Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1909-04-02

greatest friendship with his patron.
Then followed one Of the happiest pc
riods of Swift's life. He read and
worked necessarily. Thus he prepar-
ed Temples letters and memoirs for
publication; wrote his Battle of the
Books" and the Tale of a Tub" and
with it all had time to enjoy himself
by sleeping at wayside inns at a PEN
ny a night, and attempting to run
half a mile in six minutes.
But the day came. and his patron
died. Beyond a legacy Of f10o and
the proceeds from the publication OF
his memoirs Temple left him nothing.
Thus Swift was on the world again,
but in the following year was appoint
ed to certain ecclesiastical benefices In
Ireland which brought him in a lit
tie over 1900 a year. His religious
duties were not onerous. for his con-
gregation numbered in all fifteen
souls. It is said that on a certain oc-
casion, there being but one individual
in the church, Swift changed the
wording Of the exhortation to Dear
ly beloved, Roger, the Scripture NOV
eth you and me-" etc. 1t was during
the next few years that Swift met In
London Esther johnson, the Stella OF
his famous journal. Accompanied by
a friend, she came to Ireland and took
lodging in Swift's parish. Such step
very naturally gave rise to a good
deal Of gossip. But there was nothing
in 1t, though Swift admitted later
that, were he ever inclined to marry,
Stella would be the object Of his
choice. Swift's literary ability soon
became generally known. He had
written some political and religious
tracts which had made his reputation.
Thus ,,e was courted by many Of the
leading men Of the day, including
Somers, Harley, Godolphin and 9TH
ers. Wings and Tories alike strove
hard for his support.
Finally, he threw in his lot with the
latter, and on taking over the Exam
iner he assailed the Wings with the
most biting sarcasm. For his pains
he was rewarded with the deanery OF
st. Patrick's, Dublin. About the year
1712 he met in London a Miss Van
Homrigh, who not only fell madly In
love with him, but actually proposed
to him. Swift declined the honor.
Hearing of the incident, Stella's jeal-
ousy knew no bounds; indeed, so un-
reasonable did she become that Swift
finally consented to marry her. True
or not, the rumor leaked out and Miss
Van Homrigh, overcome by the news
fell i'll and shortly afterward died.
The story of Swift's marriage has
been much denied. 1t has been sug-
gested that this union was merely
nominal. But, however that may be,
Stella became the constant companion
of his life. In 1926 appeared his most
popular work, "Gulliver's Travels
Never did a publication make great
er stir: It was the one topic of the
hour.
When George I. ascended the
throne Swift hoped for much prefer
ment. He got nothing, and as re-
suit threw in his lot with the Opposi-
ton party, headed by the Prince OF
Wales. About this time Stella died.
and Swift, overcome with grief, shun:-
ned society and politics altogether.
His days were drawing to a close; his
health was beginning to fail, also his
memory. He had violent fits OF pas
sion which ended in luracy. For
some time he fingered, but the end
came rapidly, and he died in October
1745. of water on the brain in the
18th year of his age. The bulk OF MS
property he left to endow hospitai
for lunatics.-London Globe.