The Bellefontaine Republican. [volume] (Bellefontaine, Logan County, Ohio) 1855-1905, 1903-03-24
PERSISTENT LOVERS.
WOMEN WHO WE'RE MARRIED IN
SPITE OF THEMSELVES.
Some Matrimonial Experiences That
Would Seem 20 Justify voItaire's
Cynical Deelaratisn That "Any Man
Can Wed Any Woman

Would Seem TO JUSTLY tOitaire'o
Cynical DeeIaratisn That ANY Man
Can Wed Any Woman
ANY man can marry any woman"
Voltaire once cynically declared, IF he
only pursues her long enough" This,
at any rate was the experience of ia
cob Halliday. a well known character
in the north of England a couple of
generations ago.
Never did a lover win n wife under
such discouraging conditions as Jacob,
for after his first proposal he was
soundly horsewhipped by the young
lady's father and ducked i'm n conven-
lent pond.
I'll ask her again next year." Jacob
spluttered as he emerged from his
bath. the fire of his passion not a whit
quenched by his cold douche. "Regu-
larly once a 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-
tion. always with the same negative re-
suit. When he presented himself. now
u
fourth time. the lady greeted his ap-
pearance with a peal of laughter. It's
no good. Jacob. | see.' she exclaimed.
Il may as well give in now as later. but
what faint hearted creature the i'm
Fortunate widow was compared with
your-
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 eligi-
BILE than the penniless law student. The
| circumstances called for bold and de-
| cisive action. After threatening to 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 a French nunnery, where she re-
\ mained in confinement until. succumb-
| ing to her lovers daring and persist
ence she consented TO marry him.
An amusing and characteristic story
| is told of Lord Beaconsfield i'm the
| days when he was wooing Mrs. Lewis.
4 TO whom in later years of married life
he was so touchingly devoted.
One day Mrs. Lewis. who was then
living I'm retirement at her seat in Gla-
morganshire, saw n gentleman walking
leisurely up the drive. "Jane." she ex-
claimed to an old servant, II really be-
lieve 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
II 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 a few minutes
later.
"Oh, dear. what can do with sucf
an obstinate, thick skinned man" the
widow asked desperately later in the
day when Disraeli showed no sign oi
raising the siege MARRY him. l sup
II
answer, and. as the world knows. th'
persistent wooer had his way in thu
end in this as i'm most other things IL
life.
| A Judge. not long deceased. used Il
tell diverting story of his wooing. II
those days he was a struggling and OBJ
scure lawyer without even the prospec
of an income, and the woman on whom
he had set his affections was th'
daughter of a purse proud man with ;
high sounding name who was strongl.
opposed to giving his daughter to ;
'.penniless lawyer"
do yol know. sir" the father thur
dered when he was asked for hi
daughters hand--do you know, sil
that my daughters ancestors have a
been noblemen and that one of ther
was a favorite minister of Queen Eliza
beth?" 'Oh. yes. know all that" tn
young barrister placidly answered
land do you know that Queen Eliza
beth once slapped your ancestors fac
and unless you are more civil | will d
the same for you?" 1t is scarcely SUI
prising that so bold and daring a love
had his way in the end. even in th
face of such barrier Of ghostly nobl
| ancestors.
The late Prince Bismarck, II is sait
won his wife in much the same wa.
Although he had not known the lady {
his love more than few days and hS
parents were not even aware Of his e,
istence. he presented himself one day b
fore them and boldly asked permissio
TO marry their daughter. In vain ii
\ father fumed and clustered and threa
, ened to have the young man forcibl
elected from the house for his impert
nence. 81 am sorry TO annoy you, sir
the young soldier said. but | must r
spectfully decline TO leave the hou:
until have your consent" Nor did b
4 although the consent was given in the.
ungracious words: We'll. suppose yc
must have your way. but cannot cor
pliment my daughter on her choice of