The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1893-08-27
sr,sx,n,s WEDDING ROMANCE.
The story OF tho Eccentric Crtio' MAT
rage and Divorce.


rage and Divorce.
roh, pusk,n did a strangely wnyward
thing when he consented 10 get naruieu'
He did most erratic and. 70 the puoic'
most inexplicable thing when he arranged
for his divorce He had accepted some Oh
the Hottest traditions about woniahhoou
that men sometimes read and talk about,
and he looked for his ideal companion. One
rigbt he met her IN the drawing room OF
London friend, who without his knowing
Il. had brought the young lady to meet the
eyes of the great writer.
1t was June night. He was 80, ana sne
looked like Greek goddess. He was dag
tled. She was q tall. graceful girl OF ~.
with a face and Agure a. fauitiess as one o.
the statues Of old. No one ever expected
Ruskin 10 fall In love. and be did not She
was poor, needed a home and us eomtoF's'
and so they were married.
Their welded life was peaceful friendly
kindly 20 the highest degree. but there was
not spark of affection 20 enlighten their
existence She admired the great man she
had married and was grateful for the wealth.
and comfort he showered on her. lie wor-
sbioed her as be would the marble made
hfelike by the sculptor's chisel.
There was nothing human about the lie
they led as husband and wife, and she was
woman who In Der heart, like all true
women, laughed M the traditions thai
made her sex love distant worship.
One day Ruskin brought an artist 70
paint his wife's picture. And the man was
Millais, aud be was a bright, CHEEKY, hand'
some fellow, human every inch OF him, with
great and absorbing love for the beautiful
and willingness 10 tell Of his love.
He began 70 paint the portrait OF the
MAGNIFICENT woman, and when he had fin
isbed he was in love with his friends wife.
Womanlike she saw 1t, and perhaps sDe
was not full Of sorrow and reproach. IL
was the first tribute of real manly love tha'
had ever laid at her feet.
And Ruskinl His wide eyes saw the ro-
nance that was weaving around those TWO
lives. and bis heart realized how little al
lection he had to lavish on the woman he
had made his wife How he told her the
story of bis pride in her, and the sacrifice
be was 10 make for her, while she lay prone
~ his feet. IS one OF the things which only
lie or she could tell.
II Is difficult 20 obtain a divorce in Eng
land. but John Ruskin secured it for her,
and one brocing morning In the early WIN
ter, a month after the divorce was granted,
Ruskin stood beside the couple IN one OF
London's quiet churches and saw them
made man and wife.
That vas good many years ago. and
since then Miliais has become rich aud Ia
NOUS and is now Sir John, and his wife IS
my Lady Millais The warmest, sturdiest
friend the struggling painter had In his
toiling days was the man whose wife he
had married, aud through all the years Oh
Millais' later success and greater honor
John Ruskin has been the welcome guest
and daily visitor 70 the man and woman
whose lives be so unselfshly crowned with
happiness
1t isa strange story, and the world knows
little about it, and some men have con-
demned him, as some women have censoreo
her But the two men and chat one woman
who knew best have been happy and con-
tented with the change that John Kuskin's
pure unselflshness brought into their lives
And so the world should not complain
Chicago News.