Omaha daily bee., 1897-04-03
GEN. SHERMAN AS A MATCHMAKER.
His CorrespOndcncc Concerning an
Ahnfr of the Heart.

| Affair of the Heart.
Among some unpublished letters by Gen
| eral Sherman in "McClure's" is CORE
spondence which he had with a young lady
who. while school girl, got into CORE
spondence with an officer of the regular
army. Although this was simply friendly
| her father put an end to 1t. Some time
| later, the young lady desirous to know
| whether her correspondent was a victim o
| the Custer massacre, addressed a letter t
| General Sherman on the subject to which HI
replied. She then wrote to the general, tell
| ing him of the nature of the correspond
ence. In a few days General Sherman ans.
wered as follows:
HEADQUARTERS ARMY OF THE
| UNITED STATES. WASHINGTON, D. c.,
May II, 1S79.-Miss-, My Dear Young
Lady: Your letter of the 11th convinces me
| that you are a good girl, with pure heart
and soul-one of the most precious beings
| on earth-and that you should nurse a tender
passion, unseen, unknown to it's object, is
not right. You may confide in me, because
am not only a father and grandfather,
but stand in the relation of father of the
whole army.
Lieutenant - is unmarried, of a good
military record. excellent habits, and re-
spected by his army associates. do not
recall him personally to memory, but one of
his brother officers was here this morning,
OIL WnOm L inquired, Without HIS dreaming
Of my reason. He is at Fort -, Cal, a
lonely place, where he must dream of just
such girl as l suppose you to be. He must
be about years old-a little too old for
you-but still with a good long life yet be-
fore him: and If in your dreams you think
Of him. and are willing to renew your old
acquaintance, tell me so in the purest con-
idence of child and I can let him know,
without in the least compromising your
maiden delicacy, that he ought-noW that
you are no longer girl but woman, ca
pable and qualified to judge of her own
heart and interests, and that he is at lib
erty-to seek of your father the right to
renew a correspondence which was broken
off most properly by him. In my judg-
ment this may be done, and 1t may release
two worthy souls from thraldom which
neither can break without the mediation of
prudent friend.
"To me you can write with absolute con-
fdence. Truly yours, w. T. SHERMAN"
To this the young lady replied five days
later, namely, on May 22 in letter which
Is no longer preserved; and thereupon Gen
eral sherman wrote her again, as follows;
UNITED STATES, WASHINGTON, ID. c.,
May 26, 1S79.-Miss = Ny Dear Young
Lady: Yours of the 22d is received, and l
will write to -, without in the remotest
degree compromising your dignity or maiden
modesty. Your feelings are pure and natural,
and you need have no uneasness at all. Let
me know all the facts, and l will be the
friend Of all. Tell me your age, and If
possible send me photograph. so that on
hearing from - ! may advise you.
at is not fair that he should be alone
away out in the mountains of California,
when a pure young girl is treasuring the
memory Of his former kindness, II not sigh
ing for some response to the appeal of low
ing heart. 1t is not rlght-there should be
some conclusion, That sweet hope that lies
buried to human eyes must have some
realization, or be suppressed. With you 1t
may be the love OF vision, and who knows
but he too is signing for the object Of his
youthful dream? ] cannot bear the thought
of such a girl adoring at the shrine of a
photograph when the living man Is within
easy reach. Should his answer to my letter
be what l expect, shall insist on his apply
ing by letter to your father for the privilege
OF coming to you, when you must do the
rest OF course you are passiOnately in
love with him now. l think your father
knows as much, only he cannot reveal the
as strong as state 1t here, but enough to
learn his feelings. and will then write you
again. Remember, this is all / promise, all
that would be wise for you to know and
realize. IL he loves you, you should meet
and each be the Judge OF the other If in
different or ofiish, Danish the thought as n
schoolgirls dream, and choose your partner
out of the many clever fellows that must
be within the reach Of your acquaintance
| sometimes laugh at the many condolences
Of this sort which reach me Officially. Truly, |
ETC. W. L. SHERMAN"
Lieutenant - married somebody else and
the general notes in later letter that his
fair correspondent took things phlosoph- |
rally'