Peninsula enterprise. [volume] (Accomac, Va.) 1881-1965, 1885-04-04
Statesmen as lovers


The past year has has been no
ted for it's social scandals and SEN
ator Sharon'S divorce adds anoth-
er item to this part of its history
The late Presidential campaign
comprised a continuous washing OF
dirty linens and the mode after
which the great man makes love
has become as important as his
vote on the tariff OF civil service
reform. Most of our statesmen,
however, have pure domestic rec.
OrdS and the marriages of love-
Old Senator Benton was devoted
to his wife and he would never at
tend any place of festivity oramuSe-
ment after her death. The wife
Of Senator Allen, better KNOWN as
..Fog-hornn Allen, died at Wash
ington during the winter of 1871,
before the days of railroads, and
the old Senator carried her corpse
home to Ohio over the mountains,
riding beside iton horseback during
the day and Watching it at night
throughout the cold, dreary jour
ncy until he laid it at last beside
her father, Governor Arthur in tue
beautiful cemetery ut Chilllcothe.
Daniel WebSter's two marriages
were both marriages of love. His
first wife was Grace Fletcher, the
daughter Of New Hampshire
Clergyman. Webster married her
when he was yet a poor lawyer
His popping the question was most
delicalcly done. Miss Grace had
been winding Il slein Of yarn while
lie had held it for hcl on his long
arms. The Sllein had become tan
gled and during its un.wiSting the
heads of the two lovers had come
very close together. AS the knot
became united Mr.. Webster said:
"We have succeeded, Miss Grace
i'll unlying this knot; en- we not
now tie another which will remain
tied as long as we livcw Miss
Grace bluShed and Il kiss it is said
sealed the bargain. The two lived
happily together for eighteen years.
when Mrs. Webster died in New
York, on her way TO Washington,
where her husband was a member
of Congress. She was i'll three
weeks, during which time Webster
watched ut her bedside, but
two years after she died he married
again. WebSter'S second wife WAS
Caroline Leroy, Il New York lady.
tall brown haired and beautiful.
She presided over his establish
meut here and accompanied him
TO Europe, where she dined with
the Qneen. She always addressed
her husband as "Mr. Webster" and
his f;lvorite term for her was ''Lady
Caroline"
Henry \. Wise proposed on the
dome OF the Capitol here, and one
Of the results of the marriage Wis
John Sergeant Wise, the present
member of Congress from Virginia,
who was born at Rio Janeiro, where
Henry A. Wise was officiating as
minister at the time.
Senator Sam Houston, the Presi.
dent Of the Republic of Texas, was
the youngest man who had ever
governed the State Of Tennessee,
when he fell IN love with a pretty
girl at the State capital. HewaSt the
Governor of the State, good look
ing and Il splendid catch. After his
marriage he found his wife loved
another and that she had been for.
ced by her parents to marry him.
He left the Governors char, and
telling his wife to get Il divorce on
the ground of deSertion, went to
the frontier and joined a tribe Of
Cherokee Indians. Here he maIri.
ed squaw in Indian fashion and
soon became chief. He was drink
ing hard and going to the dogs,
when one day he was told of the
tronbleS in Texas and the battle lf
the Alamo was described to him.
He Strengthened himself up, deter
mined to be a man again, and went
forth to his brave and distinguished
career in Texas. His wife, | am
told, got her divorce, but whether
she married her lover know not.
David Crockett another frontier
statesman, fell in love with a relative
of his schoolmaster; but while he
was conrting her a richer suitor
carried her away under his eyes.
He next met beauty at II ball fell
in love at first sight and became
engaged at the close of the fifth
dance. The day was fixed for him
to announce the engagement to her
parents. He started to go to them
fell in with some boon companions
on the way and made as they say,
a night of it. He arriv ed a day too
late and found his lady love was
to be married that night to another
| Crockett made the best of a bad
bargain. He laughed off his disap
pointment and danced all night at
the close oftle wedding at the par.
ty given in it's honor. He soon fell
i'll love again and this time became
married.