The San Francisco call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1895-1913, 1899-12-17
SOME GREAT BACHELORS.
Men of Mark in Politics, Art and
Literature Who Fever Married.

Samuel J. THden was the richest Ameri-
can who ever entered public life and re-
manned single 10 the end OF his days. His
persistent celibacy was remarkable. for,
unlike Sir Thomas Mr.. Tilden was born
with money. and thus from his youth was
considered eligible by the mammas OF
many young women.
No Republican Of half Mr. Tilden's
prominence has gone through life without
marrying, but, including David Bennett
Hill. who seems 10 be a confirmed bache-
Tor. DemOcracy's rolls show a noteworthy
triumvrate OF the distinguished celibates.
James Buchanan. the only bachelor Pres
ident, being the third member thereof.
Buchanan is understood 10 have refrained
from taking a wife because the girl upon
whom he set his youthful affections was
obdurate. He is said to have regretted
the single state 10 the day OF his death.
Dir. Hill. on the other hand, is reported 10
be a bachelor from choice.
Literature has furnished a long string
OF names 10 the list OF eminent bachelors.
Possibly the best known unmarried man
Of letters to-day is Henry James. the now
elist He maintains stOutly that the art
ist no matter what the medium OF his eX-
preston. should remain single. on the
ground that the petty cares and carpings
or domestic lie tend 20 wear on deicately
adjusted nerves and exhaust the mental
fiber Of genius. whether its pOssessOr be
a painter Of pictures, a worker In words.
a mOdeler OF statues, a composer Of mu-
pie from the stage.
John Greenleaf Whittier was a bache-
Tor. though not from the same cause as
the brilliant fiction writer mentioned.
Whittier was great admirer Of the mar
Tied state. We are told, and I'm his boy
hood had a blue-eyed, red-Cheeked New
England girl FOR his sweetheart. Together
they went 10 school as children, and WREN
they grew 10 youths estate he told her
the story most girls like TO hear. She
heard IL gladly. too but he was DOOR and
q ND mn fnW r-wf-
ton. She promised. but waiting is wear
isome: before recognition came 10 the
gentle young versemaker she forgot him
as lover, and was married TO some one
Edward Fitzgerald. the translator Of
Omar khayyam's quartrains, was bach
much like the one which saddened Whit
tiers. but there was little else which they
had in common The celibacy Of Charles
Lamb was full Of pathos, for he remained
single all his life that he might care for
his sister. Venerable John Burroughs,
naturalist as well as writer. and one OF
married. Mr.. Burroughs was not even
woman-hater, neither has any one ever
surmised that a romance caused his
The only literary bachelor who is ac-
knOvledged TO be hater of women Is the
English poet. AlgernOn Charles Swim
burne. His sentiment appears 10 be based
upon the fear that n woman OF little cul-
ture would be dull beyond description "a a
lie partner. and the conviction that the
clever. well-informed woman is the least
attractive OF her sex.
Only one noted Protestant divine has
been a bachelor. He was Phillips Brooks.
who finished life as Bishop OF the Epis-
copal church. and seemingly possessed
every quality desirable in a model hus-
band. The cause OF his remaining single
appears never 10 have been understood
even by those who We're closest to him
He did not avoid the fair nor has any one
been able 10 call romance In his life
In his student days and In his career as
clergyman he had many friendships
with women, while his passionate fond
ness for children was remarked often
His letters to some OF his Juvenile friends
published few years ago I'm one OF the
magazines, were models in their way.
The bachelorhood OF Sir Isaac Newton
was a puzzle 10 some OF his cOntempora-
hes; but others knew he remained single
solely on account OF his mother He
thought the world OF her and her affec-
ton Tor him was unbounded: but her ma
ternal love was marred BY jealousy. and
whenever her son thought on marriage or
eVlnced passing interest in a pretty face
she wept and wrung her hands and man
aged somehow TO check true loves course