The Morning herald., 1878-07-09
OLD unisH mAsauAdEa

i
There were few things In which ancient
Erin diasrsd moro fsom the ireland Of the
ureveps thsn the msster Of marriage and
divorce. Another branch Of the Celtic
race, the Gaulz ware polygamons when
Caesar ~rois ~ Cbmmcnsariss, and we may
infer that ! No. Custom prevailed origin
any among ~ Irish. IN one part, in
deed, 81 ths old t6ls o. 1'As Spoil Of Tho
Coos of Fyyssk sditsd ~ Mr. Grove, from
the Book af Lsissssr, \ y clearly implied
that Froech WAS alrsady married, and had
three childzsn, when ~ came 70 sue for
the hand OF Fipdabair, the laughter of
Mssdb and Ailsll, the King'and Queen of
tho oonachta; = but 81 seems doubtful
whether thin a anything moro than one of
the incopsistencies il these stories, result
ing, perhaps, from the blending of differ.
ent versions Of ancient Theological tradi-
tious. whether or not this narrative really
contains evidence OF the existence Of poly
garny IN what may be called the Irish heroic
age-that extra historic period to which
the Tain-Bo- Chaailng, and the other an
cient legends of Medb and Alell, of Gu
Chulaiud and his w-companions are
referred--ths Irish Of still early but less
shadowy times are found to be monoga-
nous, but with such iaxity Of usage in the
matter OF divorce as to suggest, according
to the opinion Of Sir Henry Maine, sort
of translation period from the one-mar-
riage system to the other. While the hus.
band himself could break the marriage
bond on various pretexts, Irish law also
duly defines the grounds on which the wife
could separate from him. The latter pro-
visions illustrate the frequently fanciful
character Of q system was not built up, like
modern English law, on actual cases, but
in large part elaborated BY special class,
who assumed, the cases for which they
sought to provide. The strict protection
extended to the rights Of the woman,
whether % D wife or as the associate Of
her husband In the hsadship Of the house,
hold and as member Of the tribe, is q
noticeable feature: II the husband SIAN
dered her; II he made her contemplate
by ridicule; ithe beat her 90 as to leave
mark on her face; IL he was unfaithful to
her il he had given her love potio- =
fore marriage; or if--the vagues' .rs,.ss,,
Ahs denied her her fullrigb. .. .s,s;asa
Scopiusal, domestic; and ..;,s -. s'' as As. :,
s.hss. cases she oou, s'esi-'an eaeh o.
amy we - . - 70 keep her eoi6che-tha'
ss 'ne AlD or other value wherewith tn,
nOS0 .~aa "seught" her at narrisge-ant
claim, lAoreovef, compensation proper
tioaass 10 her rank. The native annal
and the notices of English writer's, bea
constant Witaess to the evils resulting from
khe leass matrimonial system which tn
laws sanctioned, and which even Chris
tianity had not been able 70 largely affect
Town. .dwellers seldome make any contrac
of marriage with them Of the country, an
these passe their promise not for present
but for the future time; or else give as
bent without any deliberation. Whence
8, that for every light falling out the
pant asunder, the husband TO another VIC
nan, the wife to another husband; neitht
it ever knowne for certainty wheth,
heir contracts have been true or false b
pre- they give up their last graspe. Hent
se contentious about the possession
lnds, hence grow robberies, depreciation
panslaughters, and deadly hatred. II
omen that are cast of goe to witches fl
punsell. 4" Nothing is there SO cor
on as divorces nnder pretense Of CO..
ience." At the Synod held by the Iri'
elates at Cashel, after the arrival
pnry H., we find them framing canol
pinst polygamy and incestuous ma
ges. Pope Adrian Nv. says in one
BRIEFS ITO pass by other enormitie
p openly bring in their stepmothei
blush not to beget children by ther
er ursre fratris 20 vivsnte abutitur, anus
bus sororibus miscet ct plsrique Iloru'
ra relioa, yflias introducunt. - Erase