The Middlebury register and Addison County journal. [volume] (Middlebury, Vt.) 1883-1885, 1885-01-23
Romance of a Senator's Son,


II was surprised to read in the Post a
few days ago that Charles s. Voorhees,,
the son of the Indiana Senator, is the
Congressman elect from Washington
Territory, " said a we'll known young De-
troit lawyer at the Michigan exchange
last evening. "The surprise is due to
the difference between his present posi-
ton and his situation when he was a
resident of Detroit"
"When did ~ leave here9" asked a
Post reporter.
"In the spring of 1881. He was here
several weeks, and I'll wager he will
never forget his Detroit experience, es-
pecially as it included his marriage to a
Detroit girl"
"Tell us the story"
"The paragraph in the Post stated that
young Voorhees, played Hamlet once,
and once only, some years ago, at an
indianapolis theatre. But that was
not the only time he appeared on the
stage. lie was thoroughly stage. struck
aud joined John McCulloughs company,
coming here with that Organization.
He played minor parts and overacted
them to an extent that caused him to be
guyed by the audiences. Voorhees, asked
Mccullough if the latter thought he
would ever become an actor, and McCul
Tough told him he would never become a
great one He was proud fellow, and
Immediately left the company. He had
no money, and to obtain means eX
changed his clothes for shabby-gcnteel
suit and some money at Van Baalen's
pawn shop, and engaged board at Mrs.
Clark's, whose house il above Grand
River avenue, An acquaintance brought
Voorhees, to me, thinking could aid
him in obtaining employment on one Of
the Detroit newspapers. | took him to
Mr. Quimby, of the Ere Press, who
thought Voorhees, was an impostor and
would have nothing to do with him.
Then | took him to an afternoon paper
publisher, who told the Senator's son to
write sample article and submit it. In
stead of writing on local subject, Noor-
bees constructed gushing love story,
and was told that that style of literature
was not what was wanted On the paper.
That ended the attempt to make news
paper man of him. After this failure
saw nothing of Voorhees, for several days.
One evening the door bell at our house
rang and when it was answered
Mr.. Voorhees, and lady were
admitted. lie a5tonished me by present.
ing the lady as his wife, having just been
married by Father Van Dyke. The lady
was Miss BAubie, pretty French girl,
who was boarding at the same house,
and with whom Voorhees, had become
smitten. A brief courtship resulted in
the marriage, Miss Baubie having suf-
fcient faith in and love for the young
man, in spite of his impecuniosity and
failure to obtain employment. The
newly married couple passed the evening
with us, the walk to the house and back
to the boarding place making up their
bridal trip. Getting married did not i'm.
prove the young mans financial con-
dtion, although don't know as it hurt
it any, and after standing the strain as
long as he could he was compelled to
apply to his father for assistance. 1t
came at once, and in accordance with
Senator Voorhees, directions the ex-actor
and his bride went to Washington. |
heard nothing of Kim until read of his
election to Congress, and, as you can
well imagine, the news surprised me. 1t
illustrates the marvellous change four
years will make in an average Americans
life. 1t seems funny to think that the
man who was poverty stricken and I'M
able to obtain work in Detroit in 1881 is
in 1884 member-elect of Congress. ~