Herald and tribune. [volume] (Jonesborough, Tenn.) 1869-current, 1870-12-22

NO.. II.
Queer Marriages.

The "most married" woman of which
there is any record was undoubtedly the
Harlem woman spoken of by Evelyn In
his diary, whose propensity for remarrying
had finally to be checked by law. She
married her twenty-ffth husband, and be-
ing now widow, was prohibited to marry
In future.
Many years ago man in HEtsville, N;
York, became attached to a young and
beautiful damsel, who died before their
intended marriage could be consummated.
He then married the mother of the deceas-
ed, who was some twenty years his senior
but with whom he lived quite happy until
she was eighty and he sixty years of age.
As the wife had by this time become quite
decripit, they adopted maid of some
thirty summers, who had lived with them
year and half when the old lady died.
Before the time appointed for the funer-
al the man himself was taken sick, OH
which account the funeral services were
postponed four weeks. But in less than
two weeks he sent for Justice of the
Peace. and was married to the maid he
had adopted. The next day the couple
applied to the town for support, and
week later the man himself died, his fu-
neral being attended before that Of his
first wife, and the woman he had so re-
Gently married being the only mouner.--
Human folly is "vast and illimitable."
When Socrates was asked whether 1t
were better for man to get married or
live single, be replied: Let him do either
and he will repent it."
With due respect to Socrates, We must
object to the above. We once knew for
tune-hunting young man who married
maiden lady on the wintry side of fifty
She was worth about 100000, and died
in less than a m onth after the celebration
of the nuptial ceremonies. lie inherited
her property. and he never repented his
marriage.
In the Royal Library of Paris is a writ
ten contract drawn up in 1897, between
two persons of noble birth in Armagnn.
The document bound husband and wife to
faithful wedlOck for seven years. 1t stiP-
ulated that the parties should have the
right to renew the tie at that time if they
mutually agreed, but if not, the children
were to be equally divided. If the mum
Der should chance not to be even, they
were to draw lots for the old one.
In Borneo marriages, which generally
succeed heightened routine of enigmat-
ical courtship peculiar to these people, are
celebrated with great pomp and consider
able originality. The bride and BRIDE
groom are conducted from the opposite
ends of the village to the spot where the
ceremony is performed. They are seated
on two bars of iron, symbolical Of the Wig
orous and lasting blessings in store tor
them. A cigar and betel leaf carefully
prepared with areca nut are put Into the
| hands of each. One of the officiating
priests advances, waves two fowls over the
heads of the betrothed, and in a long sd-
dress 70 the Supreme Being, and short
one to the couple. calls down eternal bless
ines on them. implores that peace aud hap
piness attend the union, aud gives some
| temporal advice, sometimes of character
more medical than sanity. The spiritual
part being thus concluded, the material
succeeds. The heads of the affirmed arc
knocked together four tines then tho
bridegroom puts his betel leaf and cigar
! into the mouth of the bride; and thus
they are acknowledged welded couple,
with the sanction of their religion. at
later period on the nuptial evening fowls
are killed, the blood caught in two cups.
and from its color the priest foretells the
happiness or misery of the ncwly married.
The ceremony is closed by feast. much
dancing and noisy music. e a. gh