Mexico weekly ledger., 1884-01-03

II. Matthes aud Mrs. Fannie TAFT twerei
married in that town on the 2Ist Of De-
cember. ~
As o as the news Of the unexpected
marriage was made Known the Cantonites
Were electrified with horror and surprise.
They could not understand how this
should be, when it was not even known
that Mrs. Taft and H. B. Taft were d.;
vorced, and none Of the surprised ones
yet understand how, when or
where the divorce was obtained. IL is
surmised, however, that the Chicago
plan of securing lightning quick divorces
was adopted by Mrs. Taft. .E
At Canton nobody can, or at least will
not tell, who performed the recent GER
emony, and it seems that the DIR. and
Mrs. Taft eve speak of her in the past
tense) deliberately planned that all the
particulars Of their marriage should be
shrouded in mystery, leaving no trace
whatever except recording the marriage
with the county clerk of Lewis county,
at Monticello. The clerk has beer con-
suited, and he failed to shed any light on
the mystery The Witnessed to the GER
cmony have seemingly left the county,
and the man who performed.the sceremo-
ny is also reported as having taken a va
cation.
The sympathy of the Canton people is
with Mr.. Taft and Mrs. Vaughan, the
mother of Mrs. Taft. The town is
wrought up to fever heat over the SEN
sation, and Canton society, of which Mrs.
Taft has been a prominent member, uni
versally condemns her recent very strange
proceedings. Il
For the past two or three years Mrs.
Taft and husband have occupied rooms at
the Park Hotel, the greater part of the
time. Mrs. Taft's position in society at
home, in addition to her many charms,
at C insured her of u cordial recep-
ton by Hannibal society, and here she
was as popular as she had been in Cam
ton. Mr.. Taft's business is that of q
travelling salesman, but he was in Han
nibal as often as his business would per-
NIT, and to all outward appearances he
and Mrs. Taft had the full confidence
and love of each other.
Last summer DIR. Bernhard came to
Hannibal with great flourish of trumpet,
accompanied by his brother-in-law "Dr.
Louis Matthes, Assistant" 1--WE spell As
Sistant with a H;n Io.,-,, xho roan,,;
ties of the case require it, DIR. Matthes
dressed superbly, and seemed from the
cut OF his clothes, to travel on his shape.
But he was a hail fellow well met, and
could get more pleasure out of life than
any fellow we have ever met. One OF
his exquisite smiles was enough to cap
tivate a whole township of silly women,
but as there appears to lave been bat
one of this class in Hannibal, she fell q
victim to his bland ways and lavished her
affections on the gay and penniless As
sistant-who has been raised by DIR
Bernhardt from 9 year-old, and who to-
day is a. much a pensioner on Bern.
hardt's bounties as he was in boyhood.
1t was observed that she took an unus
ual interest last summer in DR.. Bern
hardt's kennel of dogs, especially at sta,
ted times when the Assistant assisted d
fondling the blooded CANNES. At frs
this queer infatuation for the dogs wa
very little thought of, but after SOM
time, it caused certain ones to talk, blu
it partoOk of not ever the semblance o
scandal. For is there any scandal con
nected with the recent marriage of Mrs
Taft, so far as we can learn. The near
est approach to such a charge is the Sc
cresy and rapidity in obtaining a divorc
and marrying again that has set tn
busy tongue of gossip to going.
We consider CDR. Matthes''i an artil
cial man, so far as genuine worth is con
cerned, and we shall miss ourfguess if h
in time does not tire of the captivatin
Mrs. Taft. She has forsaken one hus
band to bask in the shallow and efferyes
cent fascination of another man. TIL
eDr." will doubtless turn the table
| WHICH liz IiECtSd IoluCl W0hldh as SHY q
Mrs. Taft has shown herself to be, pro
vided she has done what the Canton pa
pers say she has. . fa
We have no respect for a man who b
~artiice or knowingly seeks to estrange
husband and wife, and if there be one 81
that should never be forgiven, it is th
deliberate plot of a man to win the affet
, ton of another mans wife, and havin
won them, being the stronger vesse
leads the captive into his meshes and d.
> mands that she renounce all sacred OF
legations, sever all family ties, degrad
her womanhood, and at her captor's fe'
| she bows a duped dupe, a spectacle fro
3 which the imps of the Internal region
. turn and blnsh for shame. ,,.-
If a woman finds she has made mi!
, take in marrying, and cannot live wit
her husband, we presume els best
, seperate; but let her do peuance for. tt
error by living a secluded and single Ii
: long enough at least to show that her re
8 pentance is genuine. Then the world CO
l forgive the foHies of the past, and heav'
D join issue in the righteous verdict.
Our sympathy Is with Mr.. Taft and MI
=, Taft's mother, whose heart is neal
broken by the action of her, daughter.
Hannibal Courier.
z If the above article refers to MI
: Fannie Taft (and we reluctantly fe
it does), formerly of this city, itw
, be startling news to her friends her
Mr.. Taft, the husband of the La
referred to, is an elegant xhoie-soul
gentleman, with a host of friend
Mrs. Taft, while in Mexico, endea
ored to cut q big '.dash' in societ
d but she did not ezsste near the ripI
she has by this last great act.
we are indebted and thankful
! Mrs. Dudgeon Of this city, for
), admirable stenographic report of
!, sermon by Rev. ALEX. Proctor,
4,h page Of this paper, which we
greet had to he somewhat abbreviat
J, on account Of want Of space.
Our friend Clarence Vivion. OF II