Savannah morning news. [volume] (Savannah) 1868-1887, 1884-10-26
SUMMERS UNHAPPY MARRIAGE
Friends Account of His short-Iived
Happiness.

Happiness.
A correspondent writes long letter in
reply to paragraph that appeared some
time ago, SAYS the Boston Courier, con-
corning the widow of Charles Sumner. In
that paragraph it was stated that there
was always mystery about the divorce
that Mrs. Mason obtained from Mr.. Sum-
ner. This correspondent declares that
there was no mystery about it to those
who knew both the parties to the mar
rage. and, among other things, says:
"Mrs. Mason had money and beauty,
but was not an intellectual weman, and
did not belong to the circle Of Boston socl-
ETY. to which Mr. Sumner had the entree.
She was spoken of as a frivolous, fashion,
able, society loving woman, ambitious of
the position in Washington society which
a marriage with Charles Sumner would
give her. But she had the innocent, Win
ming ways which many pretty women
when they have an object In view, eXer-
else, 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 ne 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 MIR. Summers eyes this
was too indecOrous for endurance, and,
too, with the prestige his own endOw-
ments had given him in politics and lite
nature, he naturally supposed there was
an attraction about him superior to balls
and society beauX. His selfesteem was
wounded and his sense of propriety
shocked, and particularly so when Mrs.
Sumner chose a cavalier who could attend
her in society.
"By the advice of friends Mr.. Sumner
endured his wife's whim for gayety,
hoping one winters surfeiJ would be suf-
ficient; 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 a ia
Yorite was one of those younger English
sons who are attached to the British Le-
CATION 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 that his
conduct was unbecOming a gentleman
and representative of Her Majesty. The
matter was reported to the home govern
ment, and Earl Newcastle, a personal
friend of both Mr.. Sumner and the Secre-
tary of State, IN his official char
acter as Secretary of Foreign Affairs,
recalled his young countryman. This
gave offense in many ways to Mrs. Sum-
ner; she lost an admirer who was her
constant attendant, it deprived her Of her
personal liberty of action, and implied
that her conduct had met the disapprOval
of her husband, and forthwith she asked
to be returned to her father-in-law, in
Boston. 1t was afterwards determined she
should join a sister living in Europe, and
there she has been with her daugh.
ter, whose eligible marriage was noticed
a little over a year since. The Sumner
marriage and denouement were society
talk for a season. Mr.. Sumner had the
sympathy of his friends throughout the
whole, and their approval of his course
in requiring the dismissal of the English
attache. After Mrs. Summers departure
he returned to the society of his more
intimate friends and appeared the same
as in his bachelor daVSV