The New Orleans daily Democrat. [volume] (New Orleans, La.) 1877-1880, 1879-03-09
LOVES OF GREAT MEN
The Extent 10 which authors, Poets and
statesmen Have Been swayed
Inv the Tender rassI0n.

blythe Tender Passion.
From the Troy Times
II Ia an old saying. Whom first we love we
never we'd and this though notstrictly true,
may be applied to Scott, Byron, George
Washington and many other men " noto, ~
A. interesting to observe how poets generally
ureaent their love matters 10 the public. The
personal experience of such men will crop
ont. Scott. for instance. fell deeply In love in
early life with a girl Of aristocratic family,
and "a he was then merely a poor barrister
there was no prospect of success. His father
knowing this, and being DESTROYS to bring the
the matter to a close suggested to theparents
the propriety of terminating the scluaint-
ance. and this was done in the least painful
manner. The lady was the only daughter OF
Sir John Stewart. of Foriarshiro, and she after
ward married Sir William Forbes the noted
Edinburg banker. As Scott was we'll
educated young man, Of fine personal
appearance and agreeable manners. there
could be but little reason for giving
the banker preference except his
wealth and social rank. Scott felt this keenly
through life; in "Rokeby" he revives the
episode at come length. Matilda, the heroine
of the poem represents the object of his love,
who there rejects poet in favor of one OF
higher rank and this scene becomes doubly
interesting as a picture of SCOTS early ex-
perience In 1911 Lady Forbes died, but she
had lived long enough 10 see the once penni-
lees barriater the first poet in Scotland. Her
death was deeply felt by Scott, for although
he had been married for twelve years the old
flame was not eXtinguished. "Rukcby" APP
peared next year, and Loekart says that
there Is nothing wrought out In all SCOTS
prose more exquisite than the contrast be-
tween the rivals for the hand of the heroine"
Six years afterward Scott wrote thus TO Miss
Edreworth: Matilda was attempted for the
person of lady who is now no more, so that
/ am nattered with your distinguishing it,"
As this took place nearly twenty years after
the disappointment, il illustrates the tenacity
with which the author held to his first love.
When Lady Forbes died Scott was 50 affected
that he called on her mother, and both fell
to weeping over the sad affair. 1t Is a curious
Incident III domestic history TO see a man car
rying his first love SO tendcrly through life,
while married to another woman to whom he
always showed great attachment Scott evil
IDENTIFY made Matilda the ideal or dream wife
who acc )mpanied him till the last. Having
recovered from the worst effects of his disap-
pointment, he met a French girl whose father
had saved both life and fortune by fleeing
from the dangers of the revolution. At The
time referred 10 Miss Gharpenter Tor Carp0n-
teri was an orphan. and to her Scott trans
ferred his affections, as far as this was posi-
BILE. He appeared, as has been said, much
attached to his wife through life, and sim
cerely mouued h-r death. She was how
ever, intellectually and physically inferior 70
the Scottish ladies ct that day. and the rapid
degeneracy Of the family may IN some degree
be ascribed 70 SO unfayorabe union.
jefferson, the author of the Declaration, |
was also subject to early disappointment |
His first love was Virginia maiden of repu- |
table family named Rebecca Burwell The |
latter, however, preferred young man
named Robinson, and jefferson, like most
sensitive youths, keenly felt the loss of one |
whom he tenderly loved. He afterward mar
ried Martha Shelton, an attractive widow of |
Twenty-Five aud the union proved one of rare |
happiness. II lasted, however, only ton |
years. at the end Of which Jefferson was left |
a widower with two daughters four others |
having died in early childhood. OF these |
daughters Maria married John w. Epps, |
while Martha became the wife Of Thomas |
Randolph The latter thus describes the care |
which hcr father bestowed on his dying vie:
f'For four months, during which she fingered |
he was never out Of call. A moment before |
the closing scene he was ledSx0m the room in |
a fainting condition by his sister, and was SO
overcome that it was feared he would not re- |
cover. lie kept his bed three weeks after the |
funeral, and required my constant attention" |
jefferson was evidently man of deep tender |
ness, and after his death t1ere was found in |
his drawer a lock OF hair from each of his |
dead children which he had kept as sacred |
memorials. Though only thirty-nine when |
he 'ost his wife, he never married again, and
renamed for forty-tour years a widower. |
Washington and Franklin both married |
F,il isaI ntr,ith a.tn
Gusts on first sight, and, having been disap-
pointed i'll his expectation of the hand Of |
Mary Morris he urged his suit until IL was L
successful. He adopted his wlfe's children,
and his married life was one OF unbroken har-
mony. Frankns case was rather peculiar.
During his early life in Philadelphia he paid |
to Miss Reed, but soon afterward |
went to London. where he remained several
years. During the separation be neglected
Miss Read III a manner which he himself
afterward condemned On his return he found
that she had married, but her husband, who
had proven worthless was gone on voyage
aud supposed to be dead. Franklins early
love returned, and, being reinforced by
sympathy, he asked her forgiveness, and a
renewal OF her affections, which was readily
granted. jefferson was married at the ageof
LMesnlg--nIhe Washington was twenty-5even, |
Mhlle rankin was only twenty-four. The
Aa l.s MN gt al VILE. We prospcred to-
getnef, and II was our mutual study To render
each other happy. Thus corrected as VOL
NJ l could, the error Of my youth" This
union continued Tor nearly forty years, and,
though Franklin was the survivor ha ~
manned a widower. They are buried side hif Nv
side in the old Philadelphia cemetery. and y
huge slab which covers both graves 10" 81 th
simplest inscription that Franklin conI1 az az ,
use. While speaking of this subject it NAV
oe added that American statesmen have &C..
orally been married men, and the presi de,97,iI
S Shalr mas never but once been oecupied ht, u
p 1ini1 1 II Is said that Buchanan, like Ir.
n - Ws's disappointed IN his early love, and
20 lt affords pardonable reason foIr NY ny |
ce!loaey Another bachelor politician Of so r,,s
Tyvs wes the late Preston King formarII
1nis p states Senator, and also Collector n
our Port. 10 these Instances il to he adao q
that 81 Samuel j. Tilden. N N ~ aaued
shakespeare was Ut eighteen married ~
doubt through oompulsionl "a wnn,an ~ lno
years his senior; Before he reached man Gb,ga1
ben VA des tae lat ne q three children but be
asooe IN London 1t is evident tbat th Z n SiV
s Isa marriage led him to the oni S l
tssbs, IN sdsantage OF years should be On I'm
A@s-<zlt-A4 SIDE. an i1aa x.,h;aL 10 Ou the