St. Landry clarion. (Opelousas, La.) 1890-1921, 1897-04-10
ARP ON PRESIDENTS.
The stofv OF Jackson's Second
Marriage to His Wife.
seif-Aiade Chief Executfves--Bartoy
Sage Writes About College Edu-
cation and Athletic
Games at School.

L
Two weeks ago the Evening Constitu-
ton, in its weekly symposium, asked
which one of the presidents was married
twice to the same woman. The answer
was given the succeeding week, and then
have received number of letters want
ing to know why.
Doubtless there are a great many more
who have not access to any biography of
Andrew Jackson, and would like to
know why he was twice married to his
only wife.
And SO for the diffusionof knowledge
it is good time to tell these inquirers
the romance OF that marriage, for with
most men and women marriage is the
most important event of their life.
Rachel Donelson was beautiful,
sprightly and interesting girl-the best
horsewoman and the best dancer in all
the country. She married Capt. Rob-
ards, who proved to be a tyrannical and
jealous husband. He took her to Ken
lucky to Live with his mother, but soon
after, in a fit of jealous rage, sent her
back to Nashville. Her mother, who
was widow, was keeping a boarding
5ouse, and among her patrons were Gen.
Jackson and Judge Overton, both of
them high-toned, honorable gentlemen.
Indeed, the general was noted for his
purity Of character, his homage and
chiyalrous respect for women. When
Capt. Robards came there to make rec
oneiliation with his wife, he took offense
ut Jaekson's politeness to her. He and
Jackson had hot words and further
trouble was feared. jackson changed
his boarding house and Robards went
back to Kentucky and threatened tore
turn and haunt his wife and make her
life miserable. To escape his persecu-
tions she removed to Natchez, where she
had friends and relatives. In the mean
time Robards applied to the legislature
of Kentucky fo.. leave to sue for a di-
vorce, for that was then the law. Leave
to sue was granted to him, and it was
generally supposed that he had sued in
Kentucky and had obtained divorce.
Acting on this belief, Jackson went to
Natchez and married her.
For two years they lived together in
Nashville as man and wife, when to 4
their great surprise it was discovered
that Rohar6ls did not secure his di-
yorce until a year after her second mar
riage. So Jackson procured another Ii
cense and was married to her asecond
time. For 40 years they enjoyed an
honorable and happy Wedlock. His de-
yotion to her was intense and his pis-
tol was ever ready to avenge her fair
nalno from scandal. He had many po-
litical enemies, but he taught them
early that not even whisper to her
prejudice would be allowed. Rachel
Donelson was true and noble woman
1t is a singular fact that five of the
first thirteen presidents married wild
ows. Washington set the example and
was followed by Jefferson, Madison and
Fillmore. The last-na1ned was married
twice and SO was John Tyler. Andrew
Johnson's wife taught him to write
after they were married. HIS humble
origin and vocation and his rise to the
highest Office have long been cited to
illustrate the difference between q re-
publican and a monarchieal govern
ment, but he was not the only president
whose youth was marked by toll and
ignorance. Fillmore was apprenticed
to wool carder when ne was IA years
of age and was bound to the trade for
seven years. When he was 10 lie bought
his unserved time and bought die
tionary. He could read and write
little, but had not had access to any
books, for his father had none save
Bible and a hymn book He had never
seen a map Of the United States nor
a copy of Robinson Cruso. 1t was like
being born again for young man Of
10 to begin to acquire the rudiments
of an education. But he did it and
climbed slowly, but surely, upward un-
til he reached the top of the ladder.
Garfield was known as the teacher
~, pu' o,lii 1aa',l,is etl,o 1all,.ul
. s14'o essasiiI sehooi' 141siitoA ~ tue eii irsi
presidents had no collegiate education,
but thlsssIs no argument against the
great advantage that such an education
gives. College education is g great COM
fort, independent of its being a help to
progress and advancement in science
and art. The limited knoWiedge ac-
quafed IN q tafee-yeafs course couie
not be bought with money. 1t furnished
the tools or my trade. There IS a posi-
tive comfort IN knowing the origin OF
English Words--tile OLD ones and the
new ones that are eelng continually
coined to keen I'D With science ana GiS-