The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1865-08-16
Miscellany.
TEE ERHNoH Law OF MARRIAGE.

r
A contract Of marriage extraordinary was
brought under the consideration OF the Paris
Court of First Instance, presided over by NJ.
Benoit Champy, three days ago. Account and
Conotess whose names are not given by the
legal Journals which report the case, refused
their consent to the marriage OF their daugh-
ter Helen with the man Of her heart. She
thereuDon retired to a convent, from which
she addressed to her parents those dctes re-
spec aeac, which by the French code enable
persons of full age TO marry without the con-
cent of father and mother, which Is priyna
facis necessary. Thereupon the parents insti-
tubed suit to stop the marriage on the ground
that their daughter was insane, and the prin-
cioal evidence produced in support of the al
lie CATION was that she had signed contract OF
marriage in the following form: -
"oUR MARRIAGE CONTRACT
cart. 1.-Loving each other, and khoWinS
each other well enough to be certain lna' Wy
cannot be happy without the otner, We JON
ourselves together To live forever hereafter as
good married people. She VIII pe ! ana
shall be she, he viii be and shall be he.
"Art. 2.-Charles-I promise Helen to de-
vote all my mind all my strength, and my
whole being to the purpose OF maintaining her,
and the children that she may give me, honest
ly and decently.
cart. 3.--Heien--I promise Charles to sec
ond him in keeping our household from want
and difficulty; with that view shall make
economical habits duty. r4sa hals s ic4i
"Art 4-Charles-I admit that am some
times hasty and violent; hope to be excused
for any sudden burst Of anger. a4i
"Heien-lt viii, perhaps, be hard to endure,
but the condition is aeceded to. -
art. 5.-I must also be pardOned something
My te n9er is a little uneven, and am greatly
dislosed to be jealous.
"Caadas-LI viii not mind caprices if they
az net to frequent As to the other fault,
am disposed to rejoice at it rather than other
wise, for Jealous person is not likely to give
cal efor Jealousy. as. II,
cart. Eve are persuaded that between
lovers disputes and coolnesses almost always
arise from petty causes. On this account we
mutually promise never to allow our own de-
sires in things of small importance, but always
to give way to each other.
"Helen-ln important matters it viii be
right that Charles should decide for he has
more knowledge and Judgment than l.
"Chare9-Helen is too modest. Ishall nev-
e. decide anything without consulting her, and
either converting her to my views or adopting
hers If think best
"Art. 7.--as consequence of the last pre-
ceding article, each Of us shall always be dress
ed according to the taste Of the other.
art. S-The words I viii, q expect 4
require and other similar expressions, are alb
solutely erased from our dictionary
"Art 9.-Charles viii honor his wife that
she may be honored by others. He will al |
ways exhibit towards her esteem and conf I
denca, and viii be especially careful not to al /
low any advantage over her to any other wo- /
man upon any other point whatsoever.
Art. 10.-We shall ever bear in mind that /
want OF cleanliness and attention to personal /
appearance must necessarily produce repug-
nance and disgust. Neatness is to the BODY
what amiability is to the soul. 1t is that
which pleases. F&NtftNE
"Art. 1l.-Helen-The majority of women
nurse their own children. I hope Charles
will approve of my performing my duties as
mother.
advice. a ~ i - LID lbs |
"Art. -Charles--HeIen will take great
care not to spoil our children's intellect in their
carry years. She must not talk, or suffer 9TH
ecs TO talk to them of that nonsense which
gives false ideas and dangerous impressions
point.
Art. l3.-Although our mutual tenderness
Is a guarantee that we shall never fail in the
engage .nents herein before set forth each of
US Wiu keep copy of these presents, and in
ca OF the breach of any article shall be enti-l
I1ei 70 lay IL Defore the other party to remind
nm OF her OF the covenants entered into.
art l4.--Inasmuch as neither viii have
anything that does not belong to the other,
there Is no occasion to take any account OF
the contribution Of each to the common stock.
Affection and courage, our only fortune, can
not be counted, and each Of us will endeavor
to bring as much as possible.
Done in duplicate at Paris, in the year of
grace 1854. ~.
With all my heart, CHARLES D.
with all my heart and for all my lite,
HELEN, future wife Of Chas, D.n--
The Court held that this eccentric contract
Afforded no, evidence of insanity, for which
inputafion there moreover no pretence.
Judgment was accordingly given against the
parents, and the mayor is ordered to proceed
at once to perform the marriage ceremony