Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1876-01-31
A Warning to Brides

1t is impossible not to feel a lively synlna-
thy for tie bereaved bride whose husband Is
snatched from her at the foot of the altar or
in front OF the private desk Of the officiating
Justice Of the Peace, as the case may be.
Especially is such l. bride to be ptiei when
the loses through her own c5releSSneSS a nus
band whom she has caught after protracted
and skIliiUl effort. Such is tie misfortune
which has just befallen Massachusetts
bride, and her story is one which conveys a
wholesome lesson 10 expert but Over-c0nd-
dent widows.
The bride in question, while yet p bloom
ing and energetic widow met with an elder
~ gentleman Of eighty years OF age, and an
indefinite quantity OF bonds and stock GER
tificates. In spite OF the opposition OF his
family, She cOnVir cGd him that it was his
Cuty To marry the trusting and ingenious
woman who had lagiShed upon him her
priceless and experienced affections. IL is
ZOE a mater OF very great difficulty for a
skliliul widow, or other astute woman. 10
hook an elderly gentleman. The real diff
Guilty is in landing him. When once he is
fas tened by his promise, he must he I!ave3
with great care, or ne Will escape before he
Is finally GATED by aa efficient marriage GER
emory. Until then he is always prone to
seek refuge IL Inaccessible places, from
which neither cOaXiug nor petting can dis
lodge him, or to suddenly break his promise
and dart away into some secret ana secure
hiding place. Ia the present instance the
Massachusetts widow played her prize 50
firmly and tenderly that he was finally sue
ceSsfully landed. Unfortunately, she then
relaxed her vigilance, never dreaming that
he would Sd far revive as 10 leap back into
his original celibacy, and accomplish his es-
cape. Let other widows note her careless
ness and its consequences, and save the n
selves from disappointment and humilia-
ton.
No sooner was the marriage ceremony
ended than the happy bride directed her hrS-
band to run back To his house and bring his
bonds and mortgages, so that they might be-
gin 10 enjoy happy honeymoon. The hus-
band went, but rs soon as he had entered his
house he was seized by his relatives aud safe
ly locked up. He had made will In their
favor, and they had no intention OF allowing
1t TO be unmade by a new and unwelcome
wife. His prolonged absence disturbed the
bride, who sent carriage TO hasten his re
turn; but the carriage came back empty, ami
the drivers mind was too much confused By
strong language, broken crOckery, and pals
of water to explain the reason why his pre-
senfation of a written order To deliver to
bearer one OD elderly bridegroom" had given
rise to so much vigorous discussion. The
bride at once cOmprehended the true state OF
affairs. She armed herself with a pistol
and a stout lrishman and stormed her nus
bands prison. The battle was short but
fierce. From his remote dungeon the i'm
prisoned husband could be heard cheering on
the assailants, but there were too many bolts
on the front door, too many determined
maiden sisters, AID too much broken crock
cry in the house TO render its capture pos
sible by the assaulting column. The bride
was beaten back, after performing prOdtgles
OF valOr with a long pole against the parlor
windows, and she has since applied 10 the
law for assistance. y suit for the forcible
graph is annexed to the complaint, and
marked Schedule A" is now pending and
il remains to be seen whether a MaSsachu-
sets court recognizes the right of property
in hus bands, or whether it looks upon them
as feI;P nature, aid hence incapable OF being
made the subject Of an action for troyer aud
Inversion.
Tie lesson conveyed by this n Hecting mar
ratlVe hardly needs TO be emphasized. II is a
warning To widows never TO let q freshly
caught husband pass out of their hands; but
10 carry him of the moment the MARI age
ceremony Is completed, and 10 keep him
locked up until his spirit is broken aud the
rage of his relatives has subsidized. Ha the
Massachusetts bride pursued this course she
would not now be suffering from the humili-
alton of having her husband locked up I'm
somebody elSe'S two pair back, while she
herself can not stand below his prison win
doWs and ask for one word of affection from
his beloved lips, and one five dollar bin from
MS adored pocket, without mourning scat1-
ing insults ard scalding water at tie hands
OF her husbands cruel jailers. Eternal yigi-
lance is the price Of an elderly and rich ms
bahd, ana widows who fancy that for them
eternity ends and vigilance becomes unne-
cessarv as soon as they have married their
latest prize, should revise that opinion ana
redOuble their precautions until the honey
moon has passed at least through its first
quarter.-lN Y. Times.
SHalf fare or no fare for car passeorers
Who hang by a strap, Should be the la ~