Democratic Sentinel, Volume 7, Number 42, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 16 November 1883 — Thackeray and His Insane Wife. [ARTICLE]

Thackeray and His Insane Wife.

The best years of Thackeray’s life were given to the affectionate care of his insane wife. Her disease was that of a violent type, except at intervals, but she required constant oversight and attendance. To secure this Thackeray bought a house in the country near London, in which the invalid was surrounded with every comfort that love and sympathy could devise. As she still craved his presence, and seemed unhappy when he was out of her sight, Thackeray made frequent visits to her in retirement. These were the hours which his enemies declared were spent in the midst of all kinds of follies and excesses. They were devoted, instead, to soothing the invalid repinings and quieting the unreasonable suspicions C|( a wife dearly beloved, but hopelessly insane. It is not to be wondered at that Thackeray’s views of life were tinged with a profound melancholy. The cross was never lifted during his lifetime. But his fortitude, his loving kindness and his care for his afflicted wife ceased only with his death. Tee young husband of the ancient Baroness Burdett-Coutts owns seventy fishing smacks.