The Banner-Democrat. [volume] (Lake Providence, East Carroll Parish, La.) 1892-current, 1897-05-01
BILL ARP'S WEEKLY LETTER.
RARTOW,S SAGE RECOUNTS SOME
PRESIDENTIAL HISTORY.
STORY OF JACkSON'S MARRIAGE.
Self-Made Chief Executives-COllege Ed
lcation and Athletic Games at school
Touched Upon.

Touched Upon.
Two weeks ago The Evening Constitution,
In its weekly symposium, asked which one
of the presidents was married twice to the
sarle woman. The answer was given the
suec seding week, and since then l have re-
ceiyed number of letters wanting to KNOW
why.
Doubtless there are great many more
who have hot 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 diffusion of knowledge 1t
Is q good time TO tell these inquirer5 the
romance of that marriage, for with most
men and women marriage is the most I'M
portant event of their life.
Rachel Donelson was beautiful, spright-
" and interesting girl-the best horse
woman and the best dancer in all the coun-
try. She married Captain Robards, who
proved to be q tyrannical and jealous nus
band He took her to Kentucky TO i've
with his mother, but so0u after, in q lit OF
Jealous rage, sent her hack to Nashville.
Her mother, who was a widow, was keep
ing boarding house, and among her pat
rons were General Jackson and Judge Oy-
erton, both of them high-toned, honorable
gentlemen. Indeed, the general was noted
for his purity of character, bis homage ana
I.chiyalrous respect FOR woman. Nheh cap
citation With his wife, he took otfense at
Jacksons noiteness to her. He AID Jack
son had hot words and further trouble was
feared Jackson changed his boarding.
house and Richards went back to Kentucky
| and threatened to return and haunt MS Wlie
| and make her life miserable. TO escape his
| prosecutions she removed to Natchez, Wnere
| She had friends and relatives. In the mean
| time Robards applied to the Legislature OF
| Kentucky for leave to sue for divorce Tor
| that was then the law. Leave to sue was
| granted to him, and it was gen rally sup
| posed that he had sued in Kentucky anu
| had obtained divorce. Acting on this be-
| lief, Jackson went to Natcnez ana Mtrrieu
| her.
For two years they lived together in Nash
| Vile as man and vile when to their great
| surprise il was discovered that HotardS did
| not secure his divorce until year after hef
| second marriage. SO Jackson procured an
other license and was married to her aseeohd
| time For forty years they enjoyed au non
| orable and happy wedlock. His devotion to
her was intense and his pistol was ever
ready to avenge her fair name from scandal
He had many political enemies, but he
taught them early that not even whisper to
her prejudice would be allowed. Rachel
Donelson was a true and noble woman.
1t is q singular fact that five OF the first
thirteen presidents married widows. Wash
| ington set the example and was followed by
Jefferson Madison and Fillmore. The last
named 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 a
republican and monarchical government,
but he was not the only president whose
youth was marked by toll and Ignorance.
Fillmore was apprenticed to wool earder
when he was fourteen years OF age and was
bound to the trade for seven years. When
he was nineteen he bought his unserved
time and bought a dictionary. He could
read and write u little, but had not had ac-
cess to any books, for his father had none
save a Bible and 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 nineteen to begin
| to ACQUIRE the rudiments of an education.
But he did it and climbed slowly, but surely
upward until be reached the top OF the lad
der He made a better man than Andrew
|: Johnson and was far more dignified and
| happier in his Office. Fillmore became pres
| ident because be was worthy of it. johnson
was rolled into the Office by the tidal wave
E of the civil war. But they were self-madt
men.
{ Garfield was known as the teacher presi
. dent, but John Adams and Arthur also taught
l school. Eight of the earlier presidents had
1 no collegiate education, but this is no argu
ment against the great advantage tina
j such an education gives. College edu
D cation is q great comfort, independent of it:
. being help to progress and advancement
in science and art The limited knowledg,
acquired in a three years course coult
not be bought with money. 1t furnished
the tools OF my trade.
I There Is a positive comfort in knowing TIN
! | origin of English words-the old ones and
e the new ones that are being continual.
coined to keep up with science and dis
| | coyery 1t is comfort to know how L
| measure the distances of the sun and moor
and stars and to calculate eciipses and VIII.
. the little honey bee builds the cells in tn
{ honey comb in hexagon shape and the law
i of light and gravity. 1t is q comfort TO al
! old man to be looked up to by his chiidrel
u and grandchildren as the pupils did 10th
}. schoolmaster in Goldsmith's school
J, "Apd.s still they gazed and still the wonde
j Tint one small head could carry all
greats sns s aad e bossos q Sent there il.
y for the fun I'll ism< q Tx; polish Of j
81 bha a promlneht ieatsfs soIsgs eihcaiioi
"A NV ideas about that any be prjddIres, b.
! ii sc, thcs are so strong and ! am so aHtigu
the 6 gs ssasss a fsss hss ass @
"a |. take their own resp offsft but IfeeLs
8 4 helpless as discoraged when read Il
IA .pfograSinfes of the matched games that AZ
d faEeaay arrahged for the coming suninit
81 tsls bsrk seat and let the PROCESSION PR
,1 coed AR, In Atlanta Constitution.