The national Republican. [volume] (Washington City [D.C.]) 1866-1870, 1869-08-14
LOCAL DEPARTMENT..


gave, few days since, resume Of the legal
method Of getting married in Washington.
with this doubtless many Of our readers
were acquainted. 1t Is road too often trav-
eled 10 need many hnger-posts. II Is the OPP
posite road that requires guide; for matri-
mony 10 like mouse-trap-h Is easy enough
10 get In, but q far more difficult matter to
get out.
And n even the few illtreated wives Of the
metropolis realized how the fact Of mater
nifty alters their entire physical being, and, rs
Il were, recreates II In the image OF their
husbands, stamping upon them an inefiace-
able physical impress that no time nor dis,
lance can alter, they would be little Inclined
TO ask for permanent dissolution Of their
legal bond. The first maternity so stamps
the wife with the characteristics Of the hus-
band, that the progeny Of q second marriage
always bear the marks Of the first, and In
many cases they are easily dlstinguishablc.
Says q learned writer In the last number of
the Westminster Rspis,c, after noticing ex-
amples Of the fact alluded to among the ami
NAL creation!
s'This fact and several similar ones which
have been well authenticated, Indicate what
really momentous and solemn thing, for the
women especially, marriage Is, for they show
that mother, by becoming such, subjects
her constitution to the possibility Of a pro
found and irrcvocable change that the
characteristics Of the husbands system are
Impressed on her through the Intervention
Of her child; that no judicial separation or
divorce can enable her to nnnul the constl.
tutional Identification which has ocen euectod
and that, as long as life lasts, she can never
escape the fate to which she has surrendered
herself"
rHs LEGAL CAUSES FoR D1ssoLviSo MAR
RfAGE.
But II there be cases In which the Ills VIC
have are so grevious that we must fly to
others that we know not Of, 1t lie Just as we'll
not 10 bungle about II, or go the wrong road.
II, then, q woman Tor her worse halo Is
satisfied that divorce is the only remedy for
her difficulties, she must know that there
are but four causes for which courts In the
District Of Columbia can now dissolve
marriage; LIST, former husband or wife living;
I'd, lunacy at tine OF marriage; Sd, physical
impotency, and ith, adultery during the
marriage. But II any of these causes &C.
CURED outside of the District of Columbia
the applicant must have resided two years
before filing the petition. II she Is satisfied
that one of these causes exists, and that she
has not condoned the latter offence by living
with her husband as his wife since the fact
came TO her knowledge, and she has proper
residence In the District, she may consult
lawyer. Then you wonder
WHAT THE LAWYER WILL SAY.
You AFRO finally prepared to take the step,
at the window, and sleep Is coy and defes all
the hundreds you count. You don't want
the boarders TO notice your agitation, so you
pretend TO eat heartily at breakfast, though
the cup Of coffee is only swallowed at the
uttermost risk OF strangulation. You must
have a conhdant, SO you pick out the worst
one possible, take her along, and with the
feeling that everybody on the Avenue knows
where you are going, your face getting
redder at every step, and ball rising
In your throat that you could swear will
choke you In the next five minutes, you find
yourself before the attorneys sign:
GRIP = JABBAR, LAW OFFICE.
Good morning, madam, (with the pro-
ioundest Of bows aud sweetest OF smiles.)
Come in; l am very glad to see you. CA
pause.) What can ! do for you, madam.
Oh | understand, Clubbing his hands,) do
nestle infelicity-very unfortunate; but per-
haps unavoidable" You state your case.
The attorney-apologizing for the necessity of
asking plain questons-asks some very plain
ones, Indeed so much so, that you wish you
had not come. He takes little notes Of what
you say, pulling at his whiskers and looking
wise all the while, and in the end tells you
1t will cost you from ESQ to as. Some at
torneys might do 1t for less, but they might
make mistakes, you know; and such a thing
as blunder Is unknown in that firms prac.
tice. What Grip don't know, Jabber makes
up for by pretending that h. does. The re-
suit Is, that you give hin $40 retainer, and
are told that he " Ill prepare the petition al
once, and II you will be kind enough to steI
down tomorrow, 1t will be ready.
TIE PETITION ron DIVORCE.
Tomorrow comes ard you come with It
Jabber reads long paper setting fort
when you were married, by whom, you
maiden name, that you have been a goo
wife, have had two or more children-name
Laura, Ann, &C.; and lastly, that your hus
band has bppn n had all
how and with whom he has been bad; tina
he has done those things which he ough
not TO have done, and len undone thos
e things he ought to have done, &C.; and
therefore, you want the court TO grant you
divorces and, If he has got money, that you
want share of that to comfort your lonell
ness when apart from him. You sign your
name TO this aud then go to tho clerks office
with Grip, and there Mr.. Meigs hands you
Bible, and you swear that what the lawyer
has put down In the petition is true to til,
best OF your knowledge and belief. Yol
for costs.
THE SUMMONS TO ANSWER.
Mr.. Aeigs now makes out paper calm!
on your husband to answer your charges
Sand gives II to Mr.. Philips, the deputy mar
shnl. II the husband Ia In the city Mr.
Philips gives him copy of this paper
writes on the back Of II "servcd," &C., an
gives II back 70 the clerk. IL the husband ha
been out OF the District six months one
your friends swears to the fact. Mr. PHILIP
writes on the paper "not found" and there
upon the clerk prepares an advertisement
which Will be inserted in the REPUBLICAN a
the cost OF few dollars. You then hav
nothing further to do for six or seven weeks
Mr.. Jabber tells you In the meantime to b.
looking up your evidence; that you mus
prove all that has been stated In vour. petl
tion by the oaths Of other people than youi
self. Thereupon you get yodr mother t
prove you marriage, and give your lawyC
your marriage certihcatei get one or tw
friends who know that In all the little d,
nestle troubles you were always right au
he was always wrongi and finally, get an
body who knows anything about 1t to prov
your husbands other ill-dolngs away fro
home.
the TESTIMONY.
Two months have rolled round, and
your husband don't appear and employ
lawyer, Mr.. Jabber tells you that he has 70
"A decree pro coHfcsSo and an order to TAX
testimony You then get all your witncssC
and they go down (you need not 70 wit
them unless you wish) to Commissioner
ofice-a comfortable office, with youn!
man setting at desk ready 10 write dow
all that Is said.
AT THE CoNNIssioNER's OFFICE.
III your husband has employed counsel
there will pretty certainly be u spirit nj III,
Commissioners Office. II Jabber asks {
question, the other side will halloo "obJect'
SO loud that you think the young man ut tn,
desk must be deaf. Then Jabber saws the
question Is proper; the other side says II Is
leading and irrelevant. Jabber talks. Tn,
other side talks. Both get mad and fling
their hapIs about. Meanwhile the witness
aht.~ers the questions. Then both parties
concluded Is OF no importance and not worth
being written down. II there Is no opposite
counsel, the evidence Is quickly given, the
young man writes It down, and you leave
the office. II you have not asked for any
part OF your husbands estate, or II he's gol
none, you'll have an easy divorce; otherwise
there will be big fight.
THE JUDGE HEARS THE CASE IN COURT.
Meanwhile, the evidence taken down Il
scaled up and sent to the clerk Of the cOur
TO be opened when the Judge holds court
That time comes In q few weeks. The ttlC
OF the suit Isl "Duck vs.. Duck" and is placed
on q list which is kept by the clerk for the
Judge, and when that case 10 called, Mr.