Montgomery County sentinel. [volume] (Rockville, Md.) 1855-1974, 1885-12-11
miscellaneous.
Great Men Die Before Their Wives.

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The survival of Mrs. Hendricks sug-
gests the fact that nearly all the promi-
nent 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 1868
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 Mr..
Lincola's wife lived twelve or fifteen
years after his dramatic death in April,
1865, and died at her old home in
Springfield, the more unfortunate per-
haps for being so long a widow. The wife
of Mr. Lincoln's great Democratic OPP
ponent in Illinois and competitor for
the Presidency, in 1860, Stephen A.
Douglas, is living with her second hus-
band Mr. Douglas died at the open
ing of the war. The wife of John G.
Breckenridge, another candidate for the
Presidency in 1860 and still later u
leading general in tho Confederate army,
is still living at the old family home
in Lexington, KY Gen. Breckenridge
himself died twelve years ago Gems
Mcclellan and Grant, tho FIRST and last
commanders of the Army Of the Foto-
mac, have but recently died, both leav-
ing widows. Gen. Lees wife, though
a 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. Andrew johnson was con-
fined to her bed during 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,
leader in the House Of Represcn-
tatives during the war, is still fresh in
the minds of everybody. His widow is
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 heroes to marry. He
looks to be sixty and is not far from
that, but his wife is both young and
beautiful woman. Jefferson Davis is
still living, but his wife, who is daugh-
ter of Gen. Zachary Taylor, is far more
robust than he. OF all the great men
of the war now call to mind, Gen.
Beaurcgard is tho only one who has sur
vived his wife He has been widower
for several years, but yet wears mourn
ing out of respect to her memory
We might 60 away from home and
say that the king Of Spain has just left
a widow who is but twenty-seycn and
their heir apparent of twcnty-sevcn years
more. Alfonso's mother. cx.Qucen lsa-
bella, is yet living, and has been
widow for many years. Victoria has
reigned a quarter of a century, since the
death of the Prince Consort, and Eugene
has lived in weeds at Chiselhurst since
Louis Napoleon died in 1873. The late
czar Of X ussia left a consumptive, broken
hearted wife, and we all know tho story
of unhappy Carotta, the widow Of Maxi
milan, Who made tho Inflated venture
TO Mexico. The emperor OF Germany Is
the oldest ruler Of Europe, being past
eighty, but his wife seems to be dctor-
mined 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 men very
seldom marry the second time. OF all
the widows Of men who took distin-
guisbed parts in our late war, men.
toned above, not one married a second
time. II is not at all probable that
Mrs. Garfield, or any Of tho widows Of
her class who yet survive, will ever re-
marry. Even il they had disposition
to do so, public sentiment would strongly
oppose it, however young and fair the
woman. Last week Lspokc 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 DO faithful to
their memory.--A. y. World.