FOR BETTER FOR WORSE.

Te Aroha News, Volume VII, Issue 476, 31 May 1890, Page 3

FOR BETTER FOR WORSE.

A Book of Love and Marriage Stories.

Luckless are the men and women who, not having adapted themselves to -the fact that this is the era of publicity and curiosity (that is, thirst for knowledge), come under the category of * eminent persons.’ Even the dreaded interviewer is reticence and discretion itself, as compared with the maker and compiler of books, who thrusts his hand into the most private recesses of the said eminent person’s home, and drags out to the light of day fact after fact with pitiless disregard of the feelings of his helpless victim. How, when, and where a man works or plays, is told from the housetops ; if the mewing of a cat or the scent of rotten apples inspire him to his best efforts, whether he prefers unlimited cups of tea or the fragrant weed as a comforter of his lonely hours ; there is, indeed, nothing hidden that is not made known, and the most recent additions to this kind of personal literature overtops all that has gone before. This addition is a work of two sturdy volumes, between the backs of which are bound together ‘ The Loves and Marriages of some Eminent Persons.’ (Ward and Downey.) Mr Thistleton Dyer, if we are nob mistaken, has already on his conscience a work of a similar nature, which, such is the depravity of this fin de siecle, gained a popularity denied bo many a tome into which some learned man has put his best effort.

The present work is written on what might be called the ‘downward grade,’ for it commences with two chapters on * Married Happiness,’ and ends, after a slow but painful descent leading through the divorce courts, in a chapter headed ‘ Unmarried.’

‘Dizzy’ Dazzled by a Dame of Distinction.

One of the first among those whose married happiness is exhibited is Lord Beaconsfield, and the story of his wooing and wedding may be read in the following extracts, quoted by Mr Dyer : * The soiree last night (April 27, 1832) at Bulwer’s was really brilliant —much more so than the first. There were a great many dames there of distinction, and no blues. I was introduced ‘by particular desire’ to Mrs Wyndham Lewis, a pretty little woman, a flirt and a rattle ; indeed, gifted with a volubility I should think unequalled, and of which I can convey no idea. She told me that she liked silent, melancholy men ! I answered ‘ that I had no doubt of it.’ A year afterwards the second act in the drama is being played. ‘By-the-by,’ he writes, ‘ would you like Lady Z for a sister-in-law very clever, £25,000, and domestic? As for “love,” all my friends who married for love and beauty either beat their wives or live apart from them. This is literally the case. I may commit many follies in life, but I never intend to marry for love, which I am sure is a guarantee of infelicity.’ The sequel is, he behaved admirably throughout his married life. In public and in private he showed his wife the most affectionate regard. Dr. Johnson’s Pretty Charmer. Here is a portrait of ‘Letby,’ Johnson’s spouse, speaking of whom the fond husband stated that 1 he had nothing to complain of bub her particular reverence for cleanliness,’ which seems to have caused him a good deal of annoyance:— She was very fab, with a bosom of more than ordinary protuberance ; her swelled cheeks were of a florid red, produced by thick painting, and increased by the liberal use of cordials ; glaring and fantastic in her dress, and affected both in her speech and general behaviour. Happy Johnson ! his sherb-sighted eyes never saw anything but a beauty in her. How to Make Love. Shortly before Erasmus Darwin married Mary Howard, he sent the following receipt to ‘dear Polly,’ which he had found in an old volume entitled ‘A Bouk off verry monny muckle-vallyed Receipts boubh in Kookery and Physicks ’: Take of Sweet William and of Rose-Mary, of each as much as is sufficient. To the former of these adcl Honesty and Herb-of-Grace; and to the latter Eye-bright and Motherwort, of each a large handful; mix them separately, and then, chopping them altogether, add one Plumb, to sprigs of Hearts’ Ease and a little Tyme. And it makes a most excellent dish, probatum est. Some put in Rue and Cuckold Pint, and Heart-Chokes, and Coxcomb, and Violents ; but these spoil the flavour of it entirely, and I even dispose of Sallery, which some good Cooks order to be m’xed with it. I have frequently seen it tossed up with all these at the table of the great, when no Body would eat of it, the very appearance was so disagreeable.