Middletown transcript., 1875-06-19
A Fellow Feeling.
n. knew how i w.s aim.elf.


& 1-- s
He Knew how Il wss Himself'
Lately young German girl named
Amelia Dennerschlag. having a trust
ful confidence in the laws Of her coun-
try, as expounded by Banyon. went
before that justice and began snit for
$500 against August Behrens for
breach of promise. She would have
sued for more, but $500 is the limit Of
the jurisdiction Of justice. and that is
Why she stopped at that figure. not but
what she esteemed her love to be worth
q much higher sum. A warrant was
issued and the case came up The COM
plainapt stated that she had known the
defendant in Germany, and had become
engaged to him there. He had emf
grated to this country in order to earn
. home, and she had followed him in
the course Of a year. Soon after her
arrival, finding him in good circum-
stances. she pressed him to fulfill his
promise, bat he refused to do so.
Hence the suit. The justice asked the
young man if be had any thing to say
in his behalf, and he stated he had.
Mr.. Behrens-As this young lady
says. your honor. I was engaged to her
in Germany. where she was living with
her father. I came to Chicago and
boarded at the house Of her sister and
mother. who were living on North
Division street, and l lived with them
for nine months. During that nine
months I had many opportunities to
watch the, ways Of this young lady's
mother, and I was not pleased with
them at all. fc as gHsit =
At this point the brow Of the justice
unbent His manner, which had been
particularly gloomy, began to change.
and he looked with something Of friend
illness upon Mr.. Behrsns. 80 ~
Excuse me, said the judge. II
should like to ask you q few questions.
But this woman says that she intended
to live with you after you were mar
ried? Did she inform you that she
was ready to take all the care of the
household of your hands? Did she
ask you to let her save up your money 2
Did she say that she could take care of
it great deal better than you could 2
"Yes," said Mr.. Behrens.
''Go on" said the judge. ass
Mr.. Behrens-When this young lady
came over here from Germany she did
ask me to marry her. and / was ready
to. and l told her I was. But she said
that her mother must live with us and
keep house for us. I told her had
watched the ways Of her mother. and
hat l was not pleased with them, that
loved her deeply, and was ready to
marry her, but did not wish to marry
her mother also, who was woman of
ordly and unpleasant habits, and in
listed upon feeding me too much upon
'abbage, vegetable | have always had
J dislike for. I am ready. your honor,
o marry her now. providing that she
villleave her mother out in the cold
'ut I will not marry the old woman. I
rave made up my mind to that. no
natter what comes aes
The Justice Now, let me ask you,
ny young friend. which would you
ather do-pay down 5000, or marry
he young lady and have her mother
Nth you. 'fa sf
J Mr.. Bshrens (drmly) II will pay the |
1900. ass.i
The Justice-Allow me to shake |
'ands with you. I envy your firm
less. There was q period in the life |
( this court, Mr.. Behrens, when it was |
laced in circumstances somewhat simi. |
ar to your own. If it had the moral |
ourage which you possess. it would |
ave saved about twenty-five years of
Misery and unhappiness. The alter
ative was presented to this court
'hether it would marry a young lady
nd her mother. or whether it would
ay 1926 in gold. This court WAS
oor at the time; it was earning an un-
satisfactory living at the restaurant
usiness. It yielded. It took the young
'oman, and the mother-in-law and kept
he $125. For asquarter of q century
1is court regretted its hasty action.
is glad to meet man who cherishes
appiness more than he does money.
he order of the court is that the de-
'ndant stand discharged, and that the
who has been; trying to
ring man into slavery to mother
'-law. be fined $40 and costs.
Buckle, the philosopher. says: IA
oman reaches her prime between
'irty-6ve and forty for. though her
sauty has then lost the charm of