The evening tribune. (Pawtucket, R.I.) 189?-190?, 1897-05-12
.JOHNSON'S ROMANCE.
THE cOuRTsHIp OF A TAILOR WHO
BECAME PRESIDENT.

piss sarah Word Rejected tho Future
Chief Magistrate For saddler-story
of n Tailor's Goose-Johnson Was Not
Ignorant and IIliterate.
Three quarters of n century ago, in the
little village of Laurcns, in the state of
south Carolina, there lived and laborcd at
the tailor's trade a young man who was
destined to play an important part In tho
affairs of this nation. OF humble origin
and having had practically no educational
advantages, he had in his character the Gle.
1ncnts of true manhood, and by force OF
brain power and ability attained the high
sst position OF honor and trust in the re-
public
Andrew Johnson left his homo In North
Carolina by reason Of some trouble with
his employer and went to the then ultra
exclusive and aristocratic village OF IIau-
rens He had no influential family con-
Inections, and was as poor as the tradi-
rionai church mouse, bis worldly posses
sions consisting only OF the clothes no
wore To one acquainted with the social
,conditions of the aDtebellum south, the
difficulties incident 70 obtaining recogni-
Ition by a man handicapped as johnson
was can be readily imagined. The sterling
worth Of the young tailor, however, made
itself felt, and demanded the admiration
and respect soon accorded him even by
those who were won't to consider one not
TO the manner horn deserving of but con-
Ascending notice.
Soon after reaching Laurcns johnson
lsecured position In tailoring establish
- IL ...s& o,N L.
faction to his employers until his return
to his North Carolina home. He was a
painstaking laborer and took commend
able pride In doing his work as perfectly
as possible. A coat cut, fitted and made
by johnson is still In existence. 1t was
made for Colonel Henry G. Young, o
prominent lawyer and politician OF upper
Carolina, and is now treasured by his de-
lscendants as one Of their most precious
possessions. The fact that the coat Is still
I'm good state Of preservation may posi-
lbly be taken as an evidence of the excel
lence and durability Of the work.
Johnson's stay at Laurens, brief as IL
was, marked very important epoch in
his life. 1t was there that he met his first
love, Miss Sarah Word, charming young
woman of education and refinement, who
neyman tailor man of character and
strength and promise. .Iohnson's regard
for Miss Word was reciprocated, and the
young people entered into an engagement
10 marry. They were thrown constantly
in each others society, and the future
president of the United States once assist
ed his fiancee in laying, stufiing and quilt
ing quilt This quilt is now owned by
II l1tt III do, ,l,t
of Miss Word, who subsequently married
William Hance. On either end Of the quilt
are Miss Words initials, as. W." which
were made, stuffed and quilted by johnson,
nnassisted. The enthusiastic young lover
was very desirous of placing mis- own ini-
tials beside those of his sweetheart, but this
Miss Word would not permit. This quilt
was on exhibition at the Atlanta exposition
in 1896 and attracted much attention.
The irresistible tendency that young men
names on everything movable and immov..
able in their immediate vicinity was not
wanting in Johnson. On the back Of an
old split bottomed chair he engraved the
inscription IS. w.-1s2O." 1t is needless
to say that il was the chair in which Miss
Word was accustomed TO sit on the porch
possession of Mrs. Bolt
Having satisfactorily adjusted the trou-
BILE with his former employer in North
Carolina, johnson decided to return and
resume his place. Before leaving Laurens,
as u token of his affectionate regard, he
gave to Miss Word his dearest possession,
the goose with which he had worked at his
trade. This act shows the tender simplicity
of the young taller. He had no false pride
about the matter He was leaving the
woman he loved for an indefinite time, and
not ashamed Of his lowly calling gave her
something that would be constant re-
minder of him and his work. After leav-
ing Laurens differences arose between Miss
Word and Johnson and their engagement
was terminated, but the tailor's goose was
never returned, and is now owned by Mrs.
Bolt and valued above price on account Of
its romantic history. Miss Word rejected
the tailor and married William Hance, a
saddler. The tailor became president of
the United States.
Johnson's biographers have all main
tained that in early life he was uncouth,
illiterate and ignorant, with no refine
ment or grace of manner. 1t has been
stated that he could neither read nor write,
marriage. This error has become so firm
ly fixed that it is generally accepted as n
historic fact, and school children are told
the romantic story Of how man who aft
srward became president was taught to
Ssad and writo by wife who was ambi-
tious for his advancement. This story
may be a beautiful object lesson on the
grand possibilities of American youth, but
II has the fatal defect Of being untrue
When johnson lived In Laurens, he could
both read and write, and was considered q
young man Of exceptional intelligence
Miss Word, to whom he was engaged, Is
authority for the statement that she re-
ceived many notes and letters from him,
and that he wrote good business hand
She has also frequently said that he was q
man OF more than ordinary intelligence, of
elegant address and q brilliant conversa.
honalist. As Miss Word was, by virtue of
her relations To him, closely associated
with johnson. the correctness Of her state
ments can neither be doubted nor contra
Sened. More than this, Colonel Il. b.
Crews, one OF the oldest citizens OF Iau.
iens and husband of Miss Words daugh.
Ter, says that over half n century ago,
when he first went TO Laurens. he had fre.