The Making of a Statesman — Joel Chandler Harris

The Making Of A Statesman, And Other Stories. HERE was surprise and consternation in Middle Georgia when the announcement was made that Mary Lou Lumsden had consented to take Meredith Featherstone for her husband. She was the most beautiful, the most accomplished, aid the most popular young woman in the State. Such was her native tact and amiability, such was the charm of her personality, that she was as popular with the women as with the men. She had what is called a sympathetic nature. She had broadened her mind in every way. She had taken advantage of the best educational facilities of her day and time, and, in addition, had made the tour of Europe. The man she had chosen for her husband was, as her friends declared, the last man in the attention of such a woman. He was at least ten years her senior, and had no qualities of mind or attributes of person to equalize this disparity of years. He was not handsome on the contrary, he had a gloomy and lowering countenance. And yet, after all was said, he had a certain quality of promise in his features. He was dignified, and he was a fairly good talker.