The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1875-10-26

The seventh Commandment.
The will OF ISAAC NJ. SINGER, the dead
millionaire sewing machine man, now
being contested 10y one of his three wives,
reveals remarkable matrimonial expe-
rience. Mr.. SINGER first married n wo-
man, CATHERINE by name, by whom he
had two children Divorced from her for
adultery, he soon married MARY Ann, and
10y her had ten children, eight Of whom
stll survive. He claimed that he had
a divorce from her also, and certainly he
presented another woman rs his wife TO
the public, ISABELLA, by whom he had six
children. BY two other women. to whom
there was no pretenco Of marriage, he had
eight children, making twcntv-six in all.
The patnarchal SINGER left an estate
which is said TO be Of the value OF $4,000
COO and distributed IL among his children,
Legitimate and illegtimate, with n quite
impartial hand. The second wife contests
the will on the ground that Isabella, the
last osteushle wife. whom he called the
mother of his only legitimate children, was
never legally married TO the testator and
is not entitled to dover. The suit is in the
hands Of the lawyers.
Thispost mortem revelation OF the varied
| domestic career of Mr.. SINGER and his UNI
conventional method OF raising families,
Is not unusual among the revelations OF the
| Surrogates Office. We have had several
within year. The case Of BRowN the
| city contractor is fresh In the remen-
| brance OF the public, where two wives met
| face to face in court to claim the property
OF their disputed lord. These secrets of
nuptal life which quarrels over the last
| Will and testament OF the dead man SO
frequently bring TO the light, prove that
the restraints of law and public opinion do
not have power 10 control and regulate
the unruly passions OF many men who
pass for decent ctiZcus and worthy Nom
bers of society and perhaps of the church.
1t Is well known that one man prom-
nent in New York, aud of undoubted
credit, is the father Of two separate
families. Probably he VIII look after them
both when he dies. Like Mr.. SINGER, he
Is fully able to give ms progeny, legitimate
and Legitimate, much more than modest
competence. Not many years ago, man
supposed TO be n bachelor, rich, cou.tcd
by society, and honored by his friends,
died, and only then did his oxpectaut re-
lntions discover that he was married and
the father of family. Another man, liy-
ing in fine style and leading in society," was
known by his friends and aCquuutauccs,
and even by his WIFE to be the father of
two families. Forccasting trouble at his
death, he in latter life gave to his
spurious wife aud illcgitimatc children Il
satisfactory portion of his estate. When
he died, the widow in fear and trembling
asked what she should do il the mistress
appeared at the funeral. She was told to
do nothing; that she could do nothing;
and clad in the heaviest weeds, the para
mour appeared at the house OF mourning
aud mingled her tears with such tears us
dccency required should be shed by the
acknowledged family. Yet this man lived
without reproach among his fellows.
These cases are of course exceptions, but
they are not 50 rare as one might suppose
them to be who did not know the loose
morals concerning this subject which per-
wade portions of what is called fashion
able society. Young men observing them
are fortified in their reckless readiness TO
evade the laws which the church lays
down, which statutes proclaim, aud So
cety for its own safety enforces. A young
man, II bachelor of the very flower of the
wealth and fashion OF New York, not long
ago was shot in the arm by a wife whom
he had debauched. ana tried to escape
from after she had been cast of by her
dishonored husband. A young married
man was caught in adultery with the wife
OF his friend, and now both these young
gentlemen may be encountered in dress
coats and white oravats at the houses of
the most fastidious ladies of fashionable
society. They are not in the least dsqual-
fled from association with chaste matrons
and innocent girls, but enter their presence
with the laurels Of conquerors ana the halos
of heroism about their heads. The adulter-
Gus wife does not hide her head, but APP
pears in public as before. Meantime in all
churches the commandments are read
and the devOut make response to each
Lord have mercy upon us and incline our
hearts to keep this Law" Such is the way
, OF the world.
The fact is that nothing short OF a public
opinion, rigidly nXednits requirement, can
q ever keep men from transgressng the mon
: ogamic rule. If il Is founded in religious
faith, so much the better. But the founda-
: ! ton must be real, and the punishment pre-