The Atlanta constitution. [volume] (Atlanta, Ga.) 1885-19??, 1888-10-16
LOVES OF GREAT MEN.
HISTORY THAT READS LIKE FIC-
TION.

Each OF our American heroes has lived the
material for a novel, and the successes and dis
appointments Of their love affairs would make
library Of interesting story, says writer in
IIarpers Bazaar. VIVA. can be more pathetic
than the lifelong disappointments Of James
Buchanan, John Randolph and Alexander IL.
Stephens? Buchanan Is sweetheart died during
lovers quarrel, and his bachelorhood became
her monument. Alexander Ii. Stephens, dis
appointed in his sohoolboy love, refers often to
her in his letters of long life Of single bless
edness; and John Randolph, the moody, I'M
happy, cratic genius Of Roanoke, lingering for
years on the verge Of insanity, speaks of Maria
| Ward las one whom he loved better than his
own soul or Him who created it,"
Randolph's love affair is shrouded in mys-
terry. He never married, and it was in his
early youth that he fell desperately in love
with Miss Ward. She was the daughter OF
| friend Of his mother, and Powhatan Bouldin,
arelative of Randolph says that he was engaged
TO her for many years Bouldin does not give
the reason why the engagement was suddenly
| broken Off, but says the distinguished lover
left the presence of his idol very much in
| consed, and that when he came to his horse,
| which was tied 10 the limb Of tree near the
front gate, he cut tile rains loose with his
| knife and rode of IN great haste. Randolph
seldom met bliss Ward after this, and they
were not on speaking terms. Still no calls
| her angel, and in his letters after her death he
| used this remarkable expression, II loved, ay,
| and was loved again, not wisely, but too we'll"
| Maria Ward is said to have been the greatest
| belle of Virginia in her day She married
| Peyton Randolph a son Of Edmund Randolph,
| who was President Washington's secretary of
! state. and IL is related that she 80 charmed
General Lafayette when he visited Richmond
| that he wanted TO adopt her as his daughter,
| and asked her to visit him in France
General Sam Houston, the president OF the
| republic Of Texas and United States senator,
In Nrotr On n
! sided over the state OF Tennessee when he fell
| in love with pretty girl at the state capital.
| He WAS o fine looking man, and the young
! lady's parents considered him very desirable
| husband. They persuaded his sweetheart
| to accept him, and he married her, not know
| ing that the match was not love one on
her part. After it had taken place he
found that his wife loved another. He
asked her il this was SO, and she told him it
was. He replied that she could have her free
dom, and that he would leave Tennessee and
permit her to get Divorce on the ground of
dosertion. He did so, went to the frontier,
and joined tribe OF Cherokee Indians. Here
he remained three years, and when no visited
Washington in behalf of the Indians in 1882
he wore the Indian garb. From thence he
went to Texas, and after making name and
having been president Of the republic OF Texas,
he married Margaret Moitet, an Alabama lady
His first wife had, il is said, in the meantime
gotten divorce, and had married her lover
Dayy Crockett, another frontier statesman
and n noted hunter was not less susceptible to
the disappointments of love. lie first became
enamored of relative of his schoolmaster,
but while he was counting her a richer sutton
carried her away before his eyes. lie next met
beauty at ball, fell III love at first sight, and
became engaged at the close of the fifth dance.
The day was fixed for him to announce the
engagement to her parents. He started to go
TO them, but fell in with some boon compan-
ions and made, as they say, "a night of it,"
lie arrived day TOO late, and found that his
lady love was to be married that night to an
other. lie was not deep lover, however, and
he made the best of q bad bargain. He
laughed off his disappointment, and danced all
night at the wedding party given in honor of
the union of his sweetheart and his rival. He
sOou fell in love again, and tins time was hap
PLY married. He lived at first with his wfe's
mother, and in the Crock war OF 1918 made
reputation in fighting the Indians. He was
elected TO the legislature, and during President
| Jackson's term was sent to congress. He was
| killed at the very 6fttle Of the Alamo, which
| was the beginning of Sam Houston's great
| Texan career.
| Most Of our statesmen have pure domestic
| records, and most Of them have been ardent
| lovers, and have made good husbands.
| Thomas Benton was devoted to his wife. aud
! he says in his thirty years memoirs that he
never attended any place of festIyity or anluge-
ment after her death. The wife Of Senator
Allen, of Ohio, better known as "Fog-horn"
| Allen, died at Washington during the winter
| OF l947. 1t was before the days OF railroad
| TO the west and the old senator carried her
| corpse home TO Ohio over the mountains, riding
| beside il on horseback during the day and
! watching il at night throughout tie cold,
! dreary journey, until at last he laid it beside
! her father, Governor Arthur, IN the beautiful
/ cemetery az Uhilicothe.
Chief Justice Marshall's marriage was
happy one, and his married life comprised iifty
| years OF the tenderest affection, His wife died
| but a short time before him, and Marshall di-
rected that his body should be laid with hers,
! and that the plain stone over their grave should
| have only this inscription
John Marshall. son Of Mary and Thomas
| Marshall, was born on the Gath of September,
| 1855, intermaried with Mary Willis Amber
on the 81 Of January, 1888, and departed this
! life on the 49, day Of, lS-."
| Daniel Websters two marriages were both
| marriages of love- His Arst wife was Grace
/ Fletcher, the daughter of q New Hampshire
| clergyman, and Webster married her wnon he
was twenty-siX years OF age, and while he was
! yet poor lawyer. Hts popping the question
! was most deloately done. Miss Grace had
| been winding a sSein OF yarn while he held it
| for her on his long arms. The sken had be-
come entanged, and, through his untwiSting
| the heads Of the two lovers came very close to-
! gcther As the knot became united, Mr.. Web
| star said: I'VE have succeeded, Miss Grace
! in uutying this knot; can not now tie an
! other which Will remain tied Is long as We
! live2"
Miss Grace blushed, and a kiss, it is raid,
| sealed the bargain. The two lived happily for
! eighteen years, when MS Webster died in
| New York, on her way 10 Washington, where
| her husband was then N meWbey OF congress.
she was III three weeks, during whsch time
| Webster watched at her bedside. Ills second
| wife was Caroline Leroy, Kew York lady
| tall, brown-haired and beautiful She presided
| over his establishment in Washington, and
| accompanied him 70 Eurone, where She diued
with tho queen. She always addressed her
| husband as MIR. Webster, and his iayogito term
for her was Lady Caroline"
stephen A. Douglass, The Little Giant q Illi-
nois, was twice married. and il is said that he
! courte0 Mary Todd nj the same time that her
hand was sought by Abraham Lincoln. Miss
| Todd, on being asked which Of the two she In
tended 20 marry, replied TIE one who she
thought had the best chance Of being president
| of tho United States. when Lincoln was
| elected this remark became prophetic Doug
las afterward married Miss Martha Martin. the
| daughter OF Colonel kobart Martin, rich
| planter and slave owner from one OF the Care
hnas. She brought g fortune, including Guuu,-
Der Of slaves, into the family, and died IN 1860
about seven years after her marriage. 4 fcW
years later Senator Doug IS married again
and this time lac chose a beautiful girl who va
employed in the departments at Washington