William Campbell Preston. WILLIAM
CAMPBELL
525
PRESTON.
III. By Walter I-. M1ller of the South Carol1na Bar. SOCIALLY and at home, Mr. Preston was a most charming character. His do mestic life was all that could have been de sired. Both of his wives were beautiful and accomplished women, — they were perfectly devoted to him, and their love and apprecia tion received from him in return the most cordial and heartfelt reciprocation. He kept up his courtship through life. He treated them with every courtesy, gave to them his confidence and tenderest sympathy, mani fested the highest appreciation of them, and was always bestowing upon them some token of his favor and evidence of his love. As a picture of wedded love and sweet domestic accord, I do not think Mr. Preston's home has ever yet been surpassed. Of his first wife, Mrs. Martin speaks as follows: "His first wife, Miss Coulter, was very beautiful and interesting. He said, on his return from his foreign tour, that he ' had traveled all over Europe, and had seen but one Maria Coulter.' " Mrs. Mary C. Rion, of Winnsboro, South Carolina, was one of Mr. Preston's family for some time previous to her marriage, and was with him a great deal after, up to his death. In speaking of his home life she says : "Mr. Preston's private life was a poem. His second wife, Miss Penelope Louisa Davis, was a finely edu cated and talented woman, and living with Mr. Preston in an atmosphere of books and distinguished men, and the brilliant cosmo politan society of Washington, and South Carolina's brilliant minds of that day, sharp ened her- wit, and still further refined her brilliant and susceptible mind. She was so conversant with literature that, if the author of any quotation was in doubt, she could in stantly get the book in Mr. Preston's library and find it. . . . The romance of life remained
with him, until his beloved wife died. Dur ing their whole life, every morning, a bou quet of flowers, often accompanied by some verse or extract of loving sentiment, was laid at her plate; and she treasured them all, and, after her death, trunks full of these souvenirs were found. The courtesies of life were never dropped between them and that was the mainspring of their perfect wedded life. After her death, he led a maimed life, for he had been nursed and petted and shielded from all domestic or business troubles by this noble and loving woman." Mrs. Martin also gives us the following beautiful description of her : " When he married her, she was a brilliant woman, of extensive reading and fine literary tastes, and of such splendid conversational powers that Calhoun affirmed he had never heard her equal — delighting and astonishing the most distinguished society at Washington and elsewhere with her wit, and wisdom, and eloquence; but, after her marriage, ill-health, and entire devotion to one object (her hus band), caused her to retire from society very much, and her style became less bril liant, but more soft and soothing; less asser tive, but more winning; she still carried all hearts with her as irresistibly as before. But she, too, was called by death, away from him, leaving his old age desolate; for William Preston never after in his heart had place for another love. No! Except for the grace of God, he had gone down sorrow ing to his grave." As cumulative proof along this same line, I may say, that Mrs. Preston's journal has about it all the ear marks of culture, refinement, delicacy and gentleness, and it is easy enough to read between the lines that its author was one of
