Ellsworth American. [volume] (Ellsworth, Me.) 1855-current, 1886-09-30
Presidential Loves.

SOMETHING ABOUT The swEETHEARrs OF
LINCOLN, WASHINGTON. JEFFERSON AND
OTHERS.
President Lincolns first love vas gold
eu-haiTed blonde, who had cherry lips, a
clear blue eve, neat figure and more than
ordinary intellectual ability. Her name vas
Anne Ruiledge She was the daughter Of
tAyern-keeper in Salem. Ill. Mr.. Lincoln
met her when he was about twenty three,
and, after a romantic courtship, became en-
gagged TO her She died before they could
be married and Lincoln was so much AZ
feoted by her death that his biogrspher.
Ward Lemon. says his friends pronounced
him crazy for time He was watched care
fully. and became especially violent during
storms. fogs and damp and gloomy weather.
Al such times he would rave, declaring,
among other wild expressions "l can never
be reconciled TO have the snow, rain and
storms to beat upon her grave" At this
time be began to quote, it is said, the poem
which is so well identified with him, begin
ming
o. why should the spirit Of mortal be proud'
/: is supposed that he was thinking of his
FIST love during the times he so often re-
Leated IL. Years afterwards, when he had
become famous. he was asked by an old
friend as to the story Of his love for Anne
Rutledge, and he said Il loved her dearly.
She was handsome girl, and would have
made good and loving wife"
Lncoln's next love was a tall, Gne-looking
woman, named Mary Owens, with whom he
became acquainted about a wear after Anne
kar - l.,
he wrote letter to his friend Mrs. A. II.
Browning, saying that be had been inveigled
into paying his addresses TO Miss Owens,
but on being refused he found he cared more
for her than he had thought, and proposed
again. In this letter he says:
Il most emphaticaly in this instance have
made fool of myself. have come to the
conclusion never more TO think of marrying,
and for this reason--that can never be sat
isfied with any one who would be fool enough
10 have me-"
Still, it was not long after this that he
was engaged to Miss Mary Todd, q we'll
educated, rosy brunette, of Lexington, Ky,
who was visiting at Springfield, where LID
coin was member of the Illinois Legisla-
tsre. Both Lincoln and Stephen A. Doug
las proposed to her. She refused Douglas
and accepted Lincoln. Lincoln became sud
denly i'll, and it was more than year before
the marriage was consummated. 1t took
place finally in Springfield, and the couple
began their married life by boarding at the
Globe Hotel at four dollars per week. Lin
coin was thirty-three years old at this time
and Mary Todd was twenty-one.
4 number of presidents have been in love
more than once, and several have suffered
the pangs of love unrequited. Washington
Irving says that General Washington had a
seriou. passion at fifteen for some unknown
beauty which made him really unhappy for
time. The son OF President Tyler, who is
distantIy related to the Washington family,
tells me that the General tried to win the
daughter of Colonel Cary, of DENLY, War
wick County, Va. Colonel Cary was very
wealthy, and Washington, who paid attention
to none but prospective heiresses, was much
attracted by one of his daughters. He was
poor major then, and he rode on horse
back to Warwick County, and called upon
Colonel Cary. Cary, stsid old gentleman
with ruffied shirt and much dignity, asked
Major Washington, as be alighted from his
horse:
"May inquire, sir, what has caused you
to honor me with visit at this time ?"
Major Washington blushingly replied
that he had come to ask permission TO pay
his addresses te Miss Cary with . view to
marrying her.
"Well, sir" responded the stately Colonel,
IL would have you understand that my
daughter rides in her own carriage; and il
that be your business you may a. we'll mount
your horse, sir, and return"
Miss Cary Afterwards married Q man
named Amber, q member Of one of the
noted families Of Virginia. She was prss-
ent at the celebration which took place after
the surrender at Yorktown, and it is said
that when she saw Washington 20 highly
honored she tainted away in the realisation
of the great mistake she had made in not
marrying him.
A year or two after this, when Washing
ton had become Colonel at twenty-three
years Of age. be fell in love with Mary