The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1905-06-18
ROMANCE IN OLD LETTERS
JOl NJ ~ THE SECRET DRAW Err
or AN ON SECRET AIRY.
The, GIVE Glimpses OF the Love Affairs Of
John Adams and Ann Glover OF New
york. a Century AgO-Parts OF story
sin lntold-A Duel and separation.

Francisco.
John Adams, apparently not related to
me Precedent of that name, lived in Pearl
street. He was a ilan of some wealth and
social position. No more than that is
di,,l So about him, except that he was
the hero of "A queerly romantic love story,
whose inner workings have just been
revealed 10y a secret drawer
Last year y. r. Newell a collector Of
snrinics. bought an old mahogany desk
a. auction in San Francisco. 1t was pretty
niece uf furniture, but rat her di'apidat ed.
lie hal it s,raped and polished and set II
u 10 hi4 studio.
woman visitor, admring the piece,
remarked that desks Of that make and
rcrlod usually had secret drawers She
roked about it for half an hour, until at last
ircr Of fret work over pigeonhoe
ra,o way and out came a shallow drawer.
So aI"vcrlv had it been concealed that the
,,u-ncr4 had scraped all over its surface
aolt finding ii,
r wa. hacked tight with letters, written
IN he days of quill pens and hourishes and
wafer fasteners. On top OF the bundle
wa a watch chain, br; ! led from mans
hri' lrown hair,
They we're the love letters Of John Adams
and Anne Glover, written between 1905
ard 1918 during their engagement and
soon after their ma rriage. The name John
Adams gave rise to the exciting theory
that the letters were written by one Of the
Presidents of that namc. A comparison
Of Gates. however, showed that this was
impossible and the contents of the letters
killed the theory for good.
This John Adams was a merchant Of
New York, prob ably in the shipping trade
Ann" Glover was probably of lower station
in life
The first letter in date is her acceptance
Of his proposal. 1t is Il -letter-~rter
proposal in the formal and ornate style
Of the age, He is in Savannah, apparently
recovering from an illness. He Las pro-
posed 10y word of mouth and she answers
lv letter. She SAYS
Notwithstanding this stubborn heart
ct mine las so long remained insensiblc
{, 'u" many virtues that adorn your
Character. ii now profers you the com
Ieu,atlon tif | may without imputation
Of vanity 80 express myself for all the
unhappy moments.
The letter. go back and forth for year
Al first h" writes from Savannah. and later
from New York for it seems to have been
his custom TO straighten out his lovers
uuarre> by notes
-You may re"olle,t." he writes that |
hnteu al some obstacles Wnltn might
stand in the way of cur mutual happiness
which | eyie, ted at that time could he
got over and Of which | promised to write
you. But the more dwelt upon them the
more formidable they appeared which
deferred lne from touching upon them
and slnCe my return they and the ConSe-
uuence, if matters were pursued between
Us without a previous understanding, have
made me the most wretched of creatures
She, too, hints at an obstacle in their
III 6 .,,.1 ,..sitI, fu,
exalted above me in station. she says.
The cOdneSs seems to have grown. He
legS that she will not cut him of from her
society, without which he cannot live,
And be assured he adds, from a heart
that shall never lie any other persons,
that while it pants, t. greatest happiness
Will he to make you happy.
She answers:
II cannot wed one whose destiny is so
involved in mystery yours at present;
explanation of the circumstances alluded
to, to my greatest satisfaction. | may con-
slider you a. the future arJiter Of my fate.
TIN then we remain friends only. and |
roffer you my lasting friendship"
They must have made up, for there is a
break Of two years in the letters, and then.
IN 1909 he is writing to her as My Dear
Wife, There are only a few short notes
+ = som" years hetween John and AnEe
.aans, but half dozen business letters
,thout signature hint at a cause for the
ts.gedy which was coming
These are written to John Adams in the
''st peremptory terms, calling him to
f''r,rlnt for transaction involving a note
Tor $1,000.
Although I am most reduced in cir
cmnsances and the subject OF these epstles
Is rich man, ca nnot forbear from speak
my mind, says one letter.
lother hints at a duel; still another,
Irohaby the last of this series which
J. lo'ty undated, states that the arrange
ment Is entirely satisfactory, and it closes
with this signature: Cordially and re-
spectfuly. your brother-in-law
There are only two more letters. and they
show that things had gone very wrong
with the marriage of John Adams and Ann
Glover, The first is from him;
| am obliged to remain for some time
clone, to endeavor to procure that peace
Of mind which fear has forsaken me, |
trust, however for divine strength to enable
me to bear with resignation and fortitude
my great Affections.
! will forbear stating the cause of my
grief and leave you to your own reflections,
praying that Sovereign Grace may restore
YOU to a sense Of your conduct and induce
change which may yet give peace and
happiness.
With what heartfelt pleasure would l
address you az my beloved wife, if your
Treatment to me merited such an endear-
Ing appellaton. | shall still hope and con-
cIude with assurance OF my best endcavors
70 promote our mutual happiness"
Her answer, dated in the summer of 1914,
Wa written from Massachusetts, whittier. it
| opT|ars, she had gone to escape the
threatened bomhardment Of New York by
the British. There is a reference to their
tW3 children. The tone is penitent
My conscience is doubly loaded with
| quit, have not only deceived you, but
nav" taken vows upon me which l am
da.ly violating. | feel the enormitv OF
my Crirn" in it's full extent and yet have
rot 'trmness enough to expate its guilt.
ms true | have been actuated by false
pHnc,pIcs; that while ] thought ] was
hsnrng the happiness of one object, |
Should by such step ruin the peace of
t,nInd If two hearts that might have been
hanpv separate from each other.
Remember mo with affection to my
mother and still hope that you may one
day "r other think me deserving the APP
relation Of your beloved wife, ANN"
IN" rest is silence" This letter, latest in
uGatr, lay on the top of the bundle, and over
" NE braided chain of mans hair. He
GEO 6onhtless and she by wife's right
ttGoK h.."tters and hers and put them, with
,s hair, IN the secret drawer OF her secre
!arv Probably her death came suddenly,
wno' and 50 the drawer kept its secret for
atnns' century.
Mh"r" he cabinet came from Mr. Newell