etc.
In due time he received an answer
giving him the lady's name, the fact
that she was still heart whole and
fancy free, and other particulars
relating to her family that were of
most agreeable character. The
Youngstown man at once opened a
correspondence with the lady,which,
as it progressed, drew them nearer
in spirit until at last an engagement
Of marriage was entered into be
tween them. This fact was also
published in the papers, and not
long since the New York Tribune
spoke Of the matter as follows:
ga graduating essay may be made
as useful as a matrimonial adver-
tisement, if country editor will be
good enough to publish it. A
young lady in Biddeford, Maine,
wrote q beautiful one last summer;
took great pains in copying it, SO
as to give every g and every ~ a
long loop; linked the pages with
delicate blue ribbon, and then read
it with such charming grace that
an editor published it in his paper.
In this remarkable essay the young
authoress declared that she fully in
tended to earn her own living with
out aid from any man. Now, it
happened that an iron merchant in
Cincinnati saw the paper, read the
essay, and honored the girl for Civ
ing utterance to this sentiment, and
a correspondence ensued, which
gradually led up to a wedding"
AS is usual in speaking of West
ern men, the Tribune fell into an
error about the gentleman's home,
otherwise the article was au fait. 1t
remains, however, 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 adieu, 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 hos
pitable Yankees, and after a few
days he was instrumental in having
his intended father and mother-in-
law send us the following invita-
ton;