The pioneer express. [volume] (Pembina, Dakota [N.D.]) 1883-1928, 1883-05-25

1yAo1tH, sVhettler men q genius should, like
ordinary mortals, seek for comfort and
Happiness I'M the married state, OF
whetherthe 'divine SPARK. which has
been bestowed upon them does not unfit
them for the somewhat precarious bliss OF
matrimony. The different sides of the
subject have been discussed with true
gravity by various generations of au-
thors, and may have reached the con
cluslon that such gifted human beings
should be welded to their yocations
alone, and avoid the harassing cares of
family, or the possible misery conse-
quent upon union with frivolous and
unsympathetic helpmate. "Wife and
children are impediments to great en-
terprises," writes Lord Bacon, and Ger
amly the best works. and OF the great
est merit, proceed from unmarried or
childless men,"
Mr.. Morgan presents an interesting
collection of glilnpses at the natrimoni-
al relations OF many distinguished men,
with a pleasant vein OF comment. We
make the following extracts:
Socrates, indeed, is said to have ex-
poused Aantippe on account of ler
shrewlsh temper, which gave occasion
Tor the constant exercise OF patience and
selt,control. But few will sympathize
with such a morbid desire for self-sacri-
nee on the part of the sage; volunteer
lnartyrdom excites little administration,
and most generally be its own reward.
Marriage. lis not like the hill Olympus,
wholly without Clouds" said Old Fuller:
yet-mark the inconsistency-he was
twice married, and would probably have
entered into that condition of precarious
bliss had he lived little longer. Sach
a disinclination to state of ';:widower-
hood'' we find among the sternest abus.
ers of matrimony in general, very few
among them living up to their principles
on this point.
Dean Swift thus neatly throws the bur-
den of unsuccessful unions on the
gentler sex: The reason why so
few marriages are happy is because
young ladies spend their time making
nets, and not in making cages! Sucn half
truths were dear to the Deans heart, and
generally left sting behind, which did
not dIspleasa him, especially if the in
jury was resented and the imputation
loudly denied.
Milton seems to have been anything
but happy in the domestic life; vet he
was thrice married, his last wife being
thirty years his junior. lie quietly d.
vorced himself, taking the law into his
own hands, when his first wife deserted
him and returned to her parents, she
being 'disgusted." says an old writer,
with her husbands spare diet and hard
study" Considering himself free to trv
his fortune again, the poet paid his court
to q young lady; when his wife hearing
oft suddenly reappeared, threw her.
self on her knees before him, and b egyed
to be taken into favor ag;in-a request
which Was granted, and doubtless after
ward repented of.
When Dryden's wife desired to be
book. that she might employ more of
her husbands society, the poet replied:
"Be an almanac, then, my dear, that
may change you once Il year!" This was
severe: but he did dot like her, and re-
venged himself for his martial disap-
polntment by abusing matrimony in gem
eral.
The poet and landscape gardener
Shenstone, not considering his circum-
stances good enough to warrant Il mar
rage with the lady, of his affections,
seems TO have contemporaries union with
his maid servant, who served him for
years with feminine tact and gentleness.
The novelist Fielding accomplished
the fact which the poet hesi,ated at, and
actually made his inaid.servl his wife.
Goldoni, the lively Italian writer of
comedies, showed singular prudence in
refusing to marry Il charming girl with
whom he had fallen in love, because af-
ter somewhat exhausting pleasure trip
she showed serious signs of fatigue and
threatened to lose her bloom and elasi.-
ity. early. in life. He therefore rein-
pushed his claim to her hand: it would
never do to have an ugly wife.
The German poet Jean laul Richter
married fair sensible woman, de-
voted housfrau, who, as we ale told,
rip dress apart, dye it her
self put it together again, and wear it
with grace and dignity the next evening
to a large party. Yet Caroline could
read Plato in the Greek as well. With
the exception ofan occasional attack of
Jealousy on her part, decidedly incon-
venient in the wife ola German SEN
timentalist, the union appears to have
been a harmonious one.
Another literary man who seems to
have been fairly happy in the choice of
wife is Dick Steele, who, by following
his friend Addison's advice and combin-
as Byron scornfully termed them. Elk
Cellent in every way, it would have been
strange indeed it Southey had not
proved the best of husbands, and there
is no reason to doubt the harmony of his
married life. Naturally, when the diff
ferences in character of the two friend1
are considered, such was not the case
with Coleridge. Putting aside his unior.
tuate indulgence in opium, it must be
granted that few women could have
borne patiently the pecularities of the
poets nature. Who shall blame Mrs
Coleridge that she did not, or could not.
accompany her husband in his intel
lectunl wanderings? Isolation must al
ways be the penalty of genius.
have interested thousands who perhaps
glove and interest in the marriage tie
made two successful unions-the good ma
tured, constituencies spendthrift. Hi
first wife died soon after their marriage
and his second was wooed so diligently
that months courtship brought about
the wedding day. In spite of occasional
contentious, which were often caused
by Sir Richards little pecuniary ire
gularities, the marriage was harmon
ious one.
Wordsworth was as happy in his do
mestic circle as poet should BECK
ceptionally so. perhaps-his serene anc
prosperous life reminding us of the lives
OF our own two poets, Bryant and Long
fellow.
Southey and Coleridge married sisters
the Miss-s Fricker-"5oth milliners.
never read five lines of his poetry. He
did not inherit tendency toward do
j meatic affection or marital hannineaa