Clarksville weekly chronicle. (Clarksville, Tenn.) 1873-1890, 1885-12-05
Surviving Wives.
New York Exchange.


The survival of Mrs. Hendricks suggests
the fact that Hearty ali the prominent actors
in the late war, whether soldiers or states
men, have died before their wives. Mr..
Hendricks was one of the members of the
Senate from 1858 TO 1869. His two great
Democratic compeers during the latter part
OF his term, Messrs. Thurman and Bayard,
are both living, and so are their wives. Mir.
Llncoln's wife lived twelve or fifteen years
after his dramatlc death, in April, 1865, and
died at her old home, in Springfield,
ILL.,, the more unfortunate, perhaps, for
being SO long a widow. The wife of Mr..
Lincoln's great Democratic opponent in
Illinois and competitor for the Presidency, in
1850, Stephen A. Douglas, is living with her
second husband. Mr.. Douglas died at the
Brecklnridge. another candidate for the
Presidency IN 1860, and still later q leading
General in the Confederate army, is still liv-
ing at the old family home in Lexington,
KY. Gen. Breckenridge himself died twelve
years ago. Gems. Mcclellan ana Grant, the
first and last commanders of the Army of
the Potomac, have but recently died, both
leaving widows. Gen. Lees wife, though a
confirmed invalid during the entire war, sur
vlved her husband a short time. Mrs. Stone
wall jackson is still living. SO is Mrs. Gen.
Thomas and Mrs. Gen. Custer. Mrs. Andrew
johnson confined to her bed during
most or the time her husband was
President and was for several years
tragic story of Garfield, who was a
leader in the House of Representatives dur
ing the war, Is still fresh in the minds of
everybody. His widow is q comparatively
young woman and lives in OHIO. Gems.
Sherman and Hancock married before the
war and their wives are still with them.
Gen. Sheridan was the last of the war he
roes to marry. He looks to be sixty and is
not lar from that, but his wife is both
young and beautiful woman. Jefferson
lNmrra se.- l. e.
daughter OF Gen. Zachary Taylor, is far
more robust than ne. OF all the great men
of the war that / now call to mind Gen.
Beauregard is the only one who has survived
his wife. He has been widower for several
years, but yet wears mourning out of re-
spect to her memory.
We might go away from home and say
that the King of Spain has just left widow
who Is but twenty-seven and their heir ap-
parent OF Lwenty-seven years more. Al
fonso's mother, ex-Queen Isabella, is yet
lvlng, and has been widow for many
years. Victoria has reignsd quarter OF
century, since the death of the Prince Consor5,
and Eugene has lived in weeds at Chisel-
hurst since Louis. Napoleon died in 1873.
The late Car of Russia left constructive
broken-hearted wife, and we all know the
story of unhappy Cerlotts, the widow OF
Maximilian, who made the Inflated ven
ture to Mexico. The Emperor of Germany
is the Oldest of ali the rulers of Europe, be-
ing past eighty, Out MS VIE seems TO De De-
termined that he shall not be widower.
1t is fact that nearly all great men die
before their wives, and it is another fact
that the widows of great very seldom
marry the second time. OF ell the widows
of men who took distinguished parts in our
late war, mentioned above, not one married
a second time. 1t is not at all probable that
Mrs. Garfield or any OF the widows of her
class who yet survive will ever re-marry.
Even if they mad disposition TO do so, pub
i
ever young and fair the woman. Last week
/ spoke Of the fact that all the heroes OF his
tory have been married men. This is the
highest tribute that could be paid to woman
kind, and the world demands in return that
the widows of it's heroes shall be faithful TO
their memories.