Courier Democrat. (Langdon, N.D.) 1891-1920, 1900-06-14


Home Journal is an article, The
Mysteries of the Century, in which
the writer classes the separation of
General Sam Houston and his first
wife as one of these mysteries.
BY virtue of my relationship to Mrs.
Houston, know the most important
facts connected with their separation
and take this occasion to declare to
those nearest the ones who suffered
most there was no mystery.
Governor Houston and Eliza Allen
were married January %, 1929, at the
home of her father, Mr.. John Allen,
near Gallatin, Sumner county, Tennes-
see. She was young, beautiful and
rarely attractive in every way. He was
many years her senior, but those in a
position to know never doubted that
she loved him and that the separation
cost her more than the world ever
knew. 1t was said by some that she
married him for the exalted position
he held This was untrue, for in this
regard her social status would have
satisfied the most ambitious. 1t has
also been said that she loved another
and that Governor Houston discovered
this after their marriage. This also
vas untrue.
Their separation was her own seek
ing.
They were at her fathers home
when it occurred, the April following
their marriage. His insane, unwar-
ranted jealousy brought all the I'M
happiness which both suffered, and
two most propitious lives.
He was very anxious to have their
married relations restored, and indited
her father letter the morning of their
separation in which he begged him to
overlook all that had occurred Let
them meet as if nothing had marred
his relations to his wife or her family,
and to this end he insisted on an in
terview with her. After much per-
suasion she granted it, her father also
consenting upon condition that an
aunt remain during the interview. |
have often heard this aunt relate the
tragic scene that occurred. She had
been the mutual confdant during: the
few months of their married life. He
knelt before her and with tears
streaming down his face, implored her
forgiveness for all that had ever
passed unpleasantly between them,
and insisted with all his dramatic
force that she return to Nashville with
him.
| Had she yielded to these entreaties,
what the future may have brought to
them none can tell. AS it was there
were many years of sadness to be en-
dured. He left Immediately for Nash
vile, resigned his governorship and
Immediately made his way to the In
dian nation. She remained at her
fathers and sought to hide her sorrow
| by devotion to those nearest her
heart. She did not disguise her grief
and for years wore widows weeds.
| Jealousy and vanity are the causes
of many lives and had he crushed
these faults in their incipiency the
future might have held much in store
| for them. She, observing these fla
grant weaknesses, and being woman
of extreme sensibility, and realizing
the injustice with which she had been
treated, made her reserved to all his
proffered devotion.
| The sequel offers sad reflections for
those who scan these lines that after
so many years this sad mystery should
remain unsolved to the world Be-
cause none so blind as those who will
| not see.'
| For the last three score years or
more much literature in varied specu-
lation has been expended as to the
causes that produced tine separation.
Some have advanced the idea that it
was a loveless match from the start
Governor Houston was making the
race for reelection as governor of his
state. While he knew his wife was
one of the most beautiful and attrac-
tive women in all the country, one of
whom any man might be proud, yet
perhaps he never felt for her a
stronger passion than that of admira-
ton. She belonged to one of the
strongest politically and socially in
huential families in the state close
alliance with such a family he may
have thought would insure his cleo
ton. This, however, is purely specu-
lative.
Governor Houston never to any one
gave the least intimation as to the
cause of their separation, availing
himself of every opportunity to indi-
cate the purity of her character.
have given these plain, unvarnished
statements of the simple facts, every
one of which can be substantiated to-
DAY by living witnesses, and hope l
will never see another line written on
the subject.-Mrs. o. in the Atlanta
Constitution.
Pleasure Trip on q Raft.
Port Jarvis IN. W special New