Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1885-12-02

The survival of Mrs. Hendricks suggests the
tact that nearly all the prominent actors in the
late war, whether soldiers or statesmen, have
died before their wives. Mr. Hendricks was one
of the members of the Senate from 1863 to
1869. His two great democratic compeers dur
ing the latter part of his term, Messrs Thurman
and Bayard, are both living and 80 are their
wives. Mr.. Lincoln's wife lived twelve or fifteen
years after his dramatic 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 demo
cratic opponent in Illinois and competitor for
is living with her second husband. Mr. Doug.
las died at the opening of the war. The wife of
John C. breckenridge, another candidate for
general in the confederate army, Is still living
at the old family home in Lexington, Ky. Gen.
Breckenridge himself died twelve years ago.
commanders of the Army of the Potomac, have
but recently died, both leaving widows. Gen.
Lees wife, though confirmed invalid during
the entire war, survived her husband short
time. Mrs. StOnewall Jackson is still living.
So is Mrs. Gen. Thomas and Mrs. Gen. Custer Mrs.
ing most of the time her husband was President
and was for several years after, but she was the
last to die. The tragic story Of Garfield, who
during the war, is still fresh In the minds of
everybody. His widow is a comparatively
young woman and lives in Ohio. Gems. Sher-
their wives are still with them. Gen. Sheridan
was the last of the war heroes to marry. He
looks to be sixty and is not far from that, but
his wife Is both q young and beautiful woman
Jefferson Davis Is still living but his wife, who
is a daughter of Gen. Zachary Taylor, is far
more robust than he. OF all the great men Of
the war 1 now call to mind, Gen. Beauregard
is the only one who has survived his wife. He
has been a widower for several years, but yet
wears mourning out of respect to her memory
We might go away from home and say that
the king of Spain has just left a widow who is
but twenty-seven and their heir apparent of
twenty-seVen years more. AlfOnsos mother,
ex-Queen Isabella, is yet living, and has been a
widow tor many years. Victoria has reigned a
Consort, and Eugene has lived In weeds at
Chiselhurst since Louis Napoleon died in 1878.
The late car of Russia left a consumpttve, bro
ken-hearted wife, and We all know the story OF
unhappy Carlotta, the widow of Macmillan,
who made the Inflated venture to Mexico The
emperor Of Germany Is the oldest Of all the
rulers of Europe, being past eighty, but his wife
seems to be determined that he shall not be a
WidOwer.
II is a tact that nearly all great men die before
their wives, and 1t is another fact that the wild
ows of great men very seldom marry the second
time. or all the widows Of men who took dis
tinguished parts in our late war. mentioned
above, not one married q second time. 1t is not
at all probable that Mrs. Garfield, or any of the
widows of her class who yet survive, Will ever
'remarry. Even If they had disposition to do
however young and fair the woman. Last week
spoke OF the fact that all the heroes OF history
have been married men. This Is the highest
tribute that could be paid to womankind, and
the world demands in return that the widows
Of its heroes shall be faithful to their memory.