Some Clever Wives.

Auckland Star, Volume XXI, Issue 32, 8 February 1890, Page 3 (Supplement)

Some Clever Wives.

Apart from bheir personal abtraetions, in numerous cases wives have largely promoted the greatness and success of bheir husbands. If it had not been for his marriage, Hood always maintained bhab he would never have accomplished anything. John Stuart Mill was in the habit ot boasting that he owed much to his wife. The wife of Dean Hook was of superior abilities, and was overlooked up to as one on whose judgment her friends could rely. Few statesmen have been more fortunate in their wives than Lord Palmerston, who, it may be remembered, married Lord Melbourne's sisber, the widow of Earl Cowper—a lady as polished in her manners as she was kind and considerate at bearb. Indeed, ib is said bhab her influence waa perceptibly felb in her social life, and thab she ' surrounded her husband's political existence with a charm which gave to his hospitality an attraction that at once enthralled bis friends and softened his opponents.' Then there was Lord Beaconsfield, who was equally lucky. W. E. Foster was never weary of acknowledging his indebtedness to his wife. Charles Kingsley owed much to the clever influence of his wife. De Quincey's wife, again, by her cultured tastes and mental powers, exercised a remarkable influence over her husband. Faraday used to say that his marriage was ' a source of honour and happiness far exceeding all the rest.'