Sacramento daily record-union. [volume] (Sacramento [Calif.]) 1875-1891, 1881-01-01
HUNCHBACKS AND DIVORCES
SOMETHING ABOUT THE EUMPBAcKED
PEOPLE OF FRANCE.
Proposed Divorce -Chivalry-Beatin
Woman-The Republic VS.. Tyranny
AN Odd Lecture Notes.
PARIS. Decemher 6 1850.

PARIS, December 6, 1850.
1t must be confessed that the Americans
are fine race of people-that is, physi-
cally, and otherwise if you wish-for 1 do
not remember having seen single hunch-
back or deformed creature before coming
to Europe. However, in Paris, should you
live near the Champs Elysee. in the neigh
borhood Of the rich, you are spared the
sight of all objects calculated to excite I'M
pleasant emotions; but in the populous
part of the French capital it seems one
scarcely sees anything else than bumped
backs, club feet and crooked legs. some
times in the street grow heart.sick as l
follow behind one and another of these
afflicted creatures. | do not refer to the
beggars, who, as a general thing, are inca.
pacitated for work, but OF the cripples with
legs all out of shape, dependent ON two
crutches, and whose pale, pinched faces
suggest long weary hours in workshops.
Not only among the poor are these shape
less creatures to be seen, but in families
we'll to-do in the world, who sometimes
have as many as two humpbacked children.
Then there are the dwarfs, to be found in
almost every quarter. with their big heads,
small bodies and very short legs. Some
times their hair is gray and their faces full
of wrinkles, which in this case is anything
but agreeable to see, and seems very incon-
gruous, since
IN OUR FAIRY STORIES
We have learned that although not beau
ties, dwarfs were never supposed to be SO
afflicted as to grow old. These dwarfs,
however, seem to feel little humiliation on
account of their size and are as adroit and
clever as in the days of enchanted castles,
for they are generally very clever artisans.
AS to the humpbacks, they carry as much
conceit with them as would outbalance
the weight of their humps doubtless that
is all right according to the theory of COM
pensation, but as strange as it may seem,
no one here considers humpbacks strik-
ing exception to physical perfection, which
may be because all have long and con-
stantly been accustomed to seeing them,
and there is a possibility of their some day
becoming the type of beauty while their
straight brothers may be the exception.
No man ,hesitates because he is bunch.
back of paying his addresses to q lady en-
dowed with the most perfect beauty and low
illness, and of entering the lists with Apol-
los whose backs are not only straight but
curved inwardly. In fact, you get used to
OH ha
humps when it is constantly turn about
face" and the face is expressive of anna
bility and intelligence. Such is the case
with Mr.. Naquet, a prominent deputy
who has become very well known and very
popular throughout the country on account
of his bill on
DIVORCE
To be presented to the Chamber, and of
the lectures he gave in all cities large and
small on that subject He is a charming
gentleman and highly esteemed by all who
know him, yet did you not see him you
would never know that he was a hump
back, for it never occurs to anyone to
desi gnate him in that manner. He has a
handsome head, sort of cameo head, with
deep cut features, and he has a very musi-
cal and pleasant voice. / attended one of
his lectures on divorce given at the sale
des conference on Boulevard des Capucines,
when his lecture was what the French call
causerie he merely talked to his hearers,
and resorted to no declamatory or orator.
eel effects, but he did not fail to convince
his auditors through clear and concise ar
guments. He easily proves that no coun-
try needs divorce so much as France, and
the exasperating situations in which the
absence of it continually places number
of persons is sufficient to brighten many
into not marrying. Several bills which he
has presented in his lifetime have ell been
defeated, and he explains that it was be-
cause they were too liberal, and frightened
the Government, so that the next one whose
fortunes he is to tempt is so modified, so
restricted that we may as well ask if it is
worth while having it established as law,
but the author answers us that in such a
shape only is there possibility of its COM
ing into existence as 4 law, and that short
step once taken it will be easier for bis sue
cessor to accomplish great deal more.
Imagine that when two persons desire to
get divorce both parties must agree to it,
and after making the application return at
the end of three years and renew it, then
return at the end of one year, both parties
being always present and DESTROYS equally
to be divorced. 1t is very easy to suppose
that few will have the patience to go
through so much ceremony or wait so long,
or that both will remain of the same mind
for such length of time Before civil
marriages became the law throughout
France, the Church which united men and
women appropriated the power of disunit-
ing them. and rich and influential families
were always known to obtain divorce
from pontifical hands when desired, but
now, when one can marry without the per-
mission of the Church and divorce does
not exist in the civil laws, the Church
makes her children regret her past unlim-
tied authority, and ardently combats all
possibility of divorce. As Mr.. Naquet ex-
planned, and as Alexander Dumas ills in
his book Of ''Divorce has already DEM
onstrated, the Church only is opposed to
divorce on the grounds of immortality,
whereas those countries are the most i'm
moral where divorce does not exist. Mr..
Naquet performed
A GOOD SERVICE
To his country in carrying his strong argu-
ments, explained in clear, plain language,
into the very heart of the land, and in
causing people to think who generally left
that important affair to the charge Of the
cure. Although Mr.. Naquet's wifewasaware
that he was of the Jewish persuasion be-
fore she married him, she allowed her
affections toovercome her religious scruples,
probably as an atonement for her heretical
act at any rate, the growing liberal prin-
ciples of her husband frightened her to such
an extent that she asked for separation.
Thsy had one child which thelaW gave to the