Southern standard. [volume] (Columbus, Miss.) 1851-1856, 1852-01-03
From the ". o. Picuyune.
A California Widow,

Ihe world tor many years has recognized the
existence of ''grass widows" and widows, de
facto, 'fair and forty - but the California widow
is creation of modern time. The tide of emgra-
ton which, during the last few years, has swept
towards the modern Ell Dorado, have given rise to
this new order of widowhood. Adventurous hus-
bands have severed the bonds of matrimony and
many loving wife has been left without lord,
and mistress of herself, that heritage of wo.''
Tears and sghs, hopes and fears, chequer the ex-
istence of the California widow during the first
few months of separation but often-too often
the absent one forgets his er-half, and plays
the part of a truant. A series of revolutions in
the bosom of the forsaken wife is the consequence
and indignation succeeds sorrow indifference su-
percedes Indignation, and another love takes the
place of Indifference. The last condition to which
this sequence leads is evidence in the records of
our courts. Suits almost innumerable have been
instituted in which each fair petitioner alleges
abandonment, pleads the hardships of California
widow, and prays that the marriage ties, which
have no existence in fact, shall be aboshedin law.
Then follows the equitable decision of the Judge,
and after that year of underlined existence which
must be devoted to the proprietors of the law, be-
tween divorce and wedlock, the certificate of a
justice of the peace, generally, closes the eventfu
history of California widow In one case, how
ever, which has come to our knowledge, there has
been a sequel to history of this kind. The
facts are these:
In the early part of the spring of I849, gen
tleman of this city, remarkable for that rotundity
of form and smiling of face which are generally
the indications of good nature, free and easy man
ners and a sober cast of thought was suddenly
seized with the California fever His family con-
sisted of a wife and baby taken from the orphan
asylum. The anxiety which he exhibited to lodge
and provision them during his intended absence
was the only care he was ever known to have ex-
perienced. But the wife was loving and dutiful
one, and she declared her willingness to endure
almost any privation to promote his welfare.
He departed for the land of gold, and she, after
some hard struggles with poverty, obtained a
stock of fancy goods through the aid of friends
and opened small store in the lower part of the
city. No correspondence passed between the neg
lectful husband and his lonely wife, neither heard
of the other from the time of his departure up to
about the first of last month. On Sunday morn
ing, about that period, large number Californi
ans arrived here in the steamer from Havana
Nj, the truant husband, was among them.
On landing he started Immediately in pursuit of
his wife, and in walking up Royal street unexpect
edly saw her approaching him, leaning fondly on
the arm of porty gentleman, who seemed the ex-
act counterpart of himself, and who was an old
acquaintance of his. Nj lodged round
corner until they passed, and then followed them
laughing to himself IN anticipation OF the agreeable
surprise which he would soon give his wife and old
crony, who, he supposed gallantng her through
friendship for himself They finally entered a
neat little house in CassaoalTo street, and NJ
was about to follow when the door was closed
A colored girl answered his knock, however, and
he enquired for Mrs. NJ. He was told that no
such person resided there, but he entered notwith-
standing, and stood in the presence of the persons
he sought He rushed forward to embrace his
supposed wife and friend, and was cordially re-
ceiyed by both but becoming rather ardent in
his attentions to the lady, her companion said :
'My dear NJ, you appear to be laboring un-
der a mistake This lady is my wife. A divorce
put you out of possession more than year ago
Some little embarrassment followed, but nothing
to the harmony which always existed between
the parties, and M in few days after return
ed to California. He declared, however, before
he left, that he had also formed new matrimonial
engagements, and merely returned to this city to
crafty an intense curiosity relative to the condi-
ton and pursuits of his forsaken wife.