Iowa County democrat. [volume] (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1877-1938, 1892-12-23
NOVEL COURTSHIP.
A Chicago Woman Tries Her Wits on SEN
ator Sawyer.

A Chicago Woman Tries Her wits on Sem
ator Sawyer.
Washington, ID. c., Dec. Ex-senator
Philetus Sawyer, of Wisconsin, one Of
the wealthiest men in the United States
senate, has received an offer of malriag &c
from Chicago widow under circum-
stances which made the affair d. amour
one OF the most remarkable in the liter
allure of courtship and romance
Senator Sawyer has for several years
lived alone i'll his vast and magnificent
castellated residence on Connecticut
avenue. He has millions ut his COM
mand, but his widowerhood has left him
to enjoy alone the Injuries with which
he is surrounded. His superb home
and millions have been so often alluded
to IN the newspapers that they have
evidently caught the attention of at
least one Chicago woman, who, being
also alone in the world, feels that two
hearts should beat us one in the enjoy
ment Of these riches.
The senator's mail is constantly filled
with letters requesting aid for one
charity or another. Among these let
tiers one came the other day far different
from the rest. 1t was postmarked Chi
cago, and the address on the envelope
showed the bold English hand of the
woman. Thus when the senator read
the letter he was both amused and as
toniShed.
1t was frank and open proposal Of
marriage. There was sincerity i'll every
word and line of the epistle. 1t showed
unmiStakable evidence Of having been
written by woman of refinement and
education. There was nothing crampcd
about the writing; the sentences were
well framed and the words we'll chosen,
and the whole letter showed the car
nestness as well as the intelligence Of
the author. The name and address
were given in full, with many other cir
cumstantial details showing the high
standing of the lady, to place it beyond
the slightest suspicion of being joke.
1t was this fact which turned Senator
Sawyer'S view of the letter from one of
amusement TO one of amaZement. He
laid aside his various senatorial duties
for the time being and went to consult
his immediate friends as to the course
he should pursue under the circum
stances. He sought one of the members
of the cabinet with whom his relations
have long been very intimate and the
two talked over the position and con-
sidered the best eXpedient course. The
cabinet officer was at first amused as the
senator had been, although he, too,
came to recognize the seriousness with
which the proposition had been made.
One of the unique features of the
proposition was the circumstance which
had prompted 1t. The Chicago widow
explained her intimacy with another
Chicago widow. They were constantly
together and they had at times been
much interested i'll public questions, and
in the position of various public men
upon such questions. They had come
to have high personal regard for Sen
ator Sawyer and several Of his asSOci-
ates, for their hish-minded and patriotic
attitude on various questions Of the day.
Shortly before the recent election the
two widows made a wager as to the
Mr.. Cleveland won, one Of the widows
was to make proposal of marriage to
some unmarried man. If, on the other
hand, Mr.. Harrison won, the other
widow was to make the proposal of
marriage. AS it turned out Mr.. Cleve-
land won, the supporter OF Mr.. Harrl-
son had to keep good the wager by Il
Of, t.iofr a. know
one, she said, to whom she would rath-
er make it than to Senator Sawyer.
She did not want him to regard 1t as 4
silly or sentimental move. 1t was
plain business proposition in which she
felt that she did not sacrifice any OF her
womanly dignity. She had accomplish
ments, q fair measure of this worlds
goods, an unblemished character, gen
tleness Of disposition and comeliness OF
appearance which would commend her
to man of intelligence and taste.
Many other facts were recited to show
that the match could not be other than
of benefit to both parties. The cabinet
officer with whom Senator Sawyer
talked has very little romance In his
makeup, and it was due largely to this
fact that the novel courtship received
a check. He advised the senator not to
answer the letter and to pay no atten-
ton to it whatever. The senator felt
that this would hardly be becoming on
the part of a gentleman, and was IN
clined to write courteous but explicit
declination Of the proposal Of marriage.
1t was finally agreed, however, that
silence would be the best course, so
that this dispatch, giving the first state
ment of the proposal and the senator's
purpose Of silence, will carry grief to
the loving heart Of the ambitious Chi
cago widow.