The Laurens advertiser. (Laurens, S.C.) 1885-1973, 1895-07-16
"oNE GRAND, SWEET SONG "


"oNE GRAND, SWEET SONG"
Grover Cleveland on ',hc Bliss OF
Married Life Fender Sentiments
in Print for the First Time.
Atlanta Journal.
The tender event just recorded from
Gray Gables has soitened tho strife of
politics that RACES about the President.
and his policies, and lifted the par
tlSan view .Or II moment ut least to the
ilndlier measure OF the Father and
the Man.
In his home life, Mr.. Cleveland is
always seen at his best and highest,
and the nation has more than once
been moved to admiration for tho
firm and delicate considerations that
has hedgGd his homo with sanctity,
and protected his young. and beauti-
ml wife from the 2aush light of
publicity that is so fond OF beating
about u throne.
But il is doubtful If Il more byauti-
ful aud inspiring glimpse into the
reVerenJ ana tCnucr sentiment which
envelops the hom life of the president
OF the United States, has. ever been
enjoyed by any American than that
which is so beautifully expressed in
the suhjoined letter, written in 1890,
to John Temple Graves, upon the oc-
E. Cothran, of Rome.
MIR. Graves had, by reason OF public
and private association in his service.
become closely acquainted with Mr.
Cleveland and enjoyed his friendship
aud esteem in "a most gratifying
degree. When the wedding carGs
were sent from Rome, 20 the ex-presi-
dent, Mr.. Graves accompanied them
with letter in which he paid feeling
tribute TO tho beauty and tenderness
Of the presidents own domestic life,
and the influence OF this high example
upon the domestic life oi the people.
The answer came promptly back i'm
the exquisite letter which follows:
SIG Mad lsOn Avenue,
December Goth, 1890.
John Temple Graves, ESQ, Rome. Ga:
My Dear MIR. Gravcs-We received
the card OF invitation to your wedding
II day on two ago: and | am glad that
your letter received only II few hours
ago justiiics me, on behalf of my dear
wife and myself to do more than Ior-
mully notice the occasion.
And first OF all, let me assure YOU
how much we appreciate the kind and
touching sentiment you convey TO us
in oar married state. .\S look back
upon The years that have passed since
God in y infinite goodness bestowed
upon me .ne best Of all gifts-a loving
and aifcctionatc wife--all else, honor,
the opportunity of usefulness and the
esteem Of my fellow Countrymcn, are
subordinatod in every aspiration of
gratitude and thank fulncss.
You are not wrong, therefore, when
you claim, in the atmosphere of fast
coming bliss which now surrounds
you, kinship with one who can testify
with unrcservcd tenderness, to the
santilication which comes to men when
hcaven-dirccted love leads the wun To-
marriage.
Since this tender theme has made
us kinsmen, let me wish for you and
the dear one who is to make Your life
doTbiy dear To you, all the Joy ana hap
piness vouchsafcd To man.
You viii, know, feel that our kind
wishes can reach no greater sincerity
and force than when my wife iOins
me in the feryCnt desire that YOU and
your bride may cntcr upon and enjoy
the same Felicity which has made our
married life "onc granas sweet song
Very truly your friend,
GROVER CLEVELAND.
Framed in white and gold this letter
has been hanging for four years, IL
cherished ornament in Mr.. Graves
study at Manchester, with mover IL
thought OF giving it to the world But
the Loyalty and the tenderness Of the
sentiment it contains had grown so
| much upon the admiration of the own
er and oI the few friends to whom it
| has been exhibited. that it has been
deemed proper and desirable to con
tribute this notable testimony from the
highest place in the nation to the
veXed ana variable issues of the qucs-
tion: " Is Marriage Failurc?" The
beautiful idyl OF the White House,
read between the lines OF this .eXqus-
itc letter, must forever remain IL lofty
refutation of the heresy embodied in
this oit-repeated question.
year or so ago Mr.. Graves re-.
qucstcd of the President permission
TO publish the letter for the sake of its
intluence upon the homo life of the
people, and Mr.. Cleveland promptly
replied that, although the wording OF
the letter had passed from his recollecL
tion, he would, for this purpose, freely
commit its uso - to the dclicacy ana
discretion Of his friend" With this
permission granted, MIR. Graves has
been induced 10 share the contents of
the Presidents letter with the public,
which can be expected to prove fully
as appreciative Of It's admirablo tone
as he has been.