New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1882-11-07
REUNITING M4RRIED COUPLES.

A long procession of men and women
masses in front of desk Of William Blake the super
iptendent of Outdoor Poor, every day. As tall
shoudered reached the space In front OF The
desk one morning day or two ago. he LAID down lour
silver dollars and walked away without saying any thing
The superntendent took up and dropped them into
a box An hour later a demure little woman came IN
tmidy and when she presented herself the four silver
dollars were placed in her outstretched hand. wilma
nod Of acknowledgment, but without speaking she went
out.
This Is a curious phase Of life" said Mr. Blake.
The man who lefethe money and the woman 10 whom
rave it are husband and wife but they do not live to
gcther lam a mediator between them"
How is this brought about y asked the reporter
a wife whose husband is cruel TO her or has deserted
her comes here and states her 10 me- then send
for the husband He is told when he comes that he must
leave so much money here every week for the support Of
his family Usually he is frightened into promising that
he will pay the alimouy."
~How is this amount OF the alimouy fxedl'
Al find out how much his weekly earnings are and tell
him he must set aside certain proportion OF them
"What is done If 'ho refusesl
"He told that is much better for him to pay the
money through than 10 have the case 20 before
iudge To have the tried would cost money. The
most ignorant that he would lose in the
end by refusing make the agreement. Persuasion has
much more TO do with this class OF some OF whom
aopear 10 be merely animal in their nature, than you
would think"
Have you any legal authority"
"No But they know that | take steps TO have the
law enforced"
"Do husband and wife often come together againl"
q take every opportunity to induce them TO become
reconciled each other; sometimes succeed few
weeks ago | induced man and wife TO 1--we together
again who separated in ls72 They were both moral
Would he more economical il he and his wife should
vol the
be happier 80 one day he SAYS, Tel Mary III lax IL
over with her The wife was wilng-they always are
and arranged meeting To take place at my house.
They met and both cried like children II was touch
| ing | fed 10 another room. Well, 1t ended by their
| gong away hand n-hand. smiling and happy. a week
ago received an invitation 10 visit them. which did.
found them living AS snuSy and contenedly II the
cricket had always chirped mei1tly on their hearth
! Here is another romance that didn't end WELL
woman came TO me and complained that her sEand
would not provide for her. hut spent his money for drink
She was 5 nne-lO0king "A you would see in
days journey The husband admitted that he spent
his money, but he said he didn't want ali OF his wtes
people quartered In his house as they We're ! IA
keeping her Whole family, said he didn't marry the
whole family But after several talks he said he would
could for her allowance at the same hour he called
10 leave it, They went home together But at the end
of two years the husband came here total wreck and
had TO be sent the almshOuse His appetite for drink
had been strong for him, he said and he laid the
came OF his handsome wife Another case was that
OF husband and wife who separated by the dis
husband all the time trying to steal her child IRON
her child beautiful told her TO let him have
Sure enough when he became sober he went home with
the child his and promised that he would give up
! his cups He kept his promise.
Not long ago there was another case In which the
child instrumental In bringing its father and mother
together again. Through some nistake the wife came
for her allowance just the husband handing 1t to
me at the desk She was carrying baby IN her arms
When the husband her. he bnIshedh tear from his
eyes with his sleeve and taking the child from her arms
kissed IT, Coming up TO me he said, Would you mind.
Blake, II pay the money 10 my wife herself after
! this y
You had better 20 home and live with her., sa Id l.
Well / believe WILL he replied. so be did. "