The Union times. [volume] (Union, S.C.) 1894-1918, 1902-12-05
PERSISTENT LOVERS.
WOMEN WHO WERE MARRIED IN
SPITE OF THEMSELVES.

Cynical Declaration That "Any Man
. Can Wed Any Woman"
Any man can marry my woman"
Voltaire once cynically declared, III he
only pursues her long enough" Thia,
| mt any rate, was the experience OF Jo-
cob Halliday, a well known character
In the north Of England a coupIe OF
! generations ago.
! Never did lover win n wife under
such discouraging conditions as Jacob,
for after his first proposal he wac
soundly horsewhipped by the young
1ady's father and ducked in q conven.
lent pond.
I'm ask her again next year." jacob
spluttered ns he emerged from his
bath. the fire Of his passion not a whit
quenched by his cold douche "Regu-
larly once year. on the anniversary
OF his first proposal and immersion"
Nicholson says in his biography Of Mr..
Halliday, Jacob attired himself In his
finest raimcnt and presented his petl.
tion. always with the same negative re-
suit. When he presented himself, now
middle aged man, for the twenty
fourth time, the lady greeted his mp
pearance with peal Of laughter. It's
no good, Jacob, l see,' she exclaimed.
I may as we'll give IN now as later, but
what faint hearted creature the i'm.
Fortunate widow wns compared with
your"
Sheridan took IN equally bold course
when he sought to win the faircst OF
the beautiful daughters Of Linley, the
composer OF Bath, who was strongly
opposed to the suit Of the brilliant
young poet and dramatist. His lady.
love, too, was beset by an army Of
suitors, many Of them far more efig1-
BILE than the penniless law student. The
| circumstances called for bold and de-
cisfve action. After threatening to de-
stroy himself II the lady refused his
advances and fighting couple Of duels
with one Of his most formidable rivals
Sheridan took the bold step of running
away with Miss Linley and conducting
her to French nunnery. where she re-
mnined in confinement until, succumb-
Ing to her lovers daring and persist
encc. she consented to marry him.
An amusing and characteristic story
Is told Of Lord Beaconsfield In the
days when lie was wooing Mrs. Lewis.
to whom In later years Of married life
he was so touchingly devoted.
One day Mrs. Lewis. who was then
living In retirement at her scat in Glo-
mo"gA nshire. saw Il gentleman walking
le:surely up the drive. Jane" she ex-
claimed TO an Old servant. II really be-
lieve that horrid man Disraeli Is COM
hn fri
door and say I'm not at home" Jane
opened the door to the undesired caller
and gravely announced. her message.
Il know" Disraeli coolly answered,
but take my bag to n bedroom and
prepare luncheon. / will wait until
Mrs. Lewis is ready to come down.
stairs" which. Of course, Mrs. Lewis
| felt compelled to do few minutes
later.
"Oh. dear, what can 1 do with such
an obstinate, thick skinned man?" the
widow asked desperately later in the
day when Disraeli showed no Sign of
raising the siege. Marry him, 1 sup
| pose, ma'am," was James philosophic
answer, and, as the world knows, the
persistent woocr had his way in tho
end In this as In most other things in
| life.
A Judge, not long decea sed, used to
tell diverting story Of his wooing. In
those days he was struggling and OBJ
scure lawyer without even the prospect
OF an income, and the woman on whom
he had set his affections was the
| daughter Of purse proud man with a
nigh sounding name who was strongly
opposed to giving his daughter to q
"penniless lawyer"
do you know, sir" the father thun.
dered when he was asked for his
daughters hand-"do you know. sir.
that my daughters ancestors have NIL
| been noblcmen and that one Of them
was favorite minister of Queen Eliza
| beth" "Oh, yes, / know oil that" the
| young barrister placidly answered,
and do you know that Queen Eliza
beth once slapped your ancestors face,
and unless you are more civil will do
the same for your 1t is scarcely sur
prising that so bold and daring a lover
had his way in the end, even in the
face of such barrier Of ghostly noble
ancestors.
The late Prince Bismarck, 1t Is said.
won his wife in much the same way.
| Although he had not known the lady of
his love more than a few days and her
parents were not even aware Of his ex-
istencc, he presented himself one day be-
fore them and boldly asked permission
to marry their daughter. In vain the
father fumcd and clustered and threat
ened to have the young man forcibly
elected from the house for his imperti-
nence. II am sorry to annoy you, SIR"
the young soldier said, "but must re-
spectfully decline to leave the house
until have your consent" Nor did he.
although the consent was given in these