The Union and journal. [volume] (Biddeford, Me.) 1858-1882, 1870-11-25
Queer Marriages,

queer marrl8g6S'
The "most married woman" Of
which there is any record was undoubted-
" the Harlem woman spoken OF by
Evelyn In his diary, whose propensity Tor
re- marrying had finally to be checked by
law. She married to her twenty-hhh
husband, and being nova widow. was
prohibited to marry In the future. -.
Many years ago, man In Hartsvilie;
N. Y, became attached TO n young and
beautiful damsel, who died before their
intended marriage could be consumniat-
ed. He then married the mother OF the
deceased, who was some twenty years his
senior, but with whom he lived quite hap
PLY until she was eighty and he sixty
wears of age. As the wife had by this
time become quito decrepIt, they adopted
maid OF some thirty summers. who had
lived with them a year and a half when
the old lady died. Before the timo aP..
pointed for the funeral. the man himself
was taken sick, on which account the fu-
neral services were postponed four weeks.
But In less than two weeks, he sent for n
Justice Of the peace and was married To
the maid he had adopted. The next day
the couple applied TO the town for sup.
port, and week later the man himself
died, his funeral being attended before
that of his first wife, and the woman he
had so recently married being thH only
mourner. Human folly Is "vast and IL
limitable." .T . r.
When Socrates was asked whether 1t
were better for u man to get married or
live single. he replied "Let him do ell
ther and he will repent It." ''
With due respect for Socrates, we must
object to tho above. We once knew .
for.une-hunting young man who married
maiden lady on tho wintry side OF ffy.
She was worth about one hundred thOns-
and dollars, and died In less than month
after the celebration Of the nuptial cere-
monies. He inherited her property and
he never rcpented his marriage.
Among the ancielt Germans 1t was
death for any woman To marry bcforc she
was twenty years old. BY the laws OF
Lycurgus the most special attention was
PAID TO the physical education. and no
delicate or sickly women were allowed To
marry.
In the Royal Library of Paris Is con-
tract, draw up In 1907, between two per-
sons of noble birth in Armagn1. The
document bound the husband and wife to
faithful wedlOck for seven years. Il stip-
ulated that the parties should have tho
right to renew the tic mt the end of that
time If they mutually agreed; but If not,
the children were to be equally divided (;
If the number should chance not to be
even, they were to draw lots for the odd
one.
In Boneo, marriage, which generally
succeeds lcgthened routine of cnigmati-
cal ccurtship peculiar TO those people. Is
celebrated with great pomp and consider
able originality. The bride and BRIDE
groom are conducted from the opposite
ends of the village to tho spot where tho
ceremony Is performed. They are seated
on two bars of iron. symbOlical Of the Wig,
orous and lasting blessings In store for
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 head. of the betrothed. and In q short
address To the Supreme Being and u short
one to the couple, calls down eternal
blessings on them. implores that peace
and happiness may attend the union, and
gives some temporal advice, sometimes Of
q character more medical than sanity.
The spiritual part being thus concluded.
the material succeeds. The heads Of the
affirmed are knocked together four times (;
then the bridegroom puts his betel leaf
cigar into the mouth of the bride /; and
thus they are acknowledged welded
couple, with tho sanction of their religion.
At n later period on the nuptial evening,
fowls are killed. the blood caught in two
cups, and from its color tho priest FORE
tells the happiness or misery Of the newly
married. The ceremony is closed by u
foast. much dancing and noisy music.
The following romantic story Is told OF
Lord March (grandson of Charles I'D,
who afterwards became the second Duke
of Richmond, and who. while yet quito
Young, was engaged. without being con.
suited rs to the choice, to n lady still
Younger. The bride was Lady -,
the daughter of the Earl Of CadagOn,
Marlborough's favorite general. Their
union (accorling to Nagler's acconnt
was bargain to cancel gaming debt
between the parents. and the young Lord
March was brought from college. the lady
from the nursery, for the ceremony. The
bride was amazed and silent, but tho
bridegroom exclaimed "Surely you arc
not going to marry me to that dowdy p
Married he WAS, however, and his tutor
instantly carried him of to the Continent.
A few years after this ovent Lord March
returned home FROM his travels most
accom- plished gentleman, but having such
a disagrceable recollection Of his wife that
he avoided home, and repaired, on the
first night of his arrival, To the theatre.
There he saw lady Of so fine nm appear
ance that he asked who she was, and on
being answered that she was"the reigning
toast, the beautiful Lady Marsh," he has
tened to claim her, and they lived so af-
fectionately together, that one year only
after his decease, in 100. she died OF