The Lexington dispatch. [volume] (Lexington, South Carolina) 1870-1917, 1902-12-10
PERSISTENT LOVERS.
WOMEN WHO WERE MARRIED IN
/ SPITE OF THEMSELVES.

Some Matrimonial Experiences That
Would Seem to Justify Voltaire's
I Cynical Declaration That "Any Man
J Can Wed Any Woman"
: "Any man can marry any woman"
;Voltaire once cynically declared, If he
snly pursues her long enough This
at any rate, was the experience OF ia
cob Halliday, well known character
In the north of England q couple of
generations ago.
Never did lover win wife under
such discouraging conditions as Jacob,
for after his first proposal he was
soundly horsewhipped by the young
lady's father and ducked in a conven-
lent pond.
sPll ask her again next year." Jacob
spluttered as he emerged from his
bath, the fire of his passion not whit
luenched by his cold douche. "Regu-
aarly 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
tfon, always with the same negative re-
salt. When he presented himself, now
q middle aged man, for the twenty
fourth time, the lady greeted his ap-
pearance with q peal Of laughter. It's
no good, Jacob, l see,' she exclaimed.
Il may as well give in now as later. but
what a faint hearted creature the i'm
srtunate' widow was compared with
youf
Sheridan took an equally bold course
when he sought to win the fairest 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 eligl-
BILE than the penniless law student. The
circumstances called for bold and de-
eisiye action. After threatening to de-
stroy himself if 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 a French nunnery, where she re-
NAMED in confinement until, succumb-
ing to her lovers daring and persist
enee, she consented to marry him.
An amusing and characteristic story
is told of Lord Beaconsfeld in the
days when he 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 seat in Gla-
morganshire, saw gentleman walking
feisurely up the drive. Jane" she ex-
claimed to an old servant, 'I really be-
heye that horrid man Disraeli is COM.
ing up the drive. Do, please, run to the
door and say I'm not at home Jane
opened the door to the undesired caller
and gravely announced her message.
aI know" Disraeli eoolly answered,
shut take my bag to a 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.
.sOh. dear, what can 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, sup
pose. ma'am," was James philosophic
answer, ard, as the world knows, the
persistent wooer had his way in the
end in this as in most other things in
Hfe.
A judge. not long deceased. used to
tell diverting story of his wooing. In
those days he was Il struggling and OBJ
scure lawyer without even the prospect
OF an income. and the woman on whom
be had set his affections was the
daughter of purse proud man with q
high sounding name who was strongly
opposed to giving his daughter to a
epenniless lawyer
DO yGl know. sir" the father thun-
dered when he was asked for his
daughters hand-"do you know. Sir.
that my daughters ancestors have all
been no5lemen and that one of them
was favorite minister Of Queen Eliza
beth" ''Qh. yes. know Ill that" the
young barrister placidly answered,
'tand do You know that Queen Eliza
beth once slapped your ancestors face,
and unless you are more civil l will DO
the same for YOU" 1t is scarcely sur
prising that SO bold and daring Il lover
had his way in the end. even in the
face Of such a barrier Of Shostly noble
ancestors.
The late Prince Bismarck. it is said,
won his wife in much the same way.
Although he had not known tie lady of
his love more than 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
n,o1 fo h.,1-o tho 1-n,,nty man fnraihfy-