The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1891-10-25
OUR LITERARY BUDGET.
Do Popular Authors Shine as Husbands?
1 Humorous Protest.
CARLYLE A SHOCKING EXAMPLE.
The Testimony which Mr.. John Stuart MIL
Bore to the Influence Exercised by fer'ec'
sympathy Between Author and WIFE,

in the Book Buyer thero is n humorous pro-
test againt tho popular idea that authors DO
hot shine as husbands. literary man re-
lates that lie made proposal OF marriage 10
charming young woman. and she asked for
day or two in which TO consider the matter
10 give the result in his own words The
next afternoon received from her parcel
sccompane ed by note bearing the simple
but suggestive inquiry. DO you think 1t Is
satey' opened the parcel aad found therein
several books, Froudes Letters and Memo
rails of Jane Welsh Carlyle, Daudets Ar
lists Wives The Unhappy Loves of Men Of
Genius and n copy of Longman's Magazine
containing an essay by Mr.. Lang, III
eject advising young women not 10
marry literary men, Carlyle IS always
brought forward Us a shocking example OF
the nuthOr- husband but II would to- IA severe
rejection upon writers IN general 10 regard
hun AS the typical literary man. Carlyle and
Bulwer were both unfortunate III having
wives who had no notion OF letting conceal
mont play on their damask cheeks, But
many commonplace citizen IS no ehsler 10
get along with than were Carlyle ana Buiwer,
Jnst as many an ordinary man IS hoI lcsS
tickle and waywGrd III his loves than Goethe
was Among authors AS body. happy mar
riages may lie said 10 pfeponderate, though
this depends largely upon lhe qualities OF the
woman Ia the case. The steadiast devotion
OF Nathaniel Hawthorne ami his VIE 10 each
other is now matter of history and Amos
Bronson Acott. the dreamy. Impractical
philosopher. was supported IN all ms
TeveTses by the strong, unwAYerng love or
his faithful liie-partner. The Brownings are
the model couple IN literature, just ~ the
hendals are on the stage. and, ike them,
have figured somewhat tediOusiy as bright ex-
emplars. But no amount OF twsddlo and can't
can make the mutual love OF the welded poets
less beautiful 10 read of Robert Browning
a. "A husband Is 20 receive revelation OF the
tenderness OF true mauliness. Not only were
the two in complete intellectual accord but
as Mrs. Browning tOuchinglv said. he loved
her tor the very Things that made her
weary OF berseli-her suHoungs and her
weakness John stuart Mill gave testi- |
mOny to has own happiness when |
he wrote What MARI age HAY be in the case
OF two persons with cultivated faculties iden- |
tical in opinions and purposes between whom /
there exists that best KIND OF equality sni- |
larlty Of powers and capacities with reciprocal |
superiority IL them 50 that each can en- oy !
the luxury OF looking up 10 the other, and |
can have alternately the pleasure OF leading
and being lead In the path OF development
| will not attempt 10 describe. 10 those who
can conceive It there Is no need; = those who
cannot 10 would appear the dream OF an en-
thusiast." IT Is curious that. IN spite OF the
lingering prejudice against biue-stO X ngs,
there has been little said OF late about the 'un-
happy loves of women of genius" This may
imply either that ali modern literary women
are good wives, or that the subject is not con-
sidered important enough for discussion Il.
J.. Stevenson did indeed say some years
agone, Certainly, il 1 could help IT, [ would
never marry a vie who wrote Poor man
apparently he could not hepit. but as he has
survived the experience, perhaps he has found
Il not 80 cruel - he once Iancled. It should |
not he forgotten that the woman who pro-
duces good literature. and at the same time is
in her triple role OF mother. wife
aud hOme-maker, carries heavy burden. and
as rule she receives little assistance ia bear
ing it.--New Orleans imes-Democrat.