Omaha daily bee., 1884-05-14
WIFE WON BY STRATAGEM.
Thomas L. James First Love aud
Romance,
-
The Vision of LONELINESS He Saw at a
Church Fair-His Eventtul
aud Prosperous
Chrccr.
New York journal.

BSNa ~ 'aNA N'N Tvs
and perseverance can accomplish. He
was born in Utica on March %, 1881.
His father was a printer fair.to.do. His
parents sent him to school until he was
fifteen years of age. He was a bright,
smart little chap, and never made an
enemy. He was universally liked and
respected by his school mates, After he
left school, tom, as every one called
him, wa s%pprenticed to Westly n Baily,
printers, in Utica, for five years. Tom
my was an industrious worker during
business hours and attended faithfully to
his duties. But when work was
over he was changed. Hardly
a house In Utica but where he
was welcome. No party or ball Of II
kind was complete unless Tom James
was present. He was the gayest of the
gay. The girls adored him. In return
Tom was in love with all of them. He
was their champion. At the age of twenty
he determined to leave Utica. When
his purpose became known his many
friends tried to dissuade him from it, but
to no avail. He had given his word to
Hon. Francis b. Fish to go with him to
the little village of Hamilton and engage
in the newspaper business. When he
told his friends of his resolve they tried
no more to dissuade him, for it was well
known that when Tom James gave his
word nothing on earth would cause him
to break it.
The young man went to Hamilton and
with Mr.. Fish started a Wing paper. 1t
was called the Madison County Journal.
Here he became as great a f~avorite as in
Utica. One advantage Hamilton had
over Utica was that there were more
pretty young girls living there. 1t was at
a church fair that he first made the &C
q%uaintance of the pretty little maiden
who afterwards became Mrs. James. Her
name was Emily Ida Freeburn. The
handsome young editor who stood in
front of her table was charmed with her,
and was easily wheedled into buying an
unlimited supply of dolls, ribbons and
Bibles by the vivacious little miss who
presided. She was barely eighteen and a
blonde. Scotland was her native land.
1t was, indeed, love at first sight with
the susceptible Tom. Every night for
the week or more that the fair lasted
Tom was generally to be found at or IN
The vicinity of Miss Miss Freeburn's
table. Her voice and her sweet grace
made a deeper and deeper impression on
the young man every night. 1t soon be-
came evident to his friends that he was
much in love with the fair young girl and
then the teasing began. He bore it all
good-naturedly, however, and never de-
MED that he was in love. He was too
honest. All this time, however, he had
| NO nnonu nf lnnwipr uhat fha x,p,,nn
lady's feelings were towards himself. She
was very shy and extremely sensitive.
When he asked permission to call on her
at her home, however, she granted his
plea with so much apparent pleasure that
he went home jubilant, feeling sure she
did care something for him. He made
great progress in his love affairs.
"He was such a fine, manly fellow, anc
took me so by surprise" said pretty Mrs
James, afterwards, "that ! could not hell
loving him."
|. Every night Tom and his sweetheart
took carriage rides or rowed out on thu
calm little lake which was one of the
attractions of the town. Finally he pro
posed and was accepted. He then wen
to her father and asked him for hi
daughters hand in marriage. The ole
gentleman was very wealthy and alst
very proud. He would not listen to tn,
proposition for a moment. The suite,
had pride equal to Mr.. Freeburn's. Thu
only apparent effect the refusal had OF
him was to make him work harder
Only for a little strategem things nigh
have remained as they were and Ton
never been married.
On January 6 he was rendered tn
position of the Lincoln National Bank
in Forty.second street. He accepted it
At once Vanderbilt and other well
known magnates began to deposite there
so great was the power of Mr.. Jane
name. He is slightly above the medium
height, with scant hair always neatl,
brushed, kind, genial face, lighted up b.
a brilliant light-blue eyes. He is c%ourtse.
itself. His employees are always eager t.
show him how much they respect ant
love him. With his lovely wife he live
in a palace like house Mo- 80 Gramerc,
Park.
1t happened fortunately that Emily bac
for a maid a good hearted girl, win
loved her pretty little mistress dearly
When she saw the latter pining away da,
after day she made up her mind to dc
something. She went to the village
doctor, a good-natured, fussy little man
To him she stated the whole matter
Shortly after he visited the Freeburr
residence. He saw Emily and appeared
to be greatly surprised at her looking 50
i'll. He at once ordered her to her room
Then he told her father that some secre'
trouble was at work within her eating
her young life out. The old gentleman
became frightened. He also told tn,
doctor of the young peoples love. Thu
latter looked severe, said no good coult
possibly come of separating two loving
hearts, but it was non of his business
and he went off.
Mr.. Freeburn became frightened. I'm
mediately he dispatched a letter to Ton
to come and see him. The affair Of tn
heart was happily adjusted and the.
were married in the fall Of 1852, and tn
grand wedding that took place is stIl
spoken of by some of the old settlers il
that little town.
His wife seemed to bring him goo
fortune. Soon after his marriage he wa
appointed custom house inspector, wit
a salary Of 81 300 per year. He remove
to New York. Here again he becam
one of the most popular gentlemen i
the city. He made hosts of friends j
all conditions of life. His popularit
became unbounded. When Grant bC
came president he made Mr.. James pos
master Of New York City. He retaine
= this position until the advent Of Gan
held. The latter, in acknowledgment