The age-herald., 1898-05-29
The Effect of War
Upon Romance

 While war, grim vizaged war" has the inevita ble tendency to demoralize and some- times paralyze the business interests of a country, it certainly seems to be an in spration to sentiment and romance. The gods of love and war always go hand in hand, especially if heavy, lurid clouds hang ominously and depressingly about the horizon.
 If the exigencies of the times call forth Mars, with all his laundering batallions, one will surely find Cupid timorous, but expectant, perched triumphantly upon the heaviest guns. These two cannot be sep arated; the ties that bind them together are indssoluble. Brass buttons and we'd ding rings are welded together, and love and war belong one to the other.
 To certain kinds of women, charming, refined women, to be sure brass buttons ap- peal irresistably. They gather them from all sources, with a fervid patriotism, and preserve them with commendable tender ness.
 These buttons become sacred relics to the average woman, and are kept hidden away in safe hooks, and strong boxes They serve as reminders of happy episodes and sweet and tender partings. To many wo- men they are the links which bind them to the war; they represent to them cause, country, and warrior. They are dearer to them than jewels and more precious than all the riches of the Indies.
 As long as a bugle blares, flag waves. or a drum rolls, will feminine sentiment enshroud brass buttons with an unchang- ing atmosphere of sweet and fragrant ro- nance.
 The first romantic episode of the existent war, with Spain, to attract the attention of the country, is the approaching marriage of General Wesley Merritt and Miss Will- Jams, of Chicago, which has already been heralded through the telegraphic columns of the daily press.
 The conspicuous position occupied by General Merritt, in military circles natural ly inspires public interest in whatever con cerns his private life. That he should contemplate matrimony and with young. handsome and accomplished woman, when he Is more than sixty years of age. has added zest to public interest and congratu- lations. Miss Williams, General Merritt's future bride, is described as unusually sensible girl; one who has had all the best advan- tages which come from a distinguished, intellectual ancestry and the highest edu- cational opportunities. She comes of ad- mirable stock on both sides of her house, and is the granddaughter on her mothers s side of Chief Justice John Dean Caton, of Illinois. Her father is a man of wealth and high social position. so there is noth- ing of the snob, or parvenne about this young woman, who has attracted the att tention and won the heart of one of the prominent soldiers of the nation.
 Miss Williams is about twenty-seven years of age, although she is said to look younger. She is pronounced brunette, with regular features, but her chief charm lies in her vivacity and the fascination of her wit and manner. Her eyes are dark, and expressive and there is sparkle about her conversation quite in keeping with her physical activity. Miss Williams utterly ignores fads; she cares very little for out door sports, is great reader of current literature, as well as of history. She has travelled extensively in this country and in Europe Miss Williams is very popular socially and has been one of the most ad- mired belles of Chicago ever since her en- trance into society She was introduced at the queens drawing room and was presented at court at London while Hon. Robert Lincoln was ambassador to the friend of Miss Lincoln and visited her at London.
 General Merritt has been a close friend of Miss Williams father for many years, so this first conspicuous romance of the pres ent war came about naturally from as- sociation and propinquity The date of the wedding is yet indefinite, but 1t is thought that Miss Williams will join General Mer- ritt at Manila and that the marriage VIII occur in the far-away Philippines. Whenever and wherever it may take place 1t is generally conceded that the brave American officer has won a womanly. lovably American girl for his future wife. A Birmingham Girls
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