The St. Louis Republic. [volume] (St. Louis, Mo.) 1888-1919, 1902-10-26
''ANY MAN CAN
WE'D ANY WOMAN
So Said Voltairc and Here Are
Stories Which Would Tndi-
cate That He Knew.

Any nan can marry any WOMAN" Vol
taire once cyn!caIly. declared. IF he only
pursres her long enough" This. at any
rate. was the experience CT Jacob Halliday.
q weiI-i-nown character IN The north OF
England a couple CT generations ago.
Never did a lover win a wife under such
discourccir@ conli-i1ns as Jacob. for. after
his FIRST uroporal. he was souaaly horse
whipped by Tire Young lady's father ard
tucked 81 a cc-ye-.cnt pond
I'm as', her asa!E next year" jacob
srIutteraf a. h. emerged from his bath. the
h-e q his passion not 4 whit quenched by
his cold douche. Regularly once a year,
on TIE anniversary OF his FIST proposal and
Immersion" Nicholson says. IN his biog-
raphy OF Mr. Halliday. "Jacob a.tired him
SELF in his finest raiuent and presented his
petition. sIEa-s Win the same negative r.
suit. When ne presented himself. now =
mizdie-aSsd n-n. for the twenty-fourth
time. the lady srsetei his appearances with
n peal OF laughter. It's no good. Jacob. I
see. she exclaimed. 7 may "a well give In
now as later. hut a fahnt-hearted
creature the importunate widow was COM
pared with YOU"
Sheridan took or equally bold course
whom he soueht 20 win The falrest OF tbs
hr1urnfNL l+AeANfT5 o. LAA4ATJs ~
OF Bath. who was strongly opposed 20 the
~uit OF the brilliant young poet and dram
atist. HIS lady love. too. was beset by an
army OF suitcrs. many OF them far more
e.f-.ble than the ~peunlless law student The
c--c,tmstarces called for bold and decisive
action. After Threatening 10 destroy HIM
sslr II the lady refused his advances. and
f-ht.rc a couple q dUcis with one OF his
most formslah'e rivals. Sheridan took the
bold step OF running away with Kiss Linley
and conducting her 20 n French nunnery,
where she remained IN confinement until.
s4c-umbing % her lovers daring and per
sls-ruce. she consented TO marry him
An amusing aud characteristics story IS
told. % Ford B-elconsleld IN the days when
he was wooi-s Mrs Lewis. 70 whom in
later wears OF married ne he was so touch
devoted.
Ore dav Mrs. Lewis. who was then living
d, rst;reuen, a. her seat IN GlamoTEanshiro.
cav n gentleman walking Ieisursly up the
drive. Jane she exclaimed 20 an old ger
y,rt Il really believe that horrid man
s coming up the drive. DO. please.
run 10 the door and saw I'm not at home"
Jane opened the door to- the urGesired cali
or ard gravsIy announced her message. Il
know DlsraeH coony answered. bat taks
nv bag 20 a bedroom and prepare luncheon
I viii wait until SirS. lewis Is ready to
come downstairs which, Of course. Mrs.
Lewis felt. compelled TO Go a few minutes
later.
20. dear. what can 7 40 with such an
obstinate. thick-skinred man. the widow
asked desperately later in the day. when
showed no sign % raising tbs
siege. Marry him. 7 oppose. ma'am." was
Tm--s- -Nfr~---NFa ,--w-.- oil - -. -rrrfA
knows. the persistent wooer had his way
In the end in this as IN most other things
In life.
4 Judge. not Ion- deceased. used 70 tell \
story of his wooiuE. In those days
WIS a struggling and obscure lawyer
even the prospect OF an Income.
the woman OF whom he bad SGT his NJ
f~ec-ions vas fhc daughter az a purse-proud
man with a hish-soundlne name. who was
s,rouriy opposed to giving his daughter 70
4 "peunilcss lawyer.@
do YOU know. sir TIE father Numbered.
when he was asked FOR his daughters hand.
10 you know. s.r, that my d~sushter's an
-ozto-s have all heen roAiencn. ard that ons
them wss a fsvo-lte Minister Of Queen
Eizabeth's2' ~Oh. wee. I know al that"
he young b~arrister piacidly answered: and
10 you know thct Queen Elizabeth once
your ancestors face and unless
rOu arc moro civil I viii do tire same for
II Is scarcely surprising that 20 bold
Ind daring a lover had his way IN the end.
ven In the face Of such a barrier OF ghost
s. noble ancestors
The late Prince Bismarck. II IS said. won
IFS wife IN much the same way. Although
70 had not known the lady of his love more
han a few days. and her parents were not
wen aware cf his existence, he presented
himself one day before them and boldly
.sked permission 20 marry their daughter.
% vain the. father fumed and clustered. and
threatened 10 have the young man forcibly
Jected from the house TO- his impertinence.
I am sorry 10 annoy you, sir" the young
said. "hrt I must respectfully de-
line 20 leave the house until 1 have your
-onseut-' Nor did ne. although the consent
vas given In these unEracious words.
We'll. I suppose you must have your wav:
mt I cannot compliment my laughter on
Ter choice OF . mule for 4 husband"