Year: 1877

[Jennie June's New York Letter in Bali-


more American


1t is generally supposed that when
beautiful young women marry elderly
men they do it simply and solely as
matter of business-so much young
flesh and blood for so much money
and there is little sympathy for either
side if the bargain does not turu out as
good as was expected. A young lady of
Brooklyn has recently, however, re
versed all the traditions in this respect.
She is an only daughter, and the apple
of her parents eyes. She is extremely
pretty and petite, with a rose leaf com
plexion, plump yet delicate form and
a profusion of golden brown hair. She
bad been educated at hons exclusively
and seen but little of the world except
one year spent abroad, This trip was
projected in order to get rid of an attach
ment which, to her parents horror, she
had formed for a man of nearly sixty
years old, who was in the habit of visit
ing her father occasionally, but who took
advantage of the privilege accorded to
his age, and of a still somewhat fine and
even distinguished personal appearance,
to make passionate love to his daughter.
He is very poor man-so poor that his
board and washing bills are always in ar
rears, and he is overwhelmed with debts
for~personal indulgences for which he
never thinks of paying.


All this had no effect upon the girl.
She insisted upon returning home, and
the parents, really knowing bnt little Of
him, after hard contest finally gave a
conditional consent their daughter to
| first accompany her mother abroad for a
wear, and if she, on her return, desired
to marry her elderly lover they would no
more oppose it, but pay his debts and
give him home at their house, for they
| have abundant means, and the daughter
has every advantage that wealth could
| bestow.


A few months ago the mother and
daughter returned from Europe, the
| daughter still determined on an alliance
so Tepulsive to her family that the
| thought had made her mothers hair turn
/ gray. But, in the meantime, her father
| had made himself acquainted with some
previous passages in the mans career,
| and as soon as possible after her arrival
placed them strongly before her. The
1 man was proved 10 De d tHOIOuShly un'
principled old scamp, the father OF an IL
| legitimate child, whose mother he had
refused to marry-the boy, now fifteen
years of age, supported and kept at
| school bv his mothers daily labor. lie
had even been compelled to leave one
place where he had lived to escape
| iyncbing, and left everywhere in debt
| The father with tears told his daughter
he could not let her marry such man,
and that her death would be almost
preferable. He pictured her ten or tif-
/ teen years from this time, in the flower
of her womanhood (she is not yet nine


teen), with q husband decrepit and help
less. whom she could not even respect.
But it was all of no avail. She insisted
that he had been abused, wronged, and
said it was the one desire of her life tc
be able to comfort his remaining years,
and smooth his pathway to the grave.
| There seems to me something radI-
calIy wrong and morbid about case like
this, and | think her parents would be
justified in taking strong measures to
save their daughter from her self-Im


posed fate. If they do not, she will


certainly blame them some time fol
their failure to rescue her from her sit


uation and should she even die, as she


threatens, her death would be easier
borne than the long, horrible sacrifice to


which she wishes to con6ne herself.