The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1888-11-09
STATESMEN IN LOVE.
Some Daring Proposals and a Few
Opponents.
fHarper,s Bazar.l

lHarper's Bazar.l
A number Of our great men have had to do
their counting against the opposition of the
parents of their loves. Gen. Knox, who was
Secretary of War in Washingtons Cabinet,
began his career as Boston bookseller.
Among the young ladies who came to buy
books was the beautiful daughter of high
official of the English colonial government
She fell In love with the handsome bookseller
and he in turn was captivated by her. The
young lady's parents objected to the union,
and the marriage was effected by what was
practically an elopement. Mrs. Knox's for
mer friends regarded 1t as social degreda-
ton; but few years later as the wife of a
Cabinet minister, and as leader of the court
society OF the new. government, she ranked
higher than any of them. Both she and Gen.
Knox were dotted during Washington's day
as entertainers. They kept good table, and
each weighing considerably over 200 pounds
Their life was happy one, until Knox died
OF chicken bone in his throat.
Jefferson Davis's first wife was the daugh-
ter OF Zachary Taylor, and Gen. Taylor de-
cidedly objected to the match. An elope-
ment resulted, and the angry father-in-law
would have little to do with Davis after it
until the battle of Buena Vista took place,
where Davis excited Taylor's admiration by
his bravery.
Gen. Fremont eloped with Thomas Ben
toms daughter, and 1t was some time before
Benton grew reconeiled to him. When he
did so, however, he became enthusiastic in
his favor, and Bent0n's enemies used to say
that he considered him, next to himself, the
greatest man in the country.
Commodore Porter, the father of the pres
ent Admiral, had a most romantic marriage.
He made reputation at the age of 26, and
had become a commander after only eight
years Of service. He had shown himself a
bravo man in our war with Trinn1i had hnan
imprisoned, and was now back in the United
States, on service at the navy yard at Wash
ington. Here he met very pretty young
lady, Miss Evelina Anderson, the daughter
Of wealthy Congressman from Pennsylva-
mia. When Commander Porter met her she
was playing. with doll, for though she was
in society. she was only 10 years of age He
fell in love with her at first sight. asked her
hand, and was referred by Commodore Tin
gey to Mr.. Anderson. her father, who was at
home at Chester, Pa. Commander Porter
hurried at once to Chester. but the family
had been apprised of his coming, and were
prepared to give him fiat refusal. They
did not consider him, poor naval officer, a
suitable match for their daughter, and Miss
Anderson's brother was deputized to receive
the audacious sutton and give him his walk.
| ing papers. When Porter made his appear.
ance he was shown into the parlor, where
| young Anderson met him and asked him his
business in freezing tone. Commander
1
William Anderson in relation to his daughter
| and that he could not communicate what he
had to say to any one else but him.
Sir" said the brother, 'you have come on
FOOLS errand. My father cannot see you
and you cannot marry my sister, or be con.
nected with her family"
The commander jumped from his chair, his
eyes flashing fire. "SirW he exclaimed, "you
are meddling in matter that does not con-
Germ you. come here to marry your sister
N IN arrtT trnr nd
| you do not leave the room l will throw you
| out of the window"
The young gentleman was quite taken
aback. He sought his father and told him
that there was piratical looking man down
stairs who insisted upon marrying his sister
| He was certain that the man would cut
| every bOdy's throat If he did not get her, anC
he washed his hands Of the matter. The
result was that after weeks acquaintance
| all the family took great liking to the would
| given to the marriage. The two were mar
| ried on the 10th of May, 1908, and Mr. Ander
son gave them very handsome residence or
the banks Of the Delaware as wedding
Is still standing, and its massive stone wall:
are in good preservation. 1t is in the posses
| sion of the family, today.
Benjamin franklin also found his wife in
| Philadelphia. he first saw her when ht
passed her as he walked into the city, a poor
boy of IS, ravenously eating at one loaf Of
bread while he carried another under his
| arm. He courted her before he went as
| journeyman printer to London, and at this
time asked his future mother-in-law for the
hand of her daughter. Mrs. Reed told the
| love-sick youth that he had better wait until
he returned from London and was establish
ed In business, and that there was plenty Of
| time for marrying as neither he nor the
young lady was yet 10 years Of age. The
daughter, however, accepted him, and he
| left for London with the understanding thai
| he was to be married when he came back
BE found London very attractive, and short.
| ly after his arrival he wrote that he was
not likely to return soon. As the months
went on he became less and less attached
| to his sweetheart, and finally stopped writ.
ing altogether. When he returned he found
her married, and that very unhappily. She
had given up all hope of Franklin, and her
relatives had forced her into marriage with
'one Rogers, a potter" and Rogers turned
out badly. 1t was supposed that he had an.
other wife, and he ran off from his creditors
to the West Indies. Franklin went back tc
work in Philadelphia and was soon doing
/ well. He then sought his former sweetheart
now deserted wife, and upon hearing tht
report that her husband was dead, he mar
| ried her.
Mrs Franklin wasa finely formed hand
some woman, and the marriage was a very
happy one SAND hTSys tOgsse E ms
each other happy" Mrs. Franklin attended
to her husband little shop, bought the rag'
for his paper mill stitched pamphlets; prac
| ticed economy, and Franklin says that III
was once proud of being clothed from heaC
| to foot In linen and wooden of his wife's man
ufacture. She was valuable helpmate tt
him during his public life. She assisted hin
to acquire the possession of leisure, and by
| wisely administering his fortune enabled
him to devote that leisure to the pursuit Of
| science and to the service of his country.
Franklin, in the mean time, had another
love affair, which shows the practical side
| of his nature. He had paidssome attentions
to the daughter of the boarding house
living, and Mrs. Godfrey had suggested a
marriage. Franklin replied that he would
willingly marry the girl, but that he ex-
pected dowry with her. He was in debt
upon his printing office, and he thought