The Norfolk post. [volume] (Norfolk, Va.) 1865-1866, 1865-08-11
A Marriage Contract Extraordinary
A FRENCH AGREEMENT.

A contract of marriage extraordinary
was brought before the Paris Court of
First Instance in the last week in July.
A count and countess, whose names are
not given by the legal journals which
report the case, refused their consent to
the marriage of their daughter Helen
with the man of her heart. She there
upon retired to convent, from which
she addressed to her parents those dctes
respectueuc, which by the French code
enabled persons of full age to marry
withoutthe consent of father and mother
which is primo Jdcie necessary. There
upon the parents instituted suit to
stop the marriage on the ground that
their daughter was insane, and the prln-
cipal evidence produced in support OF
the allegation was that she mad signed
| contract of marriage in the following
! form:
OUR MARRIAGE CONTRACT.
Article 1.--Loving each other, and
knowing each other well enough to be
certain that one cannot be happy with
out the other, we join ourselves together
to live forever hereafter as good married
people. She will be and | shall be
She, he will be and shall be he.
Art 2.-Charles-I promise Helen to
devote all my mind, all my strength,
and my whole being to the purpose OF
maintaining her, and the children that
she may give me, honestly and decently.
| Art. 3.-Helen-I promise Charles to
second him in keeping our household
from want and difficulty; with that
view ! shall make economical habits a
duty.
Art. 4.-Charles--I admit that am
sometimes hasty and violent; l. hope to
be excused for any sudden burst OF
anger.
.Helea-It will perhaps be hard to en-
| Art. 5-Helen-I must also be par
doned something My temper is a little
uneven, and am greatly disposed to be
jealous. :,
| Chdrles-I will not mind caprices il
they are not too frequent. As to the
other fault am disposed to rejoice at ii
rather than otherwise, for a jealous per-
son is not likely to give cause for Jea'
lousy.
Art. 6.-Chdrles and Helel.--We are
persuaded that between lovers disputes
and coolnesses almost always arise from
netty causes. On this account we mu-
| tualiv promise never to follow our own
desires in things of small importance
but always to give way to each other.
Helen---In important matters 1T viii
be right that Charles should decide, fol
he has more knowledge and judgment
than /.
Chdrles-Helen is too modest. / shal
never decide anything without consult
ing her, and either converting her t
my views or adopting hers if thinl
them best. aa..5a ,
Art, AS consequence of the las
preceding article, each of us shall al
WAYS be dressed according to the tasted
the other.
i Art. s.-The words 81 will,n " eX
pectn ~ require and other simiia
expressions, are absolutely erased from
our dictionary. ,.e.
Art. 9.-Charles will honor his wife
that she may be honored by others. Ill
will always exhibit towards her esteem
and confidence, and will be especially
careful never in her presence to- allow
any advantage over her to any othe
woman upon any point whatsoever
Art. 1O.-We shall ever bear in miDC
that want of cleanliness and attention
to personal appearance must necessarily
produce repugnance and disgust. Neat
ness is to the body what amiability is TO
. the soul. 1t is that which pleases.
Art. 11.-Helen-The majority OF wo
men nurse their own children. hope
q Charles will approve of my performing
my duties as another -,
Chmles-I approve; subject to tn
DOCTORS advice.
Art. 12.-Charles-Helen will TAX
great care not to spoil our children's in
3 fellects in their early years. She mus
! not talk, or suffer others to talk to ther
any of that nonsense which gives falls
ideas and dangerous impressionsthrougl
y out life.
Helen-I will pay great attention t
!. this point.
d Art. 13.-Although our mutual tel
derness is a guaranty that we shall new
fail in the engagements hereinbefore S
, forth, each of us will keep copy
= these presents, and in the case Of Il
ID breach of any article shall be entitled
Law it before the other party, to remil
nd him or her of the covenants entered
Art. l4.-Inasmuch as neither W
RS have anything that does not belong
N. the other, there is no occasion to ia
at any account of the contribution of ca
oonop,np sfool- A ffootiop q,