The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1885-12-06
DOMESTIC FIDELITY.

Written for the Indianapolis Journal.
A great national event like that of the past
week brings many strange reflections to the
thoughtful student of humanity. There is no
one thing on earth which so calls out the mobiles
attributes of mems characters and so completely
subjugates all that is mean or selfish in mems
natures as that strange visitation called death.
No magical transformation scene upon the stage
was ever half SO wonderful as that which takes
place when the angel of death touches with mys-
terious wand one VINO held a high place among
his fellow-creatures. Instantly all other men
seem dwarfed and obscure, and the dead hero
stands alone on a sacred height in the clear,
white light of a divine illumination. Through
the side wings his enemies glide away aud reap
pear upon the stage as admiring friends. The
voices of envy, malice and condemnation are
drowned in the great anthem of praise and eulo-
gy sung by all the multitude. Vices dwindle
away and are forgotten, while virtues rise tri-
umphant and are glorifed in verse and para
graph, and spoken eulogy from the thousands
who offer tribute to the distinguished dead.
Never was this more strikingly illustrated than
in the recent death of our honored Vice presi-
NOA@ LINN tnO uaSA " IL tcioSTdpu IL Ill
nounced the sad news, died away all political
an1mosity, all personal and private ill-will.
Never was there a more spontaneous and uLi-
versal outburst of love and esteem and high APP
probation. Ard yet this torrent Of kindness,
this avalanche of affection came too late to bring
one ray of happiness to the man who inspired it.
The heart it would have thrilled with joy was
forever silent and unresponsive; the life it would
have filled with %gladness was forever ended.
This beautiful tribute could not brighten the
last pages: the book was closed. The past
year and q half has known much of criticism and
censure of the one who to-day is most honored of
the Nation, inseparable, perhaps, from political
life, but keenly felt by this sensitive, refined
man. Only a thousandth part of the praise and
esteem that to-day fall upon dull ears would
have made the whole world bright for the gen
tie, conscientious statesman. But the same
qualities that now seem almost peerless were
UNDECIDED and unmentioned. 1t is the old, old
story-we save our laurel wreath for the coffin
lid.
One noticeable fact, one highly creditable to
us as a nation and as individuals, is that in all
the eulogies which have been pronounced, the
private character of Mr.. Hendricks has
been placed above the public and political.
The legal acumen, diplomacy, political Sa gacity,
power of debate. all have been subordinated to
the pure and stainless private character. In po-
sitions of public trust he was faithful to his con
stituency, and he bore unfiInchingly the blaze
of popular criticism: but it was in the quiet
Ne'N ~ 80 " ASoA1 tihb bO OOOiLCA a
t~ractive. There is no greater virtue than domes-
tic fidelity. All men may not be capable of great
craftsmanship, military heroism, literary gen
lus or financial strategy, but every man may be
faithful to his wife and family: The men who
have been most eminent in public affairs have
also offered beautiful examples of faith
fitness to home. Among our fnanciers
neither the Astors, Vanderbilts nor Goulds
are immoral. Neither A. T. Stewart nor Peter
Cooper were accused of immortality. The most
haantlfnl Dlp nf lOvo aod focIonna
given 70 The World was that between General
Grant and his wife. a devotion which did more
to endear the hero to his countryment than even
his great military achievements. Sherman,
Sheridan. Mcclellan, most of our generals are or
were devoted to their wives. Hayes and Gar
field both gave most convincing assurance of the
love and respect they entertained for their wives.
Many OF the more INSCRIPTIONS politicians have
held the marriage tie lightly. but the best ele-
ment have been true ami faithful to their family.
The attachment of Senator for Mrs. Logan is
proverbial. Blaine, Edmunds, Bayard, Sher-
man, Hoar, Cameron. Randall. Carlisle, a vast
majority OF our statesmen, are good, faithful
husbands. Among our literary meu it is almost
impossible to find one of permanent reputation
who is not irreproachab BILE as husband and father.
Emerson, Holmes, Whittier, Hawthorne, Long
fellow are exam pies worthy of imitation. In
this fast age of infidelity, and recklessness, and
soothing, one sometimes grows discouraged, and
feels that the solid ground is slipping away. and
that we are losing the grand principles which it
was promised should be everlasting. But when
within six months two of our great citizens PASS
away, and we observe that no one trait of char
acter meets with such universal and heartfelt
response as that OF domestic love and fidelity,
then indeed we take courage and feel that the
leaven of original purity will at last work out
the salvation of the world.
Among the many thoughts that crowd upon
us there is space to give expression to but one
more. The wives of these men-were thew
women of remarkable ability tn TINS win and
retain the husbands affection2 With two or
three brilliant exceptions they were not superior
to thousands of others. The average woman. if
she is made her husbands friend and com
panion, taken into his counsels, and
kept close to his heart, will prove herself equal
to every emergency that may arise in his life or
her own. The husband will find her presence a
help. an inspiration and Il necessity, and it will
be her delight and pride to minister unto him.
This is what the sacrament of marriage was IN
tended to be when it was divineiy ordained. 1t
has been sadly perverted by uncongeniaiity
selfshness, misunderstanding and estrange-
ment, until, in many instances, married
life is a travesty. The wife who is
made to feel from the beginning that she
is in nowise necessary to her husbands mental
and spiritual welfare will. after awhile, indeed
cease to be essential. She will finally become
absorbed in her own pursuits and go her own
separate way, though always looking backward
with regret at the husbands pathway, where she
was considered An intruder. When the young
husband shall take the young wife by the hand
and say: WHITTIER | go. thou shall go, my way
shall be thy way. and thou shalt be always my
beloved comrade," then will he realize that he
has obtained heavens best gift;'' aud then
will the perfect fellowship between husband and
wife be SO universally the rule that only the
absence of it will excite observation or comment.
TERRE HAUTE, Ind. IDA A. HARPER.
Unnecessarily Deep Grief.