The Kimball graphic. (Kimball, Brule County, Dakota [S.D.]) 1883-1905, 1884-12-05
Summers Unhappy Marriage.

From the Boston Courier.
A correspondent writes a long letter
IN reply to a paragraph that appeared
some time ago concerning the widow Of
Charles Sumner. In that paragraph it
was stated that there was always a mys.
terry about the divorce that Mrs. Mason
obtained from Mr.. Sumner. This cor
respondent declares there was no mys-
terry about it to those who knew both
the parties to the marriage, and, among
other things, says:
Mrs. Mason had money and beau-
ty, but was not an intellectual
woman, and did not belong to the circle
of Boston society to which Mr..
Sumner had the entree. She was spoken
of as q frivolous, fashionable, society
loving woman, ambitious Of the position
in Washington society which o marriage
with Charles Sumner would give her.
But she had the innocent, winning ways
which many pretty women, when they
have an object in view, exercise, and
with them she accomplished her object
and became Mrs. Sumner. She had
married for Washington, and intended
to enjoy it, and when Mr.. Sumner, who
did not dance, would mildly suggest
that it was late, that he had important
duties for the next day in the Senate
and would like to go home to rest, she
would tell him to go and she would
come when she had danced her list
down. In Mr.. Summers eyes this was
too indecorous for endurance, and, to,
with the prestige his own endowments
had given him in politics and literature,
he naturally supposed there was an at
traction about him superior to balls and
society beaus. His self-esteem vas
wounded and his sense OF propriety
shocked, and particularly so when Mrs.
Sumner chose a cavalier who could at
tend her in society.
"By the advice of friends, Mr.. Sum-
ner endured his wife's within for gayety,
hoping M winters surfeit would be
sufficient; but when the actions of his
wife provoked the voice of scandal he
sought redress from official quarters.
The youth whom Mrs. Sumner had
chosen for q favorite was one ofthose
younger English sons who are attached
to the British legation that the position
may give them opportunities in society
here which they could not otherwise
have. Mr.. Sumner represented to the
then secretary of state, that this young
Englishman had stepped beyond his
diplomatic duties, and stated that his
conduct was unbecoming q gentleman
and representative of Her Majesty. The
matter was reported to the home gov
eminent, and Earl Newcastle, q person
al friend of both Mr.. Sumner and the
secretary of state, in his official charac'
ter as secretary of foreign affairs re.
called his young co%untryman. This gave
otfense IN many ways to Mrs. Sumner
she lost an admirer who was her con
slant attendant, it deprived her of he1
personal liberty Of action, and implied
that her conduct had met the disapprov.
al of her husband, and forthwith she
asked to be returned to her tather-in.
law, in Boston. 1t was afterward de
termined she should join a sister living
in Europe, and there she has been with
J her daughter, whose eligible marriag'
was noticed a little over a year since
. The Sumner marriage and denounce
ment were society talk for q season
Mr.. Sumner had the sympathy of hi
friends throughout the whole, and thei
approval of his course in requiring tn
dismissal Of the English attache. Afte
\ Mrs. Summers departure he returned
to the society Of his more intimate
friends and appeared the same as in hi
bachelor days..