The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1885-02-11
Romance of a Senator's Son.

II was surprised to read in the Past a
few days ago that Charles S. VOORHEES,,
the son of the Indiana Senator, is the
Congressman.eIcc from Washington
Territory, said a well 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"
"Nhen did he leave herem asked a
Post reporter.
Gin the spring of 1881. lie was here
several weeks, and I'll wager he will
never forget his Detroit experience, cs-
pccially as it included his marriage to a
Detroit girl"
Tell us the story"
"Thc paragraph in the Post stated that
young Voorhees, played Hamlet once,
and once only, some years ago, at IN
indianapolis theatre. But that was
not the only time he appeared on the
stage. He was thoroughly stage. struck
and joined John McCullough's company,
coming here with that organization.
lie played minor parts and overactcd
them to an extent that caused him to be
guycd 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. lie was a proud fellow, and
Immediately left the company. lie had
no money, and to obtain means ex-
changed his clothes for q shabby-genteel
suit and some money at Van Baalen's
pawn shop, and engaged board at Mrs.
Clark's, whose house j. above Grand
River avenue. An acquaintance brought
VOORHEES, to me, thinking l could aid
him in obtaining employment on ono of
the Detroit newspapers. | took him to
Mr.. Quimby, of the Free 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 q sample article and submit it. In
stead of writing on u local subject, Voor.
hces constructed a gushing lovc-story,
and was told that that style of literature
was not what was wanted On the paper.
That ended the attempt to make a news
paper man of him. After this failure l
saw nothing of Voorhees, for several days.
One evening the door-bcll at Il house
rang, and when it was answered
Mr.. Voorhees, and a lady were
admitted. lie astonished me by present
ing the lady as his wife, having just been
married by Father Van Dyke. The lady
was a Miss Bubble, a 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-
iicient faith in and love for the young
man, ia spite Of his impecuniosity and
failure to obtain employment. The
ncwly.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-
dition, 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 him until l read of his
election to Congress, and, as you a
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-strlcken and un-
able to obtain work in Detroit in 1881 is
in 1884 n member elect Of Congress-
Detroit Post.