Historic Bachelors

Pukekohe & Waiuku Times, Volume 5, Issue 138, 28 January 1916, Page 3 (Supplement)

Historic Bachelors

It i 3 a moot question whether marriage helps to make or mar a man's -career, but be that as it may, the fact remains that many men who have writ their names large on the scroll of the world's history have been bachelors. For one reason or another, whether from choice or force of circumstances, they have never married. What their reasons have been is not always possible to say. Marriage is such an intimately personal step that the motive for marrying or not marrying varies with the individual. In most cases we can only glean some idea of the reasons of some celebrated bachelors for remaining single, by diligent perusal of such sentimental passages in their lives as have been made public. For the most part, as we shall see when we come to read about famous bachelors, their celibacy can only be accounted for by the fact that they have been completely absorbed in their lifework.

ABSORPTION IN LIFE-WORK. Michael Angelo, when asked why he never married, is said to have replied: "I have espoused my art. and it occasions me sufficient domestic cares, for my works shall be my children." Though there was reason to believe that a certain lady was quite willing to marry Sir Joshua Reynolds, the painter would not marry for fear he might be withdrawn from his art. Angelica Kauffman and he used to paint one another's portraits, and this was, of course, made an excuse by society for coupling their names together. Sir Joshua's name was also mentioned in connection with thct of Fanny Burney. In more recent times the late Lord Leighton, who was also a confirmed bachelor, told the Princess of Wales, who was inspecting the artist's pictures with the Prince, that he had never married because he could not find sufficient leisure to devote to a wife.

The classic example of the result of this absorption in other affairs is the story told by Sir fsaac Newton's absent-mindedness, which was probably due to hi? being lost in contemplation of abstruse problems. Once upon a time the propounder of the theory of gravity went a-wooing. lie lighted his pipe and began to smoke. After a while he absently attempted to use his sweetheart's finger as a pipe-stopper. The young lady not unnaturally resented this, and their courtship came to an abrupt termination. The reason Pitt used ;o give for remaining single was that he was married to his country, but his critics retorted that his country had made a bad match. It was alleged that he did not care for wemen, but. according to Lady Hester Stanhope, this was net the case, for, said she—"Mrs. B s, of Devonshire, when she was Miss W , was so pretty that Mr. Pitt drank out of her shoe. Nobody understood shape and beauty and dress better than he did." But this trait or faculty of being absorbed in their life-work to the exclusion of almost everything else is not confined to any one age or to any single type of man. Men of action as well as artists and dreamers, soldiers as well as scientists, have found their professional pursuits so absorbing as to leave little time or inclination for dalliance or the pleasures and anxieties? of married life. The outstanding figure of this type to-day is, of course, uord Kitchener.

THE POETS. Several of our most famous poets have remained unmarried, but most of them have had once or more love affairs. Pope fell in love with a Miss Withenburgh, and, despite his physical deformities, she returned his affection. Her guardian strongly disapproved of the attachment, and sent her away to the Continent. The poor girl took the enforced separation so much to heart that she killed herself. Pope's well-known friendship for Martha Blount began early in his life. He remained fond of her until his death, despite the fact that she heartlessly neglected him at the last. When she was sent for to see him on his deathbed, she said to the messenger—"What! Is he not dead yet?" Nevertheless the poet was also in love at one time with Lady Mary Wortley -Montagu, but her satirical references to his personal defects turned his love to something like hatred.

' Cowper loved his first cousin. Theodora Cowper, and she loved him. but her father forbade the marriage on account of the relationship. It is said that it was this disappointment "which first deranged the poet's mind. His cousin's .affection remained constant, and she cherished with tender care .ill the love-poems he wrote her under the name of Delia. The house of the poet Cowper has been called "a perfect seraglio of famous women." Mrs i T nwin, the "Mary" of his poems, devoted her life to waiting on this man, with bis dark moods and fitful temper. Subsequently Lady Austin took her place. She was brilliant and fascinating. but latterly Cowper found her tiresome. The poet, with his muslin nightcap, was in his later years hard|v ;i romantic figure, but lie had the faculty of flattering women, and poss.iblv his very weakness enlisted iiie svnipathies of his numerous female friends.

Coldsmith's love affairs \\.\o. too. ', little eccentric. On one occasion hf was with difficulty dissuaded from irarfving a sempstress whom he vi.-hed to oblige. The "Jessnmy HrMe" (Miss Mrny Horncckt was tne

** ARTISTS, POETS, AND STATESMEN

friend, but not the sweetheart of the author of "The Vicar of Wakefield.'' When Keats was a schoolboy he thought a pretty woman was something like a goddess, and far above any mere man. With increasing age and wisdom he found reason tu modify his Ideas, and shunned female society until he met Miss Fanny Brawne- Ho grew completely fascinated with that young lady, ana they became engaged. Me was not. however, a happy lover. I!e fretted if her manner was not always tne same, and tortured himself with doubts and fancies. When, owing to his failing health, it was decided thai he should winter abroad, the very thought of leaving her was, he said, "beyond everything, horrible." And when he became worse, and knew that death was fast approaching, lie wrote: —"I cannot bear to die and leave her. Oh, Goi! God! God! Everything that I have in my trunk* that reminds me of her, goes througu me like a spear." But alas, for a poet's ideals! Miss Brawne was evidently not worthy of his love, for ten years afterwards she wrote to a friend:—"The kindest act would be to let him rest for ever in the obscurity to which circumstances have condemned him.'*

BACHELOR CONSTANCY. By way of contrast, the touching love-story of Washington Irving stands out as a splendid example or constancy. Matilda Hoffman, the beautiful girl to whom he was er. gaged, died of consumption in her 17th year. "I was by her when she died," he said, "and was the last she ever looked upon." He took her Bible atnd prayer-bcok away with him, sleeping with them under his pillow, and taking them with him In all his travels. He remained single and true to her memory. Not until 30 years after her death did anyone venture to speak of her to him. He T\as visiting her father, and one or her nieces brought out a piece or embroidery.

"Washington," said Mr Hoffman, "this was some of Matilda's work." The effect was electrical. Irving had been talking quite gaily, but became unite silent, and soon afterwards left the home. It was Matilda he had in his mind when he wrote in "Bracebridge Hall"—" r have loved as I never again shall love in tiie WO rld—l have been loved as I never again shall be loved." In a notebook he wrote:,"She died in the beauty of her youth, and in my memory she will ever be young and beautiful"

THE CYNICS. Compare with this the selfish fickleness of that prince of .snobs, Beau Brummell, who broke off the engagement that seems to have been his most serious lov| affair. When asked the reason —"What could 1 do, my dear fellow," he replied, "but cut the connection? I discovered that Lady Mary actually ate cabbage!" Buckle, the author of the "History of Civilisation," himself missed the civilising influence of matrimony. "I expect so much in my wife," he used to say, "that I cannot look for money." At the same time his ideas about education and domestic matters were on such a scale that he considered he would not be justified in marrying on less than £3OOO a year. No doubt such ideas were responsible for the fact that Buckle never married.

Theodore Hook, the noted wit. was a man about'town, and although he never married, considered that he knew enough of women and marriage to wax cynical about both. It was when a friend advised him "to settle and take a wife," that he retorted in his dry, sarcastic manner, "With all my heart; and. pray, whose wife would you advise me to take?" It is told of Hume, the Historian, that he once proposed to v. lady who refused him. Some time afterwards her friends contrived to convey to Hume the 'intelligence that she had changed her mind.

"So have I," replied David laconically; "so have I." And tie lived and died in single blessedness.

SAFETY IN NUMBERS. Horace Walpole never married, but he was always fond of female society, and the most faithful friends and correspondents o!" his later years were ladies. He was on friendly terms with the Countess of Ossory from his early gambling days, when she was known as the "Duchess of Grafton and Loo.'' To ' her, and Mary and Agnes Berry, \tf- gossiped on paper for many years, on politics and literature ami scandal. Somepeople said that his affection for the Misses Berry was something more than piatonic, but in bis friendships with women he roand, even if he did not seek, safety in numbers. As for the Bcrrys. lie was proud of his "partiality for them; it was as much with both as with either.'' Evidently if the tender passion moved him at all, the calm interest of the dilettante restrained the ardour of the lover.

Bachelors or the type of Horace Walpole are not unknown even today. I'ossibly among the famous men of our time tr.e parallel is close between Walpole and Mr. liaifour. How clo-c ili.' iv einblame may be is Lost known to tne eclectic circles of tlie statesman's personal friends. In his case, as in that of other celebrities now living, it will only become known to,the general public when bis memoirs come to re writ-