The people's journal. (Pickens, S.C.) 1891-1903, 1897-09-23
MRS. LONGSTREET'S VIEWS.
No True Woman Would Marry /;
Man She Did Not Love.

No social event has in recent years
attracted so much attention AS the
marriage OF General Longstrcct and
Miss. Dortch. The Now York news
papers, realizing the interest felt by
their READERS in this union Of the grand
! Ola soldier and the very attractive
young lady who has become his bride,
have developed Il lively rivalry over
the .poubliCati0n OF news relating to
the marriage itself or to its principals
General L0ngstrcuts telegram to The
New York World has told how he, an
old man, felt upon the day OF his mar
rlage with yonng bride. The New
York journal gives an even more
striking foaturu--M Mis-. Lonastrccv's
| explanation Of why she, a Young wo.
man, married so old 4 man. This lCttur
OF Mrs. LongstreCt is as follows:
Vine Crest Cottage, Near Gaines
vile, Ca, September ll.-You ask
why |, young woman, mLrriCd
Genela L)ngstrcct. Because loved
him, to be sure, for no true woman
would every marry man whom she
dld not love, though there arc always
envlous persons ready to draw con
ciuSlOnS and to aScriba motives.
AS IL little child | had access to
the home OF General Lougs,rcct, a
man who impressed even my childish
mind with L high ocnsu oi his honor
aud tegrity. There were about him
| no repe!ilng qualities. ! heard the old
folks talk Of his achievements and
Ihcy built Tor him warm place in my
heart. In Il word, General L0ngstroct
was not only a hero in war, but a
q ntleman IN pcacc--such a man ~
wins confidence at once, and especially
tho cor hdenco Of woman who love.
nigh ideals.
"A II this by way of preface to tho
question as to- why q young woman
| should marry an old man. DO yor
know, Mr. Elit0r, that women are
born with ideals aud ambitions just a.
men are, but that our social condition,
while giving free vent to the one,
brushes down or restrains the other.
[ could tell you OF scores of women
with bright minds. laudable ambitions
and high hopes who might have shown
in the world had they but the chance.
| Now, mind you, | am not u new wo.
| man, and believe in the ideals Of
to such Il high plane. But these young
! women, as soon as their school days
are over, understand that marriage is
the next step and the one which seals
their fate forever. BY custom they
arc restricted to company Of their
own age and marry young and un-
developed men, who afterwards prove
| to be nothing but the vcricst clUds Of
clay. Imagine q sensitive and high
minded woman as she awakcs to the
realization that her husband is entirely
gross. How many young women |
know who would have chosen older
husbands, but for social tradition. In
such marriage they could measure
fhnnph in hp
natural order such a husband might
leave her wiCoW early, is it not bet
ter to have been the wife OF one uc-
ccntable and companionablc man than
10 DC the Lifelong slave Of one whom
her soul held in aversion ?
woman looking sonsibly at such
an important event as marriage, VIII,
therefore, look among such Of her male
friends as have the qualities required.
The man who is advanced in years has
his record made up, ana the woman
can decide for herself whether he be
such one rs would develop all tnat
was best in hcrsclf.
While | had no special person in
view, my mind has always been firm
| on one point would never marry u
simpcring man who had no ideas in his
head and who lacked the energy TO
make Il man Of himself. IF ever the
time came for marriage the accepted
lover would have to be one who could
come up to my higt. ideal, WAC would
not bGlittlc my hopc $ and whose lame
! | would be prouhd TO bear. TO prove
myself worthy OF such q husband /
! have worked hard. ! have practically
educated myself and took u course in
Notrc Dame, Baltimore, to perfect my
requirements. | attained tho Office Of
assistant librarian under circumstances
which think would win the approval
OF any one, and ! led successfully the
movement in the Georgia legislature
to have official prcfcrment thrown
open to women. This | state in no Of
fensivc manner, but merely to show
that q woman may do something ir
this world without losing her woman