The Lambertville record. [volume] (Lambertville, N.J.) 1872-1968, 1884-12-31
PARTNERS OF GENIUS.
The Lettered md UnIettered Wives Of
Literary Men.

The stories of lettered and unletterad
wives, the partners of genius, would fill
large volume. Disraeli, in his Literary
Character" has an interesting chapter ON
the subject. He ascribes some of the con-
spicuous blemishes of several great compo-
sitlons to the domestic infelicities of their
authors. Thus the desultory life of Camoens
is perceptible in the deficient connection of
his epic, and Millions blindness and divided
family prevented that castigating criticism
which otherwise had erased passages which
escaped his revising hand, Dryden himself
pleads for the inequalities of his work from
his domestic circumstances The wife OF
Whitelocke more than once DESTROYED his
manuscript, and the marks of her nails have
come down to posterity in the numerous
decorations still gaping in his memorials.
Moliere, notwithstanding oil his skilful
analyses of human life, married girl from
his own troupe, who made him experience
all those bitter disgusts and ridiculous en-
barrassments which he himself played off at
the theatre. On the other hand, there are
many pleasant instances of happy literary
marriages. Wielands wife was comfortable
and affectionate woman she knew her hus-
band was great poet without reading his
books. Button, the great naturalist, wrote
of his wife: Gotten, when 1 cannot please
myself and am impatient at the disappoint.
ment, Nine. de Button teammates my exer.
ton or withdraws me to respose, and re.
turn to my pen refreshed and aided by her
advice" Gessner declared that, whatever
his talents might be, the person who had
most contributed to develop them was his
wife. The late Lord Beaconsfield owed
much Of his success to tho affectionate de-
votion of his wife. The modest but suf-
ficient fortune which she possessed ON his
marriage enabled him to commence his Par.
liamentary career much earlier than would
otherwise have been possible, and from fret
to last she was in every respect the partner
Of his joys and sorrows; and my lady
readers will be interested in the fact TINT
Lord Beaconsflelds father, than whom nc
one knew more about the litery life declar
ed years before that few great men have
flourished who, were they candid, would
not acknowledge to themselves advantages
they have experienced in the earlier years
of their career from the spirit and sympathy
of women. Our friend, the Professor Mt
the breakfast table, illustrates the difference
between character and genius in men and
women in his own inimitable fashion. +" You
talk of the fire of genius" he says many
blessed woman, who dies unsung and un-
remembered has given it moro of tho real
vital beat that keeps life in human souls
without spark fitting through her humble
chimney to tell the world about it thar
would set n dozen theories smoking or &
hundred odes simmering in the brains of SO
many men Of genius" M. do Tocqueyille
pays q delightful compliment to his wife in
one of his letters. g l could not y he says,
Ego ON with my task if it were not for the
refreshing calm of Marie's companionship.
1t would be impossible to find happier
contrast to my OWL In my perpetual irri
fapiif,y CT body and ,nindssl Is Il proyf
dentinl resource. London Litter in IEasa
ingt9n Post