Staunton spectator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1896, 1858-06-29
A Marriage And Divorce Suit.

| The law gossip OF q 9 week concerns most es
pecialy those who 60 down to sea in ships, AM
may serve as q warning lesson to thoss who pre-
fer present security to future peace and happi
ness A year or two ago; M. Mal6latre, honor
hope, and heir of renowned calico printer
stockingsmaker, and night cap vender OF Rouen
set sail from Havre to proceed to Sydney in or
der to superintend the business which his fathe
carried on in that place. and which the death
his partner had left without surveillance. Ont
of those accidents which will happen, in spite o
captain or compass, even to the best governed
ships on the ocean, happened, as q matter o.
course. to the rotten little bark in which M
Malfilatre set sail-and on the inhospitable shore
of Wallis's Island it was wrecked everything
lost but NJ. Malflatre, to whom everything was
lost but honor. The plump person and defence.
less state of the young merchant became great
temptation to the dainty inhabitants of Wallis's
Island, who have disgusted the missionaries by
eating each other, and they carried him away to
the chiefs hut with loud shouts Of triumph at
the sweet morsel which the waves had thrown
upon their shore. The Christian Missionaries
have small establishment of the Maristes on the
Island. They work night and day with unre-
uniting zeal, at the coversion OF these savages,
and have got as far as the prevention of infan
tcide for gastronomic purposes, which is great
step but they have not as yet been able to in
spire that wholesome dislike of human flesh
which should certainly form the first step in ev
cry conversion to Christianity. The poor young
man in his dilemma, appealed piteously to the
reverend fathers; but they confessed that they
possessed no influence that they were barely
tolerated and dare not interfere. The only res
cue to be expected could be obtained by choos
ing wife among the native women, aud con-
senting to remain on the island forever. Alter
much persuasion from tie missionary he accepted
the latter alternative, and the holy father, accor-
ding to the custom OF the nation, chose q bride
for the yong man, and took especial care to choose
a good parti-no less one than a daughter OF
the chief. One thing, however, the father in
sisted on: the marriage should be solennized Sc
riouslv with Catholic rites aud at all events the
bridegroom should be bound by proper registers,
and not be permitted to treat the sacred ceremo-
with the same lightness as it is elsewhere.
Every thing 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 head to foot--her fair proportions undis-
figured by crinoline-was led to the altar OF the
Maristes by NJ. Mal6latre. But, of course, our
hero from Rouen had treated the whole thing as
a little harmless expedient to keep safe skin
and whole bones in this hungry land, and soon
began to look out for an opportunity OF quitting
the scene of his connubial felicity. Somemonths
elapsed, however, before this opportunity occur
red but at length, one afternoon, wandering
disconsolate on the beach, he described vessel
in the offing. 1t was All English vessel, whose
boats crew in answer to the signal OF distress
hoisted by the bridegroom, fastened to the res
cue, and bore him off to the ship, without dis
covery on the part of the natives, who would
have killed and eaten them all had they been
aware of the treachery intended. M. Malhlatre
landed safe and sound at Havre only Two months
ago. He found that great changes had taken
place in lis fathers household during his absence.
An inheritance had fallen in-fortune had smiled
most graciously upon the old man, and the SOD,
after all his wretchedness and misery, returned
to find himself the heir of wealth he had never
dreamed Of The first thing for o rich man in
France to do, is, as we oil know, to provide him
self with rich wife; the father began to look
about him,and having found suitable match,
the parties were straightway brought forth to be
married.
Bu, now arose the dificulty-young Malfilatre
could not deny his marriage at Wallis's- Island
by Catholic priest, according to Catholic 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. So, therefore,
notice was served by huissier upon the "De
muiselle Sueta," to show cause why he should
not be dspossessed of her title. OF course the
whole affair was considered mighty good joke
by the gossips, and laughed at accordingly for,
of course, after the delay EXPIRED NO partie ocite
appearing judgement would go by default, and
Malflatre might be tree to marry whom he pleas
ed Thus did the affair stand until last week,
when lo to the utter cofusion of the sanguine
bridegroom and his rich wife, the bishop OF
Australia and Oceana, in whose diocese lies the
paradise OF which we have given some of the
most striking trait de m@rus, and in defence OF
morality and religion, proclaims himself ready
to become partie cicite in this case, for the pro-
lection of the help pless Snleta. We may judge
of the CONSERVATION thrown among the ranks OF
jewelers., costumers, and tDodstes all engaged for
the rich marriage-the tears OF the rich bride
the rawlings of the rich bridegroom. The debates
which are to come on directly, will be full otin
terest, and of warning at the same time. The
case is considered one of the most curious on
record and has been complicated since the issue
of the first mise en- demsure, by the arrival OF
the news of the birth at Wallis's Island, of son
to the house OF Mil6latre who now shares the
interest hitherto absorbed by tattooed Suleta.-
Paris Corr. of Boston Post