Delaware State journal and statesman., 1869-07-06
Breach of Promise.
BY CHARLES IinvER.

Now am fully persuaded that the horse
whip and the hair-trigger were far more
efiectual in suppressing these otfenses than
trial at bar. The redress which can only be
approached by humiliation and terror is
no redress at all and if we sounded the
depth oil public feeling, we should lind there
is a more coniemptuous sentiment for her
who has gained the damages than for him
who has paid them. AS / have said before,
The real hero IS the defendant; he has had
his Clark and he has paid for 1t. Two
thousand or three, perhaps, seem a good
deal to give for Irritation and a confidential
correspondence, but he has shown the public
what dangerous dog he is what terror
he might be in a neighborhood-not to say
that he has cast shadow over whole life,
and left ali undying memory of treachery
where he had promised fidelity and loyalty.
Why will not public opinion, so uniorgiv-
ing to the duelist, extend some of its sever
ity TO the cases that dueling knew how to
deal WITH or, il it will not permit the pistol,
why not measure out 10 the betrayer some
of that Indignation il now bestows ON him
who fightsp Declare these men Infamous
II IS no case for money reparation. We
have in part discarded that base amends in
some other cases; let us have done with 1t
| here. Degrade the man who breaks his
pledge when solemnly given TO make girl
his wife, from whatever station of honor OF
profit he possesses, and pronounce him dis
| qualified TO serve the Crown. If women
depend on men for their protection, here is
the case OF all others thsi calls for that pro-
lection. To accept these men in society, to
receive them in our clubs, TO make them as
| sociates and companions, Is a shame and a
disgrace on u.s. To shun the sharper and
the blackleg, and TO know one of these, is
| an outrage ON sense as well as on decency.
| In the laxity with which we treat his guilt
we contribute toits frequency. Make breach
OF promise ol marriage as dsgraceful as
cheating at play, and You will suppress ii
more efectually than II you quadrupled the
damages; or, ii you will not do this-if you
will maintain the pleasant theory that court
ship is game where the players stand on
equal terms, and that II is national gain to
| us II the ladies OF our families learn To tenn
per the flow OF their affection with some
knowledge Of the law of contraets-that girls
are better, and better fitted to become wives
and matrOns from having their minds plen-
tiiully armed with dislrusl, and prepared To
regard every man as a possible blackguard
| -7if, / say, you desire TO maintain all this,
the result will be a very acute class oil young
ladies, which will lead 10 fewer cases OF
breach OF promise, but in return give you a
larger crop of suits for divorce and separa-
ton. II is not merely because am an IRISH
man that like little Lynch law, bul l
really believe "lynching" enlists larger
share OF public sympathy In lis exercise than
all other forms of Justice; and it has two
other merits, IL Is both speedy and nexpen.
sive.
A friend of mine, for whose opinion and
judgment | have great Difference, tells me
that in my zeal 10 puAish these traitors o.
false faith, | am likely In put down thai
pleasant paslime called Irritation. But
demur To this dictum; | am sure | nevei
heard il alleged that the "Universal Peace
Association" decried fireworks and actual,
abiured rockets.
As tor filtration, maintain il 10 be DO
only an innocent but an improving pastime
just as certain games with wooden segment
OF countries insiil notions OF geography
Irritation is ''reading made easy" Of love
maklngS and as there are vast numbers @
: people who require that all this instruction
should be given in some easy and agreeabl
mode, this practice IS by no means 10 b
condemned
: 1t itwere not that / intend to preach %
" this text some day al more length, woul
10 more freely into the matter now, and sa
what esteem and value l feel Tor filtration
e | cannot imagine, beside that have,
q what | have said here, discouraged ii
PaVuSe huJ hnole thuu hny mdn Wnp Ut
!, nounces cheating at cards should be SUI
T. posed 10 be averse TO Whist playing. VIII
! uphold is, that the game should be playt
d loyalty. There is great deal of sparrir
+ with the gloves on, and very pretty sparrir
T too but 1t is well TO remember that wht
y people mean 10 be In earnest they show
l. openly and palpably. Now in "fllrtatiC
e proper" the gloves are always on, and eve
q if some smart taps are delivered, they seldo
r leave mark. And all have said here
a directed to those who, after throwing Il
e gloves aside, intlict heavy wounds, but a
p always ready to say, "I'm sure l new
a meant it; fancied II was only play.
1t for my part, never intended to be serious.