Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1858-06-15


CURIOUS MARRIAGE AND DIVORCE
SUIT.
"Arryihs Wife to Escape Being Eaten for
Dinner.
From the Paris Cores pondence of Boston Post
The law gossip of the week concerns mos,
especially those who 60 down to the sea in
shlps, and msy serve as q warning lesson to
those who prefer present security to future
peace and happiness. A year or two ago NJ
Malhiatre honor, hope, and heir of a renowned
eaico PRIMER, stocking maker, and night can
vendor OF Rouen, set sail from IIavre to pro-
ceed TO sydney, in order to superintend the
business which his father carried on in that
place, snd which the death If his partner had
leit without surveillance. One of those acci-
dents which viii happen, in spite of captain or
compass, even to the best governed ships on
the ocean, happened, as a matter of course to
the rotten little bark in which NJ. MalfiIatre
set saIl-and on the inhOspitable shore Of Wal
lis island was 1t wrecked; everything lost
nut M. Maihiatre, to whom everything was
lost but honor. Tho plump person and de-
fenceless state Of the young merchant became
a great temptation to the dainty inhabitants
OF Wallis Island, who have tisgusted the
missionaries by eating each other, and they
carried him away to the chiefs hut with loud
shouts OF triumph at the sweet morssl which
the waves had thrown upon their shore. Tho
Catholic missionaries have a small establish
ment OF the Maristes on the Island. They
work night and day, with unremittipg zeal At
the conversion Of these savages, and have got
as tar as the prevention of infanticide for gag
tronomic purposes, which is great step: but
they have not as yet been able 10 inspire that
wholesome dislike of human flesh which should
Certainly form the first step in every conyer-
sion to Christianity. The poor young man in
his dilemma, appealed piteously to the rev.
erehd fathers; but they confessed that they
possessed no influence; that they were barely
tolerated and dare not interfere. The only
rescue to be expected could be obtained by
CHOOSING wife amongst native women, and
consentlnS to remain on the island forever
Alter much persuasion from the missionary he
accepted the latter alternative and the boly
father, according to tie custom of his nation.
cnose AZ BRIDE for the young man, and took es-
peclal care to choose good 1purti-no less n
one than daughter OF the chief One tbino
however, the father insisted on; the marriage
should be sOlemnized seriously with Catholic
rites; and at all events :he bridegroom should
be bound by proper registers and not be per-
mitted to treat the sacred ceremony with the
same llghtneSs as it is elsewhere
Everything was consented to by the Young
man, who had grown attached to life by means
OF good supper and, accordingly, on the next
day the beautiful Suleta, all freshly tattooed
from bead to tOot-her fair proportions undis
inquired by crlnOllne, was led to the altar OF the
Marlstes by NJ. Malfatre. But of course.
our hero from ROuen had treated the whole
thing a. little harmless expedcnt 70 keen q
Saie SKIN anu whole bones In this hungry land
and soon began to look out for an opDnrtunity
OF quitting the scene of his connubial felicity
Some months elapsed, however. bef;,r, this on
Portunlty occurred but at length, one after
noon, wandering discOnsolate on the beach. he
descrled vessel in the Otiing 1t was an
EnglIsh vessel, whose boats crew in answer TO
the signal OF distress hOsted by the bride
groom, hastened to the rescue, and bore him
on to the ship. without discovery on the mart
OI the natives, who would have killed and
eaten them all had they been aware of the
tre%chery intended. M MaIflatre landed safe
and sound at Havre only two months ago. He
i!und that great changes had taken place in
bis father household during his absence. An
inheritance had fallen in-fOrtune had smiled
most graciously upon the old man. and the son.
after all his wretchedness and misery. returned
10 nDd himself tho heir of wealth he had never
dreamed OF. The first thing for a rich man in
france 70 dc, Is, as we all know, TO provide
himself with rich wife; the father began to
look about him, and having found a suitable
match, the parties were straightway brought
forth 10 be married
but now arose the difhculty-young Malfl-
atre could not deny his marriage at Wallis.
Island by Catholic priest according to Cath
oiIc rites The marriage was legal in every
point OF view, excepting in the one point of the
non-cOnsent Of the parents of the Bridegroom.
30, therefore, notice was served by hHiss,sr
upon the 'DemOiselle Suleta, falsely calling
herself Madame Malilatre,' to show cause
why she should not be dispossessed of that
title. Of course the whole affair was consid.
cred mighty good joke by the gossips, and
laughed at accordingly for, of course after
the delay expired, no Yartie ciriie appearing,
Judgment would go by default, and Malflatre
night De Tree to marry whom he pleased.
lhus did the affair stand until last week, when
10 to the utter confusion of the sanguine
bridegroom and his rich wife the bishop Of
Australia and Oseana, in whose diocese lies the
paradise OF which We have given some Of the
most striking trnit de D,nurs, and i'm defence
Of morality and religion, procIaims hinsoIt
ready to become ppJtIc ctCGie in this care. for
the protection Of the helpless Suleta We may
Judge OF the CONSERVATION thrown among the
ranks Of jewellers, costumers, and modIstes all
engaged FOR tho rich marriage-the tears of the
rich bride-thc rawlings Of the rich bridegroom.
lhe debates which are to come on directly,
VIII be full Of interest, and of warning at the
same time. The case is considered one of the
most curious on record, and has been cornpli-
Gated since the issue of the first mise en- dcm-
S"TS. by the arrival of news of the birth a,
w allIs Island. Of son to the house of NAL
tilatre. who now shares the interest hitherto
absorbed by tattoOed Suleta
SHAN BATTLE AT WEST PoINT.-The CORES
pondent of the Post thus refers to Gen. Scott
and to sham fight among the cadets at West
Point. during the recent review exercises:
Gen. Scott was present and reviewed the ca
dets, superby dressed in the uniform of a lieu
tenant general, and looked. what he indispu-
tabiy il, the most illustrious living military
leader Of the age. At haif-past o'clock, we
were attracted to the grounds again by deli