Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1879-05-02
rom Chambers Journal

1t has been said by George Sand that love
and courtship end together !; so that he who
would be always in love must be ever a
wooer. Such, however, was not the opinion
OF the famous physician, DR.. Abernethy,
whose courtship, like his prescription. was
short and TO the point. The doctor had
been attending a lady for several weeks, and
had observed during those hurried visits
certain qualities in the daughter which he
considered would render her invaluable as
wife. Accordingly on II Sunday, when tax
ing leave Of his patient, he addressed her to
the following purport You are now SO
well that | need not see Won after Monday
next, when | shall come TO pay you my fare
well visit. But in the meantime wish you
and your daughteg seriously to consider the
proposal | am now about to make. 1t is
abrupt and unceremoHious, | am aware ; but
the excessive occupation of my time by my
professional duties affords me no leisure to
accomplish what desire by the more ordi-
nary course of attention and solicitation.
My annual receipts amount to--pounds,
and | can settle---p pounds on my wife
my character is generally known to the pub
lie, SO that you may readily ascertain what
it is. / have seen in your daughter tender
and atiectionate child, an assiduous and care
ful nurse. and gentle and ladylike member
Of a family. Such person must be all that
q husband could covet and offer my hand
and fortune for her acceptance. On Monday,
when call, | shall expect your determine
ton : for | really have not time for the rou-
tine of courtshiP." 1t would have been in-
teresting to know how this was received by
the patient and her daughter: The blunt in
timation of annual receipts the my char
acter is known to the public, SO you may
readily ascertain what it is ; then the decla-
ration, and no time for courtship, "shall
expect an answer on Monday : all this must
have been somewhat startling to the patient
who was now so we'll To medical men,
who above all others long to kill two birds
with one stone the above prescription may
prove useful one. and might with adyan-
t0ge be placed in the pharmacopaia. 1t was
at least thoroughly successful in the case
recorded, for a happier couple never ex-
listed.
4 woman Of mean intelligence one might
imagine, would seldom be chosen by men OF
great intellect as lifelong companion. Yet
such lGeSuAiduces seem to be the most iascln-
ating for our greatest geniuses. The wife of
DIR. Johnson is described as vulgar woman.
She was 80 years OF age when the doctor
twho was only 20 married her, and accord
ing to Garrck she was very fat, with swelled
cheeks of torld red, produced by thick
painting and increased by the liberal use of
her dress, and affected both in speech and
general behavior IL must be admitted,
however, that Johnson himself was not alto
getneT Draw wOoer." 'lle was then.
Miss Porter the lady's diughterl tells, lean
and lauk, 30 that his immense structure OF
bones was hIdeously striking to the eye and
he often had seemingly c0nyulsive starts aud
odd gesticulatons, which tended to excite at
once surprise and ridicule. But AS John
son sald to Beanclerc, with much gravity.
''SIr, 1t was IA love marriage on both sides
1t certainly was SO on the doctors part, and
his affection and esteem for ''Tetsy remain
ed as strong up to the day OF her death as 1t
was on that OF her marriage.
But If Johnson, with his rugged exterior.
could scarcely hope ion Il great prze III the
lottery, no such remark can be made OF the
county, handsome, intellectual Goethe. This
great man, an intimate friend OF his prince
and the idol OF the Welmar court, WAS captl-
waited by girl in humble life. whose father
WAS II drunkard, and who herself made arti-
icial flowers fora livelihood. SO sensible
was the girl OF the p.eSnliimcc that she her
self refused Goethe offer of marriage. The
marriage did take place however but not
till the lapse of years had stolen away all her
charms auI the family complaint-drunk-
eIness had seized upon her. Still Goethes
affection remained, and the great poet work
ed patiently, II sorrowiully, 10y the side of II
foolish and drunken wife
such another bride did Rousseau choose,
and he himself gives the following account
OF her abilities II wished from the first to
form her mind, but my toil was III vain
do not blush 30 avow that she has never been
able tprend though she writes fairly. When
went to hive Ill the Due DIES Petiti Champs,
there was "a clock opposite my windows upon
which | strove to teach her to distinguish
the hours Tor more than month. She does
not quite know them now utiter - wears
She has never hcen able To- follow the order
OF the - months of the year and knows not
how to do the simplest sum, notwithstanding
all the trouble have taken to teach her She
does not know how to count money and has
no idea ol what com to give or low much
change to got back III any marketing trlnsac-
ton. What she sBys Is often the opposite of
what she Wishes to say At one time made
(. dictionary OF her phrases for the amuse-
ment OF Madame Luxembourg and her Qui
pr, gap have become celebrated in the cir
cles irequented." One would think that,
with such It catalogue OF defects. tho husband
conld -carcely much esteeni his wife what
follows sufficiently enlghtens us on this
polnt. Eut this person, 50 shallow. So
sturId IT you Will, il excellent adviser
upon diilcult OCCASIONS. often 1t has han
pened in Switzerland, IN England and ia
France, III the misiurtunea which had over
taken me, she has given me advice which
was the best in the circumstances she has
removed me from dangers into which | was
blindly rushing, and before women of rink,
before mobiles and princes, her good sense
her replies and her conduct, inspired uni
| yersal esteem and compliments. which |
knew to he sincere, were repeatedly address
| ed to me upon her merit And to the end
] OF his life the philosopher loved and admired