Helena weekly herald. [volume] (Helena, Mont.) 1867-1900, 1883-04-05
Reuniting Married Couples.
New York Tribune.

New York Tribune.
A long procession OF men and WOmel
passes in front of the desk of William Blake
the Superintendent of Outdoor Poor, every
day. AS tall, ad-shouldered man reached
the space in front of the deskeone morning {
day or two ago. he laid down four silver dol
lars and walked away without saying any
thing The Superintendent took them ur
and dropped them into box. An houl
| later demure little woman came in, timld
| ly, and when she presented herself the foul
silver dollars were placed in her oustretched
hand. With nod of acknowledgment, but
without saying word, she went out.
''This is curious phase of life," said Mr.,
Blake" "The man who left the money and
the woman to whom gave it were husband
and wife, but they do not live together.
am mediator between them"
"How is this brought about 2" asked the
reporter.
"a wife whose husband is cruel to her OF
has deserted her comes here and states hel
case to me. 1 then send for the husband
He is told when he comes that he must leave
so much money here every week for the sup,
port of his family Uusually he is fright
ened into promising that he will pay the ali
mony'
"How is this amount of the alimony
fixed?"
II find out how much his weekly earnings
are and tell him he must set aside a certain
portion of them"
What is done if the man refuses 2"
'He is told that it is much better for him
to pay the money through me than to have
the case 90 before Judge To have the
case tried would cost money. The most ig-
nOrant man soon sees that he would lose in
the end by refusing to make the agreement.
Persuasion has much more to do with this
class of men, some of whom appear to be
merely animal in their nature, than you
would think"
"Have you any legal authority? 2"
mo. But they know that can take steps
to have the law enforced"
"Do husband and wife often come together
again."
81 take every opportunity to induce them
to become reconciled to each !; sometimes |
succeed A few weeks ago / induced a man
and wife to live together again who separat-
ed in 1872 They were both moral and in
telligent. When the husband came, told
him there were differences in every family,
and that it would be more economical If he
and his wife should agree to travel the same
road again, and that both would be happier.
So one day he says: Tell Mary I'll talk it
over with her. The wife was willing-they
always are-and / arranged a meeting to
take place at my house. They met and both
cried like children. 1t was so touching that
l fed to another room. Well, it ended by
their going away hand in hand, smiling and
happy A week ago 1 received an invita-
tion to visit them, which | did. | found
them living as snugly and contentedly as if
the cricket had always chirped merrily on
their hearth.
Here is another romance that didn't end
so well: A woman came to me and COM
planned that her husband would not provide
for her, but spent his money for drink. She
was as ne-looking woman as you would
see in days journey. The husband admit
ted that he spent his money, but he said he
didn't want all his wifes people quartered
in his house as they were' I am
keeping her whole family said he, l
didn't marry the whole family. But after
several talks he said he would have a meet
ing with his wife. 1t was arranged that she
should come here for her allowance at the
same hour he called to leave it. They went
home together. But at the end of two years
the husband came here total wreck, and
had to be sent to the alnshOuse. His appe-
tite for drink had been too strong for him, he
said, and he laid the blame on his wife's
relatives. don't know what became of his
handsome wife. Another case was that of
a husband and wife who were separated by
the disolute habits of the husband. The
wife said that her husband was all the time
trying to steal her child from her. The child
was beautiful. told her to let him have
the child, and it might induce him to go
home with it. Sure enough, when he be-
came sober he went home with the child in
his arms and promised that he would give
up his cups He kept his promise.
mot long long ago there was another case
in which the child was instrumental in
bringing its father and mother together
again. Through some mistake, the wife
came for her allowance just as her husband
was handing it to me at the desk.
She was carrying baby in her
arms. When the husband saw her he brush
ed 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, Mr.. Blake, if pay the money to
my wife herself after this ?"
"You had better 60 home and live with
her." said l."
"Well, believe WILL" he replied. So he
did ....