Western Reserve chronicle. [volume] (Warren, Ohio) 1855-1921, 1857-07-22
THE LAWS OF FILTRATION

AHS iSOCHI uSClSlou vi d gu piCme OOui
Judge in Monroe Couniy-substantially
to the effect that in order to m aintain ar
action for breach of promise 10 marry, i
is not nesessary for plaintiff to prove ;
formal promise of marriage on the par
of the defendant-has very naturally
caused futter among the idlers in love-:
Court, who. in Shakspearian language,
"sip from every flower the virtuou:
sweeis." According TO this lum nary oI
the law, any circumstances which usu.
ally accompany parties while holding
the relation of an enga cement of mar
riage might properly be laid before the
Jury, and if sufficient to warrant the
opinion that such an engagement cxisLed
1t was all the law required. 1t is moi
necessary that there should be a promise
of marriage in direct phraseOlogy-nc
formal promise is required.
And take heed, Oh young people. as
you coo AMI twitter like spring birds in
your" May ofyouth and bloom of lusty.
I;ood,' that in your love-mlking you
steer clear of the meshes of the courts,
or the law will nip the bloom Of youl
orange blossoms and your suit in the
court Of Cupid will be quenched by ga
suit for breach" FIR the Rochester
Judge enumerates nearly a dozen "cir-
cumstances' which may be relied upon
to prove a marriage engagement-such
as
Frequent visits of the parties.
Retiring from the society of others.
Seeking to be apart by themselves.
Expressions of attachment.
Presents.
Going together TO places of amuse-
mcnt.
Walks together.
Occasional remarks in the hearin. Of
others, &C., &c.
AHy of which circumstances" my
be strong enough to satisfy the law as
to the existence Of a marriage engage
ment.
But, as "Loye laughs at Locksmiths'
we suppose that the devotees of Filtration
which is bat tender correspondence
between persons of the opposite sex,
something more than friendship and less
than love-will laugh down the law and
cover with confusion the musty rulings
of antiquated judges. Cupid has not
yet sp mt all his arrows, nor will he, the
sun of Venus and Mars, surrender with
cut discretion TO his half brother, Hymen,
bego ten by the drunken Bacchus-
Corydon will seek his mistress on the
leafy meadows, where his flock. as tend
er and innocent as he, repose among the
graceful shadows Of the sunset; Daphne
will still wander lovelorn through the
shady groves of Apollo. and Mr.. Smith
and Miss Jones, will continue 10 walk
and talk afeciionately By moonlight,
and firt conspicucu>ly in the or, hestra
stalls at Wailack's. In word. the ar
mics of Flirlalion-of both sexes-will
continue 10 advance the standards Of
Love without ri>king the dangers of a
positive engagement, and play with "lhe
light wing d toys of feathered Cupid -
despising the dangers of being scorched
by the sober lamps of Hymen.
Sill, if we must flirt-and such seems
TO be the law of natGre--let Us dirt with
caution. and with due respect for the laws
of til Ind, as ezpoanded by the unro-
mantle judge who presiIes over the four
miles Of Rochester, Let every gentle
man who means to offer civiliiy to a
lady, obtain from her a solemn release
Of all claims TO matrimonial intent.
If he pays 'frequent visits he might
post disclaimer of 'scriou- intentions
on the outside pannel of the hall hoor; if
he gives her book, the protest might
be pasted on the av-leaf; if he accompa.
nies her 10 place of public amusement,
he may have written on his card s'seats,
bu. the parties not eugaged''-bul if he
shculd go furthcr--as for instauce--to
the extreme impudence of calling Miss
Smith by her Christian appellation o.
Malvina, or, in an ecstacy Of moonlight
romance, gently pressing her fingers. lei
him see to it first that he has 4 bond oI
indemnity, with good sureties, that the
lady vii set up 10 claim for damages
for breach" by appealing the suit from
the court OF Cupid to a court # Law
Oneida [ v. Y. } Gazette.