Jasper County Democrat, Volume 2, Number 15, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 22 July 1899 — THEODORE PARKER’S WIFE. [ARTICLE]

THEODORE PARKER’S WIFE.

He Called Her a Bear, But-She Was Gentle and Shrewd. Theodore Parker’s affection for his wife was very great. From a natural love of paradox he was accustomed to style this mild creature Bear, and he delighted to carry out this pleasantry by adorning his etagere with miniature bears, in wood carving, porcelain and so on. His gold shirt stud bore the impress of a bear. At one Christmas time he showed me, writes Julia Ward Howe, a breakfast cup upon which a bear had been painted, by his express order, as a gift for his wife. At another he granted me a view of a fine silver candlestick in the shape of a bear and a staff, which was also intended for her. To my husband he often spoke of the excellence of his wife’s discernment of character. He would say: “My quiet little wife, with her simple intuition, understands people more readily than I do. I sometimes invite a stranger to my house, and tell her that she will find him as pleasant as I have found him. It may turn out so, but if my wife says: ‘Theodore, I don’t like that man; there’s somethingwrong about him,’ I alwaysfind in the end that I have been mistaken, that her judgment was correct.”—Atlantic Monthly.