The interior journal. [volume] (Stanford, Ky.) 1872-1881, 1874-06-26
A Modern I3Iucbcarsi,

IN which doating husband contrlved 10
amuse himself with his wives for he
was three times married. is one Of the
most extraordinary pieces Of cruelty
that have ever come under our notice.
What pleasure the demon could have
taken in the ccstatic agonies Of lovely
woman, no human mind can fancy; but
that he did revel in them the narrative
renders too certain. On the banks Of
the beautiful Cumberland, between Nash.
vile and Smithland, in the year IS,
there resided a man, forty, rich, and
greatly respected. lie was possessed of
large lands and numerous slaves; and
though courted and fatered by his
neighbors he lived in .reat seclusion. In
a short time he buried two wives-they
dying within year Of each other and
both quite suddenly. So highly was he
respected, however, that not even the
slightest breath of suspicion was whis-
pered against him. In the following
summer, after the burial Of his last wife,
he visited the White Sulphur Springs in
Virginia, where he met with lady who
mixed much with the fashionable world,
and who was accompanied by lovely
daughter. Young and beautiful, and
highly educated, the latter was an object
of general attention and universal admi-
ration. She had received many advan-
tageous proposals for her hand, but, as
her heart remained unaif, ctcd, she selected
more from the crowd of her admirers
until the hero of our story stepped upon
the field Of action. Him she chose
as the one best suited to crafty her
amour propre. She made a confdante of
her mother, who could not avoid express
ing surprise at her selection, as there
was great disparity in their ages, and
she felt an invincible repugnance, for
which she could not account, to the
union. The daughter thought so good
an opportunity for securing rich estab-
lishment might not again present-her
mother yielded, and the marriage was
consummated. Some time after cousin
of the bride, who had been a sutton for
her hand, urged her to frankly confess to
him whether she had realized the hap
piness which she anticipated from the
union, Il have, indeed" said she, "my
husband anticipates my every wish and
would render me fully happy, but for
singular request which he has made, and
which, as cannot understand the object,
troubles me, and have to refuse 1t.
1T must be very serious" said her
cousin. "Oh, no; it is very silly." re-
piled the bride "you would never ini-
agine what. Only think of request to
bind myself with linen bandagcs from
top to toe--in word, to be living copy
of an Egyptian mummy"
His curiosity was too strongly excited
to be spent in imaginings, and he urged
his cousin, the bride, to yield, but with
the condition that he should. unknown
to the husband, be stationed, during the
operation, in an adjoining r.om. Thus
placed the wife informed the husband
that she had determined to yield to his
request. Wild with joy at this informa-
ton, the husband found no words to ex-
press his gratitude, and promptly COM
menced his operations. The cousin list
ened attentively. Profound silence reigned
for some minutes in the room. The
bride broke it by saying, in trembling
tone, "and the arms too?" Yes, my
DEAR" replied the husband gaily; IL
beg you-head and feet only free; just
like a mummy, you know" All was
quiet again the silence lasted so long as
to again frighten the cousin, and he was
upon the point of entering the room
when the bride commenced laughing
most immoderately.
He felt assured and listened The
laughing again ceased, and all again was
silent. This tomblike silence, broken
by loud and immoderate laughter, was
alarming He knew not how to unrayel
the mystery, and burst into the room.
At his appearance the bridegroom fed,
and the cousin found the unfortunate
bride stretched on the floor cold and in
animate. Her husband had bound her
that he might freely tickle her feet. An
other fit of laughing, and she would
have followed his other two wives. The
best medical attention recalled her TO ex-
istence, a petfsc. idiot, the nervous sys-
TEN being entirely destroyed. The feud
who committed the deed left the country
and has never been heard Of to this day.
This adventure, kept sacredly secret by
the family, has reached us in such way
that it cannot be doubted. We suppress
the names solely out of regard for
highly respected family connection.
widow Of Alexander Campbell.
Accompanied by her daughter, Mrs.
Barclay, wife OF well known mission-
airy, and daughter.in-law of Dr. Bar
clay, the great missionary and writer of
books on oriental countries, Mrs Selma
Campbell, relict of the renowned contro-