Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1899-11-10
SOME GREAT BACHELORS.
Men of Mark in Politics, Art and
Literature who Never Married.

From the st. LoIls Globe Democrat
Samuel j. Tilden was the richest Ameri-
can who ever entered public life and re-
manned single to the end of his days. His
persistent celibacy was remarkable, for,
unlike Sir Thomas. Mr.. Tllden was born
with money, and thus from his youth was
considered eligible by the mamas of many
young women.
No republican of half Mr.. Tilden's promi-
hence has gone through life without mar
rying, but, including David Bennett Hill,
who seems to be confirmed bachelor. de-
mocracy's rolls show noteworthy trium-
Virate of the distinguished celibateS, James
Buchanan. the only bachelor President, be-
ing the third member thereof. Buchanan
is understood to have RETAINED from TAX
ing wife because the girl upon whom he
set his youthful affections was oD6urate.
He is said to have regretted the single
state to the day of his death. Mr.. Hill, on
the other hand. is reported to be a bach
elor from choice.
Literature has furnished a long string OF
names to the list of eminent bachelors.
Possibly the best-known unmarried man
of letters today is Henry James, the novel
iSt. He maintains stoutly that the artist,
no matter what the medium of his express
sion, should remain single, on the ground
that the petty cares and earnings of do
nestle life tend to wear on delicatcly adj
justed nerves and exhaust the mental fiber
CT of pictures, worker in words, model
er of statues, composer of music, singer
OF one who amuseS the people from the
stage.
John Greenleaf Whittier was n bachelor.
though not from the same cause as the bril-
liant fiction writer mentioned. Whittier
was a great admirer of the married state,
We are told, and in his boyhood had blue
eyed, red-cheeked New England eiri for
his sweetheart Together they went to
school as children, and when they grew to
youths estate he told her the story most
girls like to hear. She heard it gladly, too,
but he poor and poet, and 4ove must
wait for recognition. She promised, but
waiting is wearisome; before recognition
came to the gentle young verscmasker she
forgot him as a lover, and was married to
some one else.
Edward Fitzgerald, the translator of
Omar Khayyam's quatrains, pach-
elor, and there was a romance in his life,
much like the one which Saddened Whit
| tiers but there was little Use which they
| had in common. The celibacy of Charles
| Lamb was full of pathos, for lie remained
| single all his life that he might care for
his sister. Venerable John Burroughs nat
uralist as well writer, and one o. the
| most charming of men, has never married.
Mr.. Burroughs was not even woman
hater. neither has any one ever surInised
that a romance caused his bachelorhood.
The only literary bachelor Who is ac-
kpowledged to be a hater IF women is the
English poet, Algernon Charles Swinburne.
His sentiment appears to be based upon
the fear that a woman of little culture
would be dull beyond description as Il life
partner and the conviction that the clever,
well-informed woman Is the least attract
i've of her sex.
Only one noted Protestant divine has been
a bachelor He was Phillips Brooks, who
finished life as bishop Of the Episcopal
Church, and seemingly Possessed every
| quality desirable in a model husband. The
cause of his remaining single appears never
| to have been understood, even by those
who were closest to him. He did not avoid
| the fair, nor has any one been able to re-
| call a romance in his life. In his student
| days and in his career as a clergyman he
| had many friendships with women, while
| his passionate fondness for children was
| remarked often. His letters to some of his
| juvenile friends. published few years ago
| in one of the magazines, were models in
| their way.
The bachelorhood of Sir Isaac Newton
| was a puzzle to some of his contempora-
| res, but others knew he remained single
| solely on account of his mother. He thong Int
| the world of her, and her affection for him
| was unbOunded; but her maternal love was
| marred by jealousy, and whenever her son
| thought on marriage or aVince1 q passing
interest even in a pretty face she wept
| and wrung her hands, and managed some
| how to check true loves course. lie final
| ly told her he would give UP all notion of
marriage as long as she lived. After heI
| death he found himself too deeply absorbed
| in his scientific work and too mature to
| think of matrimony.