Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1899-11-16
Won HIS BRIDE WITH A song
Senator John W. Thurst0n's Much
Parodied Poem
WAS WRITTEN FOR THE YOUNG
AND HANDSOME WOMAN TO
WHOM HE WILL SOON BE MAR
RIED-ROMANCE OF A ROSE
UNDERSTOOD TO HAVE LED TO
THE STATESMAN'S ENGAGE
MENT TO MISS LOLA PURMAN.

WASHINGTON, D. c., November Is.
The Hon. John Mellen Thurston.
junior United States Senator from Ne
braska, is about to emulate Dewey.
The young woman of his choice is Miss
Lola Purman, daughter of former Con-
gresham William J. Purman, of Flor
ida Miss Purman is twenty-five wears
OF age, tender and pretty, with wavy
light brown hair and eyes, a fine so
prano voice, and vivacious and SYM
pathetic disposition. The wedding is
expected to take place within the next
week or two, and, like that of the Ad-
miral of the United States and Mrs.
Hazen, will be quiet and unannounced.
Senator Thurston is only fifty-two
years old, and is young looking and
vigorous. He was one of the social
lions during the season in Washing
ton last winter, his wit and charming
personality, combined with his national
reputation as an eloquent orator and a
successful politician, endearing him to
all He succeeded in withstanding the
charms of many beautiful society wo-
men in the national capital, however,
until last spring, when he lost his
heart to Miss Purman.
THE NET AT A DANCE.
The young woman resides with her
father at No. 1923 Q street, a short dis
lance from the Cairo, a fashionable
apartment house, which Senator Thurs
ton has made his home while in'Wash-
ington for the past year. Miss Pur-
man was very much interested in kim
dergarten work, and was the prime
mover in a kindergarten class at the
Cairo. She and the Senator met DUR
ing one of the weekly dances at the
Cairo, and their friendship quickly
ripened into love. Last spring his at
tentions were marked, and it is said
that before the summer began he. and
Miss Purman were engaged.
There is bit of romance connected
with their engagement, which, while it
doubtless contributed much to the hap
piness of the Senator and his fiancee at
the time, ultimately brought the ar
dent Nebraskan into more prominence
than anything he had ever done, with
the possible exception of his Cuban
speech in the Senate, and certainly did
not add very materially to the pleas
ures of his summer vacation.
He gave box party to hear Melba
last spring to a number of society peo-
pie here, among them being Miss Pur-
man. To the latter Senator Thurston
sent a magnificent bouquet of white
roses, and during the evening she pre-
scented him with one of the perfect
blooms
THE SONG THAT REACHED HER
HEART.
Senator Thurston has ever been re-
sponsive to the slightest touch Of senti-
ment or romance, and he made the
presentation of the rose the subject of
the following poem:
ST said to the rose: oh. rose, sweet rose!
VIII you lie on my heart tonight?
Will you nestle there, with your perfume
rare,
And your petals pure and white?'
ST said to the rose: 'Oh, rose, sweet rose!
VIII you thrill to my every sigh,
Tho your life exhale in the morning pale,
And you wither and fade and die?'
ST said to the rose: oh. rose, sweet rose!
VIII you throb with my every breath?
Will YOU give me the bliss of a passion
ate kiss,
Albeit the end is death?'
THE white rose lifted her stately head,
And answered me fair and true:
4 am happy and best to lie on your
breast