Western Reserve chronicle. [volume] (Warren, Ohio) 1855-1921, 1858-06-23
IFrom the Correspondence of the Boston Post.l
A CURIOUS MARRIAGE AND DI
VORCE SUIT.
MARRYING A WIFE, TO ESCAPE BEING EAT
EN- FOR DINNER.

The law gossip OF the week concerns
more especially those who go down TO
sea in ships, and may serve as warn
ing lesson to those who prefer present Sc
curity TO future peace and happiness
A year or two ago NJ. Malflatre, honor,
hope and heir of renowned calico prin-
ter, stocking maker, and night cap ven
der of Rouen, set sail from Havre to pro-
ceed TO Sidney, in order to superintend
the business which his father carried on
in that place, and which the death Of his
partner had left without surveillance
One of those accidents which will hap
pen 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. Malflatre
set sail and on the inhospitable shore
of Wallis's Island was it wrecked; every
thing lost but NJ. Malfilatre, to whom ev-
erylhing was lost but honor. The plump
person and defenceless 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 Catholic missionaries have a small
establishment OF the Maristes on the ISL
and. They work night and day with
unremitiing zeal, at the conversion of
these savages, and have got as far as the
prevention of infanticide for gastronomic
purposes, which is great step; but they
have rot as yet been able to inspire the
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, appeal
ed piteously to the reverend fathers; but
they confessed that they possessed no in
luence; that they were barely tolerated
and dared not interfere.
The only rescue TO be expected could
be obtained by choosing wife amongst
the native women, and consenting 10 ie-
main on the island forever. After much
persuasion from the missionary he ac-
cepted the latter alternative, and the ho-
ly father, according to the custom Of his
nation, chose bride for the young man,
and took especial care to choose a good
p0rti-no less one than the daughter Of
the chief. One thing, however, the faith
er insisted or; the marriage should be
solemnized seriously with Catholi, rites;
and at all events the bridegroom should
be bound by proper registers, and not be
permitted 10 treat the sacred ceremony
with the same lightness as it elsewhere.
Everything was consented TO by the
young man, who had grown attached to
life by means of good supper, and, ac-
cordingly, on the next day the beautiful
Suleta, all freshly tattooed from head to
foot-her fair proportions undisfgured
by crinoline, was led TO the altar Of the
Maristes by NJ. Mal6ltIa. But of course,
our hero from Rouen had treated the
whole thing as little harmless expedi-
ent to keep a 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. Some
months elapsed, however, before this op-
porIunity occurred; but at length, one
wandering disconsolate on the
beach, he deserted vessel in the offing.
1t was an English vessel, whose boats
crew in answer to the signal of distress
hoisted by the bridegroom, hasiened TO
the rescue, aud bore him off 10 the ship
without discovery on the part of the ma
lives, who would have killed and eaten
them all had they been aware Of the
treachery intended. NJ Malfltra Landed
safe and sound at Havre only two months
ago. He found that great changes had
aken place in his fathers household
during his absence. An inheritance had
fallen in-fortune had smiled most gra-
,iously upon the old man, and the son,
after all his wretchedness and misery, 1
returned to find aimselfthe heir of wealth
he had never dreamed of. The first