The Columbia herald. [volume] (Columbia, Tenn.) 18??-1935, 1893-07-28
JOHN RUSKIN'S WIFE.
H. Gave Her to His Friend Because
They Loved Each Other.


Jon Ruskin did a strangely way
ward thing wueu he consented to get
mar led. He did II most erratic and
to tbs public most inexpIicabls
thing when he arranged for his
divorce.
He had accep ed some Of the lofti-
est traditions about wumauh0Od thal
men sometimes read and tax about,
and he looked for his ideal GOmpan-
ion, Que Night he met her in the
drawiugrOon OF a Loniou friend
who, without his knowing OF il, had
Brought the young lady to meet the
eyes Of the great writer.
1t was June night; he wss So,
and she looked like "a Greek goddess.
He WA daZZled. Sha was tall,
graceful girl of -, with Il face ana
figure as faultless a. one Of the statues
OF old. No one ever expected RuskIn
to fall in love, and he did not. She
was poor, needed a home aud its
comforts, and 50 they We're married.
Their welded life was peaceful,
friendly, kindly to the highest de-
gree, but there was nos n spark OF
atfe ;tion to eniighi eu their existen" 70.
She admired the great man she Ia |
married, and was grateful for tn
wealth. and comfort h9 shOWered on
her. He worshiped mar as be would
the marble made Iifelike 10y the scul-
tors chisel.
There was nothing human about
the life they led as man and wife
and she was u woman who, in her
heart, like all true women, laughed
at the traditions that made her sex
love distant worship.
One day Ruskn brought an artist
to paint his wlre'5 picture; and the
man was Mi!lAis, and he was a very
bright, handsome, CHEEKY fellow, hu-
man, VERY iuch OF him, with a great
and absorbing owe for the beautiful
and u willingness to tell OF his love,
He began 10 paint the portrait OF
the magnificent woman aad, when
he had finished, he Was in love with
his friends wife.
WOmanill4, she saw it, and per-
haps, she was not fun OF sorrow and
reprOach. It was the first. tribute OF
real manly love that had ever lain at
her feet.
And iuskm! His wide eyes saw
the romance that vas weaving around
these two lives, and his heart REALIZED
now little affection he had To lavish
Oh the woman he had mAd5 his wife.
How he told her tho stony OF his
pride i'm her and the sacrifice ne WAS
to make for her, wniie she jay prone
vt his feet, il one Of the tnings wnich
only he or she could tell.
1t is difficult to obtain divorce in
England, but John Ruskm secured il
for her, and one Oraciug mDrulng Ia
the early winter, u month after tbs
divorce was grained, Rusku stood
beside the couple in one OF L'ndOn's
quiet cuulches and saw them made
man and wife.
Thl It was q good many years ago,
AMI since then MlllAis has become
rich and famous, aud Is now : John
and his wife 10 my Lady MllIAls
The Warmest, sLurdiest friend the
( struggling painter had in his toilng
| days was the man whose VIE he hAd
married, aud tnrougn all the years Of
! Mlllais' LAYER success and z eater
honor, john Ruskin has been the
welcome guest and almost daily Wis.,
! tor to the man aud woman whose
lives he 50 unseItishiy crowned with
happiness.
1t Is a strange story aud thu world
knows little about 1t, and sOme men
! have condemned him AS some womal
have Censured her. Bat the tw,
men and That one Woman who knew
b-st have been happy aud cOntenteC
with the change that John Rnskin I
pure unself4nns-s brought into thsil
! lives. And 80 the world should no
complain.