Alma record. (Alma, Mich.) 1878-1928, 1902-11-21
PERSISTENT LOVERS.
WOMEN WHO WERE MARRIED IN
SPITE OF THEMSELVES.
Some Matrimonial Experiences That
Would Seem to Justify Noitaire's
Cynical Declaration That "Any Man
Can We'd Any Woman"


Cynical Declaration That "Any Man
Can We'd Any Woman"
"Any man can marry any woman"
Noltaire once cynically declared, IF he
only pursues her long enough" This.
at any rate, was the experience OF ia
cob Halliday, well known character
In the north of England a couple of
generations ago
Never did a lover win a wife under
such discouraglng conditions as Jacob,
for after his first proposal he was
soundly horsewhipped by the young
ladys father and ducked in conven-
lent pond.
III ask her again next year" Jacob
spluttered as he emerged from his
bath. the fire of his passion not whit
quenched 10y 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 raiment and presented his peti
! ton, always with the same negative re
! suit When he presented himself, now
a middle aged man. for the twenty
fourth time, the lady greeted his APP
| pearance with peal Of laughter It's
no good. Jacob, | see she exclaimed.
Il may as well give In now as later. but
what a faint hearted creature the i'm
Fortunate widow was compared with
you! -
Sheridan took an equally bold course
A. fafr 90
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 eligi-
| BILE than the penniless law student. The
circumstances called for bold and de-
cisive action. After threatening 10 de-
stroy himself if the lady refused his
advances and fighting a 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-
NAMED in confinement until, succumb
ing TO her lovers daring and persist
ence, she consented 10 marry him.
An amusing and Characteristic story
is told of Lord Beaconsheld in the
days when he was wooing Mrs. Lewis
10 whom in later years OF married life
he was so touchingly devoted.
One day Mrs. Lewis, who was then
living in retirement at her seat in Gla-
morganshire, saw a gentleman walking
leisurely up the drive. Jane" she eX-
claimed 10 an old servant. IL really be-
lieve that horrid man Disraeli is com
ing up the drive. Do. please run 10 the
door and say I'm not at home" Jane
opened the door 10 the undesired caller
and gravely announced her message.
81 know" Disraeli coolly answered,
"but take my bag 10 n bedroom and
prepare luncheon. will wait until
Mrs. Lewis is ready 10 come down
stairs" which. OF course, Mrs, Lewis
felt compelled to do a few minutes
later.
"Oh, dear, what can | do with such
an obstinate, thick skinned MANI" the
widow asked desperately later in the
day when Disrseh showed no sign of
raising the siege. MARRY him. sup
pose ma'am," was James philosophlc
answer, and, as the world knows, the
persistent wooer had his way in the
end in this as in most other things IN
life.
A judge not long deceased. used TO
tell a divertlng story Of his woolng. In
those days he was q struggling and Oh.
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
high sounding name who was strongly
opposed to giving his daughter to a
'penniless lawyer"
do you know, sir" the father thun.
dercd when he was asked FOR his
daughters hand-"do you know, sir,
that my daughters ancestors have all
been noblcmen and that one Of them
was favorite minister OF Queen Eliza
BETH" ooh, yes, | know all that" the
young barrlster placldly answered,
land DO YOU know that Queen Eliza
beth once slapped your ancestors face,
and unless you are more civil | will do
the same for youY 1t is scarcely sur
had his way in the end, even In the
face of such a barrier Of ghostly noble
ancestors.
The late Prince Bismarck, II 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-
istence, he presented himself one day be
fore them and boldly asked permission
to marry their daughter. In vain the
father fumed and clustered and threat
ened TO have the young MAN forcibs
elected from the house FOR his inperti.
hence. 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,