, 1883-11-08
ON FIRST LOVE.

ON FIRST LOTE.
The Martial Secrets Of american Paf-Iots
1t is an old saying, says the TROY
Times, Whom first We love we never
we'd" and this, though not strictly true,
may be applied to Scott, Byron, George
Washington and many other Men of
note Jefferson. the author of the
Declaration, Was subject to early dis
appointment. His first love was a
Virginia maiden of reputable family,
named Rebecca Burwell The latter,
however, preferred young man named
Robinson, and Jefferson, like most SEN
sitive youths, kcenly felt the loss Of one
whom he most tend"rly loved He
afterward married Martha Shelton, an
attractive widow OF TWEEN y-two, and the
union proved one OF rare happiness Ii
lasted, however, only ten years, at the
end of which Jefferson was / # j
widowerwith two daughters. four ott"rs
having died in carly chillLooi. Il
these daughters, Maria married JON
W. Epps, while Martha became 'h.
wife of Thomas Eaa,'o'3h. III. Ii: J
thus describes th" Gle which Eer f.:t q,
bestowed upon his r}y. g ~ife :. q:
four months. during which Sic lin.
gered, lac was never ont Cf her cal. 4
moment before the closing sc,re lie
was led from the. room i'll Il faint {,
condition by his sister, AID WAS so oyrr-
come that it was fc..rrd he would rot
recover. He kept his b"d three weeks
after the funeral, and required NY on
slant attention" Jrll. ron M;.s ryi-
IDENTIFY man of deep tcndern, IS, and
drawer lock of ha;- r!G a;.2I of his
dead children, which he kept as sacred
memorials. Though only thirty lime
when he lost his wife, Ii. nev.r married
again, and remained for forty-fouI
years widower.
Washington and Franklin both mar
ried widows. The former fell in love
with Martha Custis at FIRST sight. and,
having been disappointed in his ex-
pcctations of the hard of Mary Morris,
he urged his suit until he was success
full. He adopted his wife's children,
and his married life was one of I'M
broken harmony. Franklin's case VS.
rather peculiar. During his early l:fo
In Phi ladelphia he paid attention to
Miss Read, but soon after went to Lon
don, where he remained several wears.
During the separation he neglected. Miss
Read IN manner which he himself
afterward condemned On his return he
found that she had married: but her
husband. who had proved worthl 81,
was gone on a voyage and supposed to
be dead. Franklin's early love re-
turned, and, being reinforced by sym-
pathy, he asked her forgiven, So and o
renewal of her affections, which were
readily granted. Jefferson was mari ied
at the age of %, Washington WAS u,
! while Franklin was only -. The latter
says of his wife: We prosI cred to-
gether, and it was our natural study to
render each other happy. Thus cor
rected, as well as l could, the error oS
my youth" This union continued for
nearly forty years, and, though Frank
lin was the survivor, he remained
widower. They are buried side by side
in the old Philadelphia cemetery, and
huge flag which coTers both graves
bears the simplest Inscription that
Franklin could devise. While speaking
on this subject it may he add d that
American statesmen have generally
been married men, and the Presi l,,nt,aI
chair has never but once Eeen occu led
by o bachelor. 1t is said that Bu-
chanan, like Irving, was disan-
pointed in his early love, and, if So, it
affords a pardonable reason 70: his
celibacy. Another bachelor politi ian
of some note was the late Peston
King, formerly United State; Senator.
| To these instances is to be i.drled that
of Samuel j. Tilden.