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Story
September 5, 1882
Event 2 of 2
The Watchman And Southron
Sumter, Sumter County, South Carolina
What is this article about?
In Bar Harbor, Maine, a courting couple from Baltimore and Philadelphia gets stranded on an island when their rowboat drifts away during a moonlight outing. She demands he swim for rescue to protect her honor, but he declines the risky swim. Their night apart ends in a quarrel and broken engagement over his perceived cowardice.
Clipping
OCR Quality
98%
Excellent
Full Text
This is Event 2 of 2. The full text below covers all events in this component.
A correspondent of the Boston Saturday Evening Gazette at Bar Harbor, Maine, tells the following story, in which a Baltimore young man figures prominently in connection with a Philadelphia miss, who has been much courted and attended. The Baltimorean appeared to be the favorite with the lady, and according to general belief they were engaged.
Says the correspondent:
"Like all Bar Harbor lovers, they used to go rowing in the evening and started recently for a ride that was more than usually interesting by reason of the lovely moonlight. After rowing for some time they concluded to land at a neighboring island and rest and talk and but never, mind that doesn't concern us.
They soon became so absorbed in one another's company and so oblivious to all about them that they did not see their boat, which was gradually but surely drifting seaward. When they did finally become conscious that there were other things in the world besides themselves (careful mammas, among others) they started to enter their boat and return. Imagine her (I don't know about his) consternation when they found that the boat had become unfastened and could be seen far, far from shore, dancing tripppling in the silver-glinted water, what were they to do? He took a sensible view of the matter, and concluded there was nothing else but to remain on the island until daylight, and then hail some passing boat. To this she strongly objected; her reputation would be compromised if they remained together alone during the entire night on a deserted island. In vain he pleaded. No, she didn't believe people would take very kindly to a new Paul and Virginia story.
There was only one honorable, manly thing for him to do, she thought--to swim home and tell of the affair, and bring her assistance. But they were fully a mile from the nearest shore, the water was beating high, and he knew that any attempt would be not only foolhardy but fatal. She would not be convinced nor be persuaded.
They remained on the island all the night, while their friends suffered the most intense anxiety. There must have been a serious quarrel, for on their arrival home the following morning it was noticed that the young lady would not speak to her escort, whom she deemed an ungallant coward because he had refused to do what the hero in 'The Romance of a Poor Young Man' did of his own will. He went boldly to the mother of his betrothed, but she refused to listen to any explanations, saying, 'My daughter has told me all.' The next day the unfortunate but silly girl, whose conduct is severely deprecated by her friends, was sent away. The young man is still here, and though he says nothing, it is plainly seen that he thinks himself in the right, as do all who have heard his story. It is barely possible, though, that their opinion might be changed after hearing her account of the affair.'
Says the correspondent:
"Like all Bar Harbor lovers, they used to go rowing in the evening and started recently for a ride that was more than usually interesting by reason of the lovely moonlight. After rowing for some time they concluded to land at a neighboring island and rest and talk and but never, mind that doesn't concern us.
They soon became so absorbed in one another's company and so oblivious to all about them that they did not see their boat, which was gradually but surely drifting seaward. When they did finally become conscious that there were other things in the world besides themselves (careful mammas, among others) they started to enter their boat and return. Imagine her (I don't know about his) consternation when they found that the boat had become unfastened and could be seen far, far from shore, dancing tripppling in the silver-glinted water, what were they to do? He took a sensible view of the matter, and concluded there was nothing else but to remain on the island until daylight, and then hail some passing boat. To this she strongly objected; her reputation would be compromised if they remained together alone during the entire night on a deserted island. In vain he pleaded. No, she didn't believe people would take very kindly to a new Paul and Virginia story.
There was only one honorable, manly thing for him to do, she thought--to swim home and tell of the affair, and bring her assistance. But they were fully a mile from the nearest shore, the water was beating high, and he knew that any attempt would be not only foolhardy but fatal. She would not be convinced nor be persuaded.
They remained on the island all the night, while their friends suffered the most intense anxiety. There must have been a serious quarrel, for on their arrival home the following morning it was noticed that the young lady would not speak to her escort, whom she deemed an ungallant coward because he had refused to do what the hero in 'The Romance of a Poor Young Man' did of his own will. He went boldly to the mother of his betrothed, but she refused to listen to any explanations, saying, 'My daughter has told me all.' The next day the unfortunate but silly girl, whose conduct is severely deprecated by her friends, was sent away. The young man is still here, and though he says nothing, it is plainly seen that he thinks himself in the right, as do all who have heard his story. It is barely possible, though, that their opinion might be changed after hearing her account of the affair.'