The Cecil Whig. [volume] (Elkton, Md.) 1841-current, 1885-01-03
Cleveland. But we hev the places fixed
for the present.
PETROLEUM V. NAsBY,
(Seein lite ahead.
SEVEN STRANGE STORIES.
In Each of Which Womankind is More OF
Less FayOrabJy ManffODed

In Each of Which womankind is More or
Less FavorabIy Mentioned.
Two ladies contended for precedence
in the court of Charles V. They ap-
Peaed to the monarch, who, like Solo
mon, awarded: "Let the eldest go first"
Such a dispute was never known after
ward.
One of the principal graces of Sarah,
duchess of Marlborough, was a prodi-
gious abundance of fine hair One day
at her toilet, to anger her heroic lord,
she cut off hor commanding tresses and
flung them in his face.
Nollekens, the sculptor, was a para
gon OF parsimony. In his own home
candles were never lighted at the COM
mencement of the evening, and wher-
ever he and his wife heard knock at
the door they would wait until they
heard second rap before they lighted
the candles, lest the first should have
been runaway" and their candles
should be wasted.
When Princess Charlotte, of Mecklen-
berg Strelitz, came over to be married to
George III, she was ten days at sea, but
kept gay the whole voyage, sang to her
harpsichord, and left the cabin door open.
When she first caught sight of St. James
Palace she TUNED pale. The Duchess
of Hamilton smiled. My dear Ouch
sss," said the Princess, you may laugh.
You have been married twice, but 1t is
no joke to me-"
Whilst Frederick Morel, the great
scholar aud eminent printer, was EN-.
pleyed on his edition of 'Libanus" one
day, he was told that his wife was sud-
denly taken ill. 81 have only two or
three sentences to translate and then l
will come and look at her." A second
message informed him that she was dy-
ing. Il have only two words to write and
| will be there as soon as you," replied
the philosopher. At length he was told
that his wife was dead. 81 am very
sorry for it, indeed" said he. going on
with his work, ''she was a very honest
woman"
The marriage of Racine was an act of
penance-neither love nor interest had
any share in the union. His wife was .
good sort of woman, but perhaps the
most insensible Of her sex, and the prop
crest person in the world to mortify tho
passion of literary glory and the momen-
tary exultation of literary vanity. 1t is
scarcely credible, but most certainly
true, since her own son relates the fact,
that she had never seen acted, nor ever
read, or desired to read, the tragedies
which rendered her husband so oele-
brated throughout Europe. She had
only learned some of their titles in con-
versation.
Maria and Elizabeth Cunning, who
appeared at the court of George III-one
at the age of IS and the other at 10
were two portionless girls of surprising
beauty. They are declared" writes
Walpole, Ito be the handsomest women
alive. Thsy can't walk in the park, or
go to Vauxhall, but such crowds follow
them that they are generally driven
away" One day they went to see Hamp-
ton Court. AS they were going into the
beauty room another company arrived.
The housekeeper said This way, ladies';
here are the beauties" The Cummings
flew into passion, and asked her what
she meant. They went to see the pal.
ace, and not to be shown as sight them
selves. The younger of the fair sisters
became the Duchess of Hamilton the
other became Lady Coventry.