The Pulaski citizen. [volume] (Pulaski, Tenn.) 1866-current, 1875-03-11
For the Citizen.
MAN AND WIFE.
Chancellor FIeming's LectuI

BILE the Hall was well filled with an ap-
preeiative audience. Those who braved
the threato ming weather we're well re-
paid for their courage, and thought no
more while there of either sunshine or
storm. The speaker was promptly on
hand, and was introduced by Hon. T.
NJ. Jones in one neat and pithy sent
ence: LADIES AND GENTLEMEN: have
the honor of introducing to you my
friend, Hon. w. S Fleming. He will
address on ON the subject OF marriage,
a subject that is deeply interesting to all
of us"
And that was the theme elaborated by
the speaker. Man and wife, the Baron
aud feme OF the old law writers, and
the husband and wife of certain circles
passed under review. The speaker pre-
ferred the former designation, and he
h andled this marvelously interesting
subject analytically, historically and
legally, from Adam down to the pres
ent time, and all around on the bridal
tour from Prospect in Giles county to
Jericho in the far East, as thus, but we
must not let our pen run off on any one
OF the humorous or luminous pictures
drawn by the speaker, however tenn pit
ing it may be, for we could not do it
justice any more than we can give a
=
portant matter of the lecture.
"My text is man and wife," said the
speaker, and he considered: who may
get married. the conditions, disabilities
etc, etc. The result was that nearly
everybody may marry, and speaking of
disabilities he said it was worthy of re-
mark, that the law did not hamper a
widow with any disabilities, or permit
her deceased husband, by either will or
codicil, to do so, wisely concluding
probably that she is ALWAYS able to take
care of her own "afiairs matrimonial"
The Miss in her teens may also marry
and go pretty much her own way in
making the selection, as witness the
case Of Miss Lizzie in 10 Hum. Rep.
And those select persons, not in their
teens, that young sprouts and boys
standing foot in the spelling class, call
sold maids,'' may marry if they
choose. The speaker evidently did not
like the little curl of the lip in these
young fledglings as they pronounce
the words, sold maid," and en- PEASANT
he paid her a warm and hearty tribute.
He said ''she may never marry, but she
is cast in the finest mould, and in kind
ness of heart, in love and charity she
stands peerless; and in purity of heart
and affection she rises nearer and nearer
to the celestial world" Changing his
position little, he said, 81 am sorry
cannot lay like tribute at the feet of
old bachelors. l sadly fear his course
iRclines rather downward, and to en-
case himseifin a coat of mail" whose
warp and wool is selfiishness. I see
him now on the ragged edge of dis
PAIR, standing on spring board, ready
to leap into nothing. The saving clause
to all this was, however, that the age OF
bachelUrhood was put down at 60 years,
and we were satisfied the speaker I'M
derstOOd the situation.
Who may marry being fully consid-
cred legally, and also its humorous in
cidentS and accidents, the next point
was the very fact of marrying, with
the manner, form and ceremony there
of. The speaker drew picture here
and like that of Ginora in "the palace
near the Reggie gate" we would not
forget it. In the foreground is a mar
riage in high life. Charles Augustus
de Pomport, and Angelina Serephins
Peabody, arrayed in silks and dia-
monds, with a long train of carriage.
that glitter in the morning sun, sweep
on to the great Cathedral. As they en-
| ter, the deep tones of the grand organ
| fret the lofty aisles, and the-I is thu
priest of a continent in his robes o
4 office, and all around are streWn the
"pOmp and circumstance of glorious
marriage" And presently they are il
! fact married, and Whirl away TO EurOp
on Il bridal tour" In the corner Their
/ is John Tibbs just mounted on old gra!
| Meg, probably named after her of Tan
| O'Shanter memory, and he is taking
up behind him his own Nancy Suggs
and they are going over the hill t.
lis l.,
ter the humble cottage. The good oil
Justice examines the license carefully
takes down his book from the shell
blows the dust off, and he marTies JOIN
and Nancy according to statute law.
Now they are just as well married a
Charles Augustus and Seraphina, ant
who can say they are not as happy
The speaker certainly thought so wit
but one draw back, that seemed to both
eF him, and that is the mania of job
and Nancy to go on a bridal tour to tn
next town, and thus assist in keepin
their part of the road warm betwe &c
Prospect and Jericeo. He thought
would be much nicer for John an
Nancy to go at once to their little col
tage on the hill side, and find there a
the pretty things that that tour none
: would have purchased.
, The last point considered was diVOrc
the causes for, and the modes {
obtaining in different ages and cOur
tries. He dewitt at some length upO
! this, and condemned with great fore
''slack law" upon the subject. He sal
there are states in which, as we pa
through them, and the cars move L
to little country town, the conductc
sings out. Fifteen minutes for
vorces," and here in Tennessee we hay
but bare thirteen causes of divOrc
and it usually takes two or thr'
months to obtain one. There is a con
mittee now at work upon this 'glariT
E injustice" tn the people of Tennessee
They propose to petition the presel
Legislature to add few more cause
such as dipping snuff, wanting mo
than two new bOnnets in one seaso
and then on poor woman's behalf, Il
husbands after being married six yea
5, failing to keep carriage or some fol-
= wheel vehicle propelled by horse pOwe
or getting gentlemanly tight and ma
y ing a goose of himself in trying to hit
L it from his wife, which he is sure to d
= But at last report this committee WI
/ at a deadlock on the wax question,
r part of it insisting that "chewing wal
should be a "goOd cause" and pa
?, that it should not, because unnecessaT
10 as married ladleS never cheW wax d
y only those who tCdHt TO marry.
- And then the speaker turned to Il
= grav0r side of the subject, and insist
i. with great force and eloquenee, th
a the morals and patriotism OF any peoI
le are always in exact proportion to
esteem in which the marriage relati
is held. Where it is held sacred, the
all the great virtues eliminate and a
a found in the highest perfection.
m the other hand, where it is lightly a
40 slightly treated in the divorce lar
a. there all the great virtues necesss
for the well being of society go do
b, at once to the lowest level, and
VI toue of society is ever downward a
~ down ward on to chaos and night.
- we must forbear.
@ Chancellor Fleming is not only
IN rist of high attachments, but one VIII
re fine literary taste has not been duh
n; or warm Imagination chilled by
or, dry teehnicalities of the law.
ns who can deliver 8 learned legal Opini
"a and then give lecture, in manner q
nd matter set down with excellent W
cd We return our thanks to him and
Lyceum.
ed J. A. ]
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