Mineral Point tribune. (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1869-1938, 1879-04-16
Devoted Wives,
Fo aey's Progress

denial, to the present day Is "nu self
with Instances of conjugal affac,; .epiete
heroic virtue in woman. W. W. IN and
member the story of Eleanor on al re,
Edward l.. who, disregardinp ali Ia Of
to herself, extracted with her Qua aange'
the poison from wound the K;nn llls
received fr.m a poisoned arroms had
IN Palestine. Then we have tba WINE
markable instance, the devoted ' at, ie
ance OF the wife of Sir Walter P S,ie!lG
to quote from. Not only did sba a ne
with Sir Raleigh the privations a I'd snale
ferings of his cruel twelve year, ~ ;ns sui
ceratlon, but after his execution ,, .ncaf
ed his faithful widow for twenty e WAN
indeed, to the hour of her death 'e T
quick wit and clever acting of Ma. tle
wife of the celebrated Grotius lihsra,N3
him from his Imprisonment in tho ecu ave
tie Louvestine. He had been no. o4s'
ted to receive his books in LARGE trnnI
and these we're often exchanged for n.h
ers through the same medium T Mi
wife, observing that the guards c,o i,s
ally ceased to examine the trunl "nl
having made number of h ,les i, AM HS
terent places to admit the air, indno a
Grotius to place himself within SSa
closed the trunk, and when the pps,J.
entered, she stood by the curt sna'% .,
the bed, feigning much distre,, Of ~.
indisposition of her lord. The rnse w way
successful, and from her own copfessoS
the authorities learned the means Of -"
cape; she was not punished but allow.
ed to join her husband in his Hbortv
Many such instances occurred in Frsn:.
during the reign of terror. Among o,b
ers, that of Madame Lavalette, who o.
iected her husbands rescue BY tak;ro
his place in the condemned cell. When
the chiefs of the different departments
were trying to vindicate themselves IA
the King from any blame in the escana
his majesty coolly replied, 81 do not
see that anybody has done his duty ey.
cept Madame Lavalette."
No later than 1856, a drama full of
solemn sweetness was enacted almost
IN our midst, too, proving not only the
strength of wifely devotion and cour.
age, but that woman, when taught
can, under the most adverse circnm.
stances, as well steer a ship as Div the
needle. l refer to that bright girl Of
fortunes prosperous home ia East Bos
ton who married the gallant Captain
Patton. In the first days of their hon.
eymoon he was offered magnificent
command, which being refused on the
plea of not wishing to leave his bride
he received permission in years time
again to assume the position, his wife
having leave to accompany him, which
she did. From the outset she made her.
selfthe companion, helper and pupil OF
her husband. She studied navigation, and
was soon enabled to take observations,
steer by the chart, and keep the ships
reckoning. The first mate was The
Captains enemy on board, who fN
some reason of his own was bent on
carrying the ship into Valparaiso which
would have been indirect disobedience
Of orders, and have COMPROMISED the
honor Of the Captain. Before reaching
Cape Horn, Captain Paiton's hsslthbe-
gan to decline, until he was taken down
with violent fever, which in few
months ended in hopeless insanity.
Now was the opportunity for the mate
to achieve his purpose, and he COM
monced by trying to in.imldate the
heroic wife of his Captain, Threatening
her with the responsibility Of every lie
on board, her own included, if she pre-
sumed to interfere. She replied thai
her husband had not trusted him while
he was well, and she would not trl',
him now that be was i'll. She assembled
the crew, laid before them the laCt'
asking them to accept her aEhohE'
and save the honor Of their Captain
They unanimously agreed, regaFdlns
almost with superstition the eloquen
appeal Of this loyal woman. They soon
learned to love and reverence neli
young wife, soon to be a young mo'nell
alone with men, raving HUSBAND
protect, crew to command, thelr ln''
to preserve and an enemy to wa''u' su'
had indeed herculean task before htl,
Nightly she could be seen at ne.
studies, now among medical oIUA l
which could instruct her IN hef hu,
bands case, now keeping the reckonns
and making entries in the log. AZ nUuD
and midnight on deck taking oo :H0n,
tons; she marked the charts wi'nou.
mistakes, and carried the snip in'I Ii wv
in fine condition. The husband. pinu'
deaf, delirous and dying; the VIE CAM
grave, careworn and resolute. ,,-,.
Another incident of wifely con sI',n 81
ton and delicacy of feeling was lnA, w.,
the young village belle in MARI lns The rb
honest but illiterate locksmlll, me
latter was asked to sign MS nat tbs
whereupon he made his cross, anu nam NJ
maiden receiving the pen dld lhe - sS bsr
to the expressed astonlshm.e.n. o VI
bridesmaids. Hush" the VIE leP" and
"would you have me put my y. ii"I booiu
to the blush9 Tomorrow win Ii 10
to teach him writing" Love Is sa'N he
,,,,cb - IooLsn,iths. in this Cast .