The Breckenridge news. (Cloverport, Ky.) 1876-1955, 1900-01-31
AN AFFAIR
OF THE HEART
And How II Influenced the Life OF
Andrew Jackson.

Jo@hoOus
The recent celebration OF Jackson's
Day recalls interesting events in the life
Of that fiery young Tennessean who
left the impress of his strong nature
upon the affairs Of this nation. An affair
of the heart was the powerful factor in
Andrew Jackson's life, the results of
which had more influence than any
other one thing in shaping his history
and was indirectly the cause of his
death.
Love affairs are always interesting.
Even the most commonplace wooing Of
I the most commonplace people possesses
an irresistible charm for ordinary felix's,
but when we are permitted to read the
heart history Of our truly great ones
We are impressed with the thought that
the deeper the life, the broader ard
more engrossing is the affection.
The love of Andrew Jackson was Gen.
tered upon Rachel Richards, the pretty
dark eyed wife of cruel and suspicious
man. Under the Virginia law divorce
could only be procured with the sanction
OF special act OF the legislature which
was petitioned for by Lewis Robards in
1870. The bill was passed authorizing
him to sue for divorce. This was only
a preliminary to the divorce but was
strongly considered by the interested
parties as final. Jackson though a law
yer himself seemed to have labored I'M
der the same mistake as is evidenced by
his marriage to Mrs. Rubards in 1871.
1t was not until two years later that
Jackson became convinced that he was
not legally married to his wife, where
upon he lost no time in having a second
ceremony performed.
While neither he nor his wife seem TO
have lost any social prestige by their
error, they were both extremely sensi-
tive on the subject. 1t is said OF Jack
sons feeling about the matter that for
the man . no dared breathe his wife's
name except in honor, he kept pistols in
perfect condition for thirty-seven years
Almost every controversy that arose
in the life of Old Hickory was caused in.
directly by real or supposed illusions to
his marriage. He seems to have been
representative on the subject and his
great and tender love for his wife caused
him to be over jealous in guarding her
good name.
The duel with Dickinson which took
place at Harrison's Mill, Logan county,
in 1906 was due indirectly to the same
cause. In this encounter Dickinson
was fatally shot and Jackson received
wound which in after years opened in
ternally and fastened his death in lS45,
Even the enemies OF Mrs. Jackson
agree that she was ever true and low
ing wife to Jackson. The worst that
could be said OF her was that she never
outgrew the effects OF her early surround
ing. While her husband was develop
ing from rollicking, fighting, back
woods lawyer into an accomplished sol.
der and popular statesman she was
changing from pretty country girl into
commonplace kind-hearted matron
without any Of the graces that compen-
safe for the loss Of youth and beauty. Her
ambitions was bounded by the limits Of
the Hermitage Farm and her consolation
in grief and her companion in Joy was
her pipe.
Happily Jackson seemed not to realize
that his wife had lost any Of her youth
full charms and while she was the cause
OF his bitterest hours, she was also the
source oil all his happiness and as such
was dearly priced
j. B. Clark, Peoria, ILL.,, says, "Sur-
geoDs wanted to operate on me for piles,
but / cured them with DeWitt's Witch