Semi-weekly south Kentuckian. [volume] (Hopkinsville, Ky.) 1883-1889, 1885-07-28
RE-MARRIAGES

Tho Question of Re-Marrylng After TIN
Death of Husband or Wife Considered.
"Fact is better than fiction, il only
we could get pure fact" says Mr., En-.
erson, and 50 say l. The topic thai
has occupied all Louisville for a week
past is the marriage of Mrs. Sally
Ward Armstrong. AS the renowned
beauty, Sally Ward, she first claimed
public attention. and she has held il
increasingly from that day to this.
Endowed with beauty of mind and per-
son beyond the power of pen to de,
scribe, with sweetness of disposition
that nothing could ruflle, she capt..
waited all who came near her. Ill.
natured things, as matter of course,
have been said of her by the thousands,
but, pleasing herself in all things, she
has invariably shown disregard for
public opinion. No woman in the South
has wider reputation. After several
years of supreme bellcShip she married
Mr.. Lawrence. the son of the Governor
of Massachusetts, 1t was a most nm
fortunate match. Two people less
suited to each other could hardly be
imagined. Very soon the spoiled South
ern beauty gave cause for Ollense TO
first one member and then another of
the straight-laced Puritan family she
had entered. At last she returned to
her fathers house, and divorce was
procured. After some years had passed
Mrs. Lawrence married DIR. Hunt, of
New Orleans. and, after. his death she
married Mr.. Vcne p. Armstrong, n
wealthy pork merchant of this city,
who died about six years ago. So Mrs.
Armstrong; marriage to Major Green
Field Downs is her fourth matrimonial
venture, Her two husbands, DIR. Hunt
and Mr.. Armstrong, are buried side by
SIDE in Louisvillc's beautiful cemetery,
Cave Hill, and Mrs. Downs has erected
over them superb monument in
ser bed; 10 My Husbands.
This subject of rcmarrying after the
loss OF husband or wife is Il matter fire.
quently discussed, but for my part |
believe that the bible is the true guide,
and its injunction, at is not good for
man to be alone" ought to be obcyed
1t is surely a compliment to the de,
parted for the survivor to wish to "try il
again" However there is VIDE d.i
ference of opinion on this subject, rs
witness the coaduct of a Bishop Of
the ZIP scopal Church some years ago.
\ Bishop was to be consecratcd for
one of the Western States and he was
invited TO be present aud assist at the
ceremonies. He wrote a note and de-
clined, saying that the Bishop to be
consecrated had been married twice
and his understanding of the bible was
that "a bishop must be the husband of
one wife, He was assured again and
again that this meant one wife Mt Il
time, etc, but it was all to no purpose,
the old man remained obdurate. He
said they might be right and he wrong,
but he must act according to his own
opinions, and while be loved the new
Bishop and believed him to be most
cody man. still he could not be pres
ent at the conservation ceremonies.
A very amusing note was written by
one clergyman to another on this sub.
ject. They had attended the theologi-
cal seminary at the same time and had
been very intimate friends. When
they parted they exchanged promises
to perform the ceremony each for the
other when they were married. In due
course of time each was called upon to
fulfill his promise. But. as years went
by, one of them lost wife after wife I'M
til the time came when he wished to be
married for the fourth time. He wrote
to his brother clergyman, who had
only been married once. to inform him
that his kindly services would be
needed again, but he received a witty
reply, declining the honor. Il will
do no more thanky work." wrote
the waggish doctor; "you must wait
until | have caught up with you before
| marry you again" | heard of man,
not long since, who asked lady, who
had been married several times, as
they were watching by the corpse of
the mans wife, How long after the
death of dearly loved wife is it proper
for man to marry againp" No. .
As | was wandering through a beau
tiful Southern cemetery, | saw a we'll
kept lot full of graves. There was a
handsome iron riling around it. and
lovely flowers in the greatest profusion.
went into the enclosure. sadly think
ing Of the poor family which had lost
so many members, and that must so
sincerely mourn their loss, to Judge by
the perfect and loving care taken OF
the graves. Imagine my surprise when
| found the graves contained the wives
of one man. inquired and found that
he was still living, and was very happy
with his seventh wife, Young and
pretty girl. The most striking fact
about the whole affair was that the sixth
wife, as the inscription ON her tomb
stone testified, was nineteen years
younger than the first wife. Certainly
he was marvellous man. 1t reminded
me OF something / heard the great
engineer, Captain James Eads, say OF
Count Ferdinand de Lesseps, ''lc grand
Francais:" 1.-THE most wonderful
thing, in my opinion, that dc Lesscps
ever did, was his marrying a girl of
sixteen when he was seventy.
A French woman, seeing a friend in
deep distress over the loss of her hus-
band, said: what you cry so for? If
you had lost your mother, father, sis
ter or brother, you would do well to
mourn, but (with an expressive shrug
of her pretty shouldcrs) husband, no!
when you can set your cap and catch
another so easy" This is very differ
ent from the sentiment expressed in
two inscriptions on tombstone in
French cemetery: , .... s.
II am anxiously expecting you. A. D. 1927"
Here am" A. ID. 1867.
Louisville (Ky.) Cor. 81. Louis Globe
Democrat.
"A statement recently compiled OF