The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1899-10-01
SOME GREAT BACHELORS.
Men OF Mark in Politics, Art and Litors-
ture Who Never Married.
From the ST. Louis Globe Democrat

From the ST. LouiS Globe Democrat
Samuel j. Tilden was the richest American who
ever entered public life and remained single to
the end of his days. His persistent colibacy was
remarkable for unlike Sir Thomas, Mr. Tilden
was born with money. and thus from his youth
was considered eligible by the mamss Of many
young women.
No Republican OF half Nj Tilden's prominence
has gone though life without marrying. but In
GLIDING David Bennett Hill. who seems 70 DO a
confirmed bachelor Democracy's rolls show a
noteworthy trumvirate of the disung uished
celibates, James Buchanan. tho only bachelor
President being the third member thereof Buoh-
anan is understood 10 have RETAINED from taking
a wife because the girl upon whom he set his youth
full affections was obdurate. He is said 70 have
regretted the single state to the day Of his death
MI Hill, on the other hand. Ia reported 70 DO q
bachelor from choice.
Literature has furnished a long string Of names
to the list Of eminent bachelors, Possibly the
best known unmarried man Of letters to-day Is
Henry James the novelist He maintains stoutly
that the artist no matter what the medium Of his
expression, should remain single. on tho ground
that the petty cares and earnings Of domestic life
tend to wear on delicately adjusted nerves and ex
haust the mental fibre of genius. whether its pos
SCISSOR be painter OF pictures, WORK er in words,
modcller Of statues composer OF music, a singer
one who nmuseS the people from the stage
John Greenleaf Whittier was a bachelor. though
not from the same cause as the brilliant fiction
Of the married ate. we are told. and in bis boy
hood had bluecyed, red checked New England
school as Children and when they grew 10 youhs
estate he told her the story most girls like TO hear
She heard il gladly, too, but he was pcor and a
poet, and love must wait for recognition. She
promised but waiting is wenrisone; before recog-
milton came TO the gentle young yerrenaker she
forgot him as a lover and was married TO some
one elke
Edward Fitzgerald the translator of Omar
Khayyam's quatrains, was bachelor, and there
was romance In hislifc. much Ike the one which
saddened Whitiers, but there We: little eltc vl.h
they had in common. The celitncy of Charles
all his lie that he nj n, or hiS sister. Von-
cradle John Burroughs, naturalist as well az
ws and one the %s charming Of men has
woman hater, neither has any one ever surmised
that a romance caused his bnchelorhood.
The only literary bachelor who is acknowledged
| TO be hater of women is tho English poet, AL
s culture TSS would be dS beyond
life partner and the conviction that the clever
| well informed woman IL the least attractive Of
Only one noted Protestant iyine has been a
bachelor. He was Phillips Brooks, who finished
| ingly possessed every quality desirable in model
husband. The cause Of his remaining single
those who were closest to him He did not avoid
| the fair, nor has any one been able 10 recall q
romance in his life In his student days and
| in his career as clergyman he had many friend
ships with women, while his passionate tondness
for children was remarked often His letters to
some Of his juvenile friends, published few years
ago in one OF the mag Azines were models in the T
way
| The bechcorhood Of Sir Isaac Newton was a
| puzzle to some OF his contemporaries, but others
| knew he remained single solely on account OF
| his mother He thought the world OF het and
| her affection for him was unbounded: but her
! maternal love was marred by jealousy, and when
ever her son thought on marriage or eynced a
| passing interest even in pretty face she wept
| and wrung her hands, and managed somehow
| 10 check true loves course He finally told hor
| he would give up all notion Of marriage as long
as she lived. After her death he found himself
too deeply absorbed In his scientific work and too
mature 10 think OF matrimony