The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1897-09-14
SHE LOVED HIM.
That is Why, Mrs. Longstreet Says,
She Married an Old Man

| She Married an Old Man
New York, Sept. IA special to The
Journal from Mrs. James Longstreet
| Gainesville, Ca, says:
MY friends ask why /, young woman
married General Longstreet? Because ]
| loved him, to be sure, for no true woman
would ever marry man whom she did
not love- though there are always envious
persons ready to draw conclusions and to
ascribe motives. AS little child I had
| access to the home of General Longstreet,
man who impressed even my childish
mind with high sense of honor and in
tegrity. There was about MIN no repell-
ing qualities.
I heard the old folks talk of his achieve
ments and they built for him a warm
place in my heart. In a word, General
Longstreet was not only q hero in war,
but gentleman in peace-such man as
wins confidence at once, and especially
the confidence of a woman, who loves
high ideals. All this by the way of pre-
face to the question as to why young
woman should marry an old man.
Do you know, Mr. Editor, that women
are born with ideals and ambitions just
as men are, but that our social condition,
while giving free vent to the one, brushes
down the other? I could tell you of scores
of women with bright minds, laudable
ambitions and high hopes who might have
shone in the world had they but the
chance.
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 restricted to the company of
those of their own age, and marry young
and undeveloped men, who afterwards
prove to be nothing but the veriest clods
of clay. Imagine a sensitive and high
minded woman as she awakes to the
realization that her husband is entirely
dress.
How many a young woman know who
would have chosen older husbands but
for social traditionl In such a marriage
they could measure quality for quality
and, though in the natural order such a
husband might leave her a widow early,
is it not better to have been the wife of
one acceptable and companionable than
be the lifelong slave of one whom her soul
held in aversion? A woman looking sem
Sibly at such an important event as mar
rage therefore, will look among such of
her male friends as have the qualities re-
quired.
The man who is advanced in years has
his record made up and the woman can
decide for herself whether he is such
one as would develop all that was best
in view, my mind has always been firm
on one point; 1 would never marry SIM
pering man, who had no ideas in his head
and who lacked the energy to make
man of himself. If ever the time came
for my marriage, the accepted man would
be one who could come up to my high
ideal, who would not belittle my hopes
and whose name / would be proud to bear
To prove myself worthy of such a hus-
band 1 have worked hard. 1 have prac>
ticaIly educated muself, and took a course
in Notre Dame, Baltimore, to perfect my
requirements. 1 attained the office of
assistant librarian under circumstances
which 1 think would win the Georgia leg
islature to have official employment
thrown open to women. This 1 state in
no offensive manner, but merely to show
that a woman may do something in this
world without losing her womanhood.
When, in the midst of all these efforts
Ibecame conscious of General Longstreets
admira ton, I but redoubled my efforts,
determined that I should be recognized
for myself and that he should regard me
as a companion and helpmate rather than
a mere housekeeper. When he asked my
hand in marriage, I granted it, knowing
that was intrusting my life and happi-
ness to one of the noblest men God ever
made.