The Pickens sentinel. [volume] (Pickens, S.C.) 1871-1903, 1884-02-28
ROMANCE or WEDLOCK.
REMARKABLE MATRIMONIAL UNION.
How Sheridan Shook Lost His wiSo aud
How Psiinor, His Partner, Mar
ried Her-A Pleasant AT
fair all Around.

Ahe IomahtlC ubtucuiu9nC winch tOtfn0
climax In the marriage Iof Mr.. A. NJ.
Palmer to the lady who, up to year ago,
was Mrs. Sheridan Shook, excited q great
deal OF interest In New York theatrical
circles, In (which they were well.known.
mr. A. M. Palmer 10 gray-haired,
pieasantfaced gentleman of about fifty
years OF age, whom at first one might take
Tor parson, and Mrs. Shook Is a bu1om,
tullblown lady OF about forty.two.
Many years ago she was superintendent q
ut tho st. Nicholas Hotel, where Mr.. Shook
met and married her. Their life appears
to have been very pleasant one for q
good many years. She was then hand
some and striking woman, full Of vitality,
and whose beauty would attract notice
anywhere. Mr.. Shook, after his marriage
to her, grew in fortune and prosperity un.
I'll in 1871 he took his former secretary, A.
M. Palmer, from the mercantile library, in
Clinton Place, whore tho latter was
librarian, and made him manager Of tho
Union Square Theater, which had been
started previous to that as variety
thoater.
ttMr. Palmer, who Is an educated and we'll
Versed man, but at that time new to the
theatrical world, failed in tho first year of
his management. In this second, however.
he began to lay the foundation of the great
fame the Union Square theater after ward
achieved.
About that timo Mrs. Shook began to &C
qnire great taste for the thoater. She not
only wrote play entitled "Without q
doart," but wanted to act in it, and on two
or three occasions did give afternoon per.
formances at the theater. How far Mr.,
Shook approved of these leanings on her
part docs not appear, but tho relations be,
tween tho Shook and Palmer families DO.
came very intimate.
Mrs. Palmer resided for tho most part in
Paris, and after 1878 or 1879 lived there
continuously with her children. Tho resi
dence Of Mr.. Palmer and the Shocks waa
at Stamford, Conn.,, whore they had O
pretty house Mt place locally called Still.
water, just two miles north Of tho village.
mr. Shook, engaged by his political and
large business,interests, seldom succeeded
In getting to Stamford. Mr.. Palmer was q
regular resident there, leaving the city ev.
cry afternoon on the four O'Clock train dur.
Ing sI ener time. In winter the Shocks
ana MIR. Palmer lived in Thirty fourth
street, near Eighth avenue.
There seemed to be not a cloud to dis.
toEo 1he general harmony Of the family
Snen' nor, indeed, has there been since:
pus ABOUT 1879 or so disputes took place
oetWeen mr. and Mrs. Shook, apparently
oeglnping in the objections tho wife had
W heF nusband's constant business alb
Rences. Tho breach between them grew
Vaqef gradually. Mr.. Palmer, acting al
ways as medium between them, and
proving friend to both. 1t eliminated
unn1ly In Mrs. Shook suing her husband
Tor divorce.
ihere was no opposition on the part Of
Mr. Shook, possibly because he felt that
his business and political eneagements
Practically prohibited him from being
much Of family man, and Mrs. Shook
got her divorce without any contest r.
seems to have become a question about
tnat time with MIR. Palmer, who was al
ready the partner of Mr.. Shook, whether
ne should continue to be hor sincere
friend.
Then for timo Mr.. Shook separated his
business interests from MIR. Palmer, but re-
aumed them again in about year. For
Ehe past two years, that is to say up to tho
time Mr.. Palmer finally resigned the reins
or management Of the Union Square Thea.
eer some months ago, he had rooms at tho
corner OF Fifth avenue and Fourteenth
street Since that time he has resided at
Stamford, Conn.
Last spring 1t was rumored that Mrs
Palmor, living in Paris, was about to begin
divorce proceedings against her husband.
This statement was stGOnuouslyIdenied both
by Mr.. Palmer and ex-Judge Dittenhoeffer.
who was coun I to Mr.. Palmer, and Mr..
Shook as we'll. 1t now appears for the first
tine that Mrs. Palmer really did get d.
Vorce from Mr.. Palmer, though the whole
affair was managed quietly, without any
publicity whatever.
IL Is believed by those who are supposed
TO know best that the decree OF diyorco be.
tween Mrs. Palmer, who has tho custody
OF tho children, and A. NJ. Palmer, who has
CONTINUOUSLY resided here, took place yery
recently. AT any rate both Mr.. Palmer
ana Mrs. Shook evidently came to tho con.
clusion that both being free they could do
hoShlng better than TO marry each other,
winch they did at the beginning of tho
month In Stamford, tho officiating clergy.
man being Rev. A. E. Palmer, pastor of
the First Baptist Church of Farminpton.
and tho father of the groom.
NO doubt, under tho circumstan >os. it
Wns thought best by oil tho part,ss to
Keep the romantic story a profound SO.
cret.
ihe whole affair has boon genuine no.
m@hce from tho first. Mr.. Shook and the
present Mrs. Palmer have continued pleas.
ant relations since the divorce. That Is to
say whom they happon to meet they would
elways pass tho compliments of the day
and indulge In pleasant conversation. Mr..
gamer has also always entertained his
u'endly relations with Mr.. Shook.
r. -~=------------- -
Sixty Years without Eating.