Rensselaer Republican, Volume 17, Number 45, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 16 July 1885 — Maria Ward and John Randolph. [ARTICLE]

Maria Ward and John Randolph.

One of the saddest and most romantic love affairs in the social annals of Virginia was that of Maria Ward and John Randolph, of Roanoke. Beginning in his early boyhood, it became the one enthralling passion of his manhood, filling his whole being, until, as he himself said, “he loved her better than his own soul or Him that “created it?’ There is a picture of John Randolph in the room of the Virginia Historical Society, taken at the time when he was the accepted lover of Maria Ward. It represents a singularly handsome youth of 25, ? his eyes dark and: full of intellect, his mouth beautifully; formed, and over his proud and lofty forehead fell a profusion of dark hkir. The breaking off of the affair is wrapped in mystery; all we know is that one summer morning he rode up to the: house, and after a long interview in the parlor, the lady left the room in tears, while he rushed from the house, mounted his horse, an 1 rode furiously' away. Honever saw her again; but one day he approached a house where she was staying while she was singing in the parlor. Fascinated by the sound of her voice he [lingered on the porch, and sent in from time to time a request for her to sing one after another the tender little ballads which were associated with their loves. Maria Ward sang, unconcious of her lover’s presence, while he rushed frantically up and down the porch in an agony of grief, waving his arms, and crying in the anguish of his heart: “Macbeth hath murdered sleep; Macbeth shall sleep no more!” Maria Ward married Peyton Randolph, son of Edmund Randolph, who was Govenor of Virginia, the first At-torney-General of the United States, and Secretary of State under Washington. This lady was distinguished for the exquisite grace and fascination of her manners and her bright wit. Her portrait represents a lovely girl of sixteen, with wondrous blue eyes, exquisitely delicate complexion, a profusion of sunny brown curls, and in the quaint costume of the last century. Maria Ward died in 1826, aged 42 years. All contemporary accounts unite in describing her as possessing a singular facination of manners, a charming sweetness and amiability of disposition, an enchanting, gayety and esprit, and a peculiar, irresistible, personal lovliness. At the time of her death she was still as fresh as the summer rose, as captivating in mind and manners as when she enthralled the passionate heart of John Randolph, of Roanoke.—E. L. Didier, in Harper's Magazine.