Year: 1872

From the Washington Cronicle


1t is seldom that the great pub
lic-even the reading portion Of it
are allowed to look behind the
scenes of everyday life into the in
ner life of our prominent men. This
thought was recently brought with
peculiar force to the mind of the
writer by touching incident in the
life of Hon. Henry Wilson, and
which so well illustrates his true
character and shows him as his
personal friends know him to be, 4
warm, tender-heartcd, true man,
instead of the cold, calculating
heartless politician that many re-
gard him, that | crave your indul-
gence in laying it before your read
erS.


1t has been my privilege in the
past to haye been honored with the
friendship of tho late Mrs. Henry
Wilson, and, while there is no in
tention of throwing open to the pub
lie their social life and relations, 4
few words of their past life becomes
necessary. For over twenty five
years the Senator and his wife lived
together in the holiest relations that
man and woman can mutually sus-
tain to each other, and during al!
that time to each the happiest spot
on earth was home. Mrs. Wilson
was 4 lady of refined manners and
lovely disposition, only ambitious
to fill a true wifc's place in the
home life-to be . true helpmate TO
the husband of her heart and youth
in every sense of the term; one who
made her home what a true woman
can only make it for man who,
like the Senator, was weighed down
hy the many cares and anXletios in
cident to q lite like his, devoted to
the service Of his country for so
many evcnttul years, who gladly
laid them aside for the time, and in
the social enjoyment of the life she
adorned and beautificd found the
recompcnsc he 50 well deserved
the rest to body and mind within
the sacred limits of his home. Mrs.
Wilson was woman Of true be-
nevolenco of heart, giving with Y
iled but judicious hand, not to be
seen and praised Of men, but in the
most unobstrusive manner carefully
would she seek out the many worthy
objects of charity ever to be found
in city like this, or at her New
England home, who shun the gaze
of public charity, and only receive
the helping hand when compelled
to do SO, and when found she was
their constant friend. The writer
can attest in many instances the
willing aid the Senator ever rem
dcred her in the good work that
made the lots Of so many stricken
ones the easier to bear in their mis-
fortunes.


! have said that Mrs. Wilson had
no ambition other than To make
her home happy; but there was one
beyond this-the sole ambition of
her parried life-not for riches;
not for glory or Powcr-no wise
no. desire even that her husband
should be preferred before his peers
in any respect but one, and that ene
tho ofhco to which his fellow -ooun-
trymen will place him in by large
majority on the 5th day of Noyem-
Der next. 1t is the only place she
ever coveted for her, husband. It
is known that she shed tears Of
sorrow when he was elected the
first time to the United States Sen
ate, The desire of her heart was
in her earth-life denied her; for
three years the flowers have bloom
ed in the soft spping tiAo Of her
Now England homo above her
grave; and now the wish sho SO
ardcntly desired has come. 9 4.l


The news is brought to him over
the wires that his countrymen have