Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1889-12-18
MENTAL ANGUISH.

was filed with the strongest OF strong
Trichinopoli cigars.
But declined The ESSENTIAL oil seemed
to be oozing out Of them; they were black
and shiny.
"They must Be stronger than the
strongest pigtaii." remarked.
"They are strong. and that's the
truth" said the man with the immense
beard who had offered me the cigar; "but
they are the only weed can taste.
wish hadn't smoked 10 much, he said
with groan. ITS been my great mis-
fortune"
You must have smoked very expen-
sive cigars then," said with laugh.
at wasn't the value Of the cigar that
once ruined me-" said the bearded man;
at was my cursed habit Of smoking"
II don't quite see how It could have
ruined you" said l, incredulously
Don't you" said the bearded man.
"Then I'll tell you how it came about
It'll be rather relief to me 10 tell The
story. I'm DOCTOR" he began. II
didn't see that there was much good to
be done by young doctor in England
competition among US medicos is very
keen here, and young man in the pro-
fession who hasn't money has little or no
chance, 80 went Of to America to seek
my fortune. You can get . good cigar
In America; you have TO pay for it. but
you can get a good cigar. did fairly
well In New York. took An Office, -
they call it, in the business part Of the
town. saw patients from . till I, and
I advertised the fact In the newspaper,
q is the custom in America.
II smoked all day long; used even
TO smoke at meals, and smoked while
saw my patients. They were all men,
20 it didn't matter. Ny income ex-
ceeded my expenditure; had crowds
Of friends, and was perfectly happy
till l met Aurea Van Spool. . young
lady from Indiana. She was the love
lest girl ever saw In my life; . bru-
nette with great masses Of blue black
hair with a wave in It. great glorious
black eyes that set your heart going
pit-a pat when they fell upon you. .
little aristocratic aquiline nose, lips that
were rudy and kissable, teeth Nike
pearls, charming delicate color that
went and came with every changing
thought, a rounded chin with . dear
little dirnple in it: her figure was per-
lection, and she got her dresses from
Paris fell madly in love with Aurea
Van Spool The Van Spoofs came orig
inally from Holland; they wers very
rich. they were proud OF their old Dutch
ancestors, and they were very much r.
spected in New York
"But Aurea Van Spool came from In
diana: her grandfather was one Of the
first settlers in that state, and her father,
when alive, had represented the state in
congress. Aurea Van Spool, then, to
put 1t shortly. was wealthy orphan Of
prepossessing appearance; she WAS willful
- well as wealthy, and, quite contrary
10 the wishes Of her relatives, Aurea
and became engaged to be married.
The only stipulation she made was that
I should become an American citizen,
and the only thing insisted upon was
that all her money should be settled
upon herself. for it was Aurea l was in
love with and not her fortune. We
went to Wayne. her native place in Indi-
ana, and there we were married, and
don't suppose there was happier couple
In the United States Of America. Still.
Aurea had what 10 known a. temper
She hated tobacco. and I was . slave
70 it.
"Now. in order to please Aurea, when
was paying my addresses to her. had
given it up altogether; but after the
honeymoon was over allowed myself .
cigar a day in the open air; and that
single cigar day made my pretty wife
very angry indeed. She declared that .
man who smoked degraded himself BE-
low the level Of the brutes. differed
with her; and, to show my independ-
ence. l started the practice Of an after
dinner cigar.
Then Aurea demonstrated very seri-
ously.
Jack, said she. your dreadful
habit is causing No intense mental an
guish.
Mental anguish I replied, with
laugh; how can my smoking cause you
mental anguish
you'll find OUT she said mysteri-
ously. II you insist upon smoking in tie
house
II continued my smoking, and for .
week my wife didn't speak to me. Then
Invent for three days fishing excursion
to . neighborins lake. When returned
home my wife had disappeared, and
was served with citation and . copy Of
. petition for a divorce in the Indiana
high court, on the ground Of my having
caused my wife intense mental anguish.
At first looked upon the matter - .
rather stupid kind OF practical joke;
but it wasn't . joke At all. went to .
lawyer. and he was candid enough.
"'Shen gain her cause, sir. She's .
pretty woman and Van Spool, and
she's bound to get her divorce. You
can't swear you didn't smoke. and II she
don't like the smell Of tobacco I gueo
you have caused her mental anguish
which in this state is legal cruelty
"In three months the trial came of.
"Aurea entered the court surrounded
by her relatives. We bowed distantly
TO each other. and Aurea looked - II abe
were going to cry. believe IL bad
gone up 70 her and promised never 70
smoke again ali might have been well. I
worshiped the very ground she walled
upon. but my foolish pride stood in my
way. and really did not believe IL vs.
possible that in any civilized country
woman could put away her husband b.
cause he smoked an after dinner ciear;
but I was soon undeceived. Ny lovely
young wife went into the box; shs swors
to the cruelty--that d 10 ny. the mental
anguish caused BY the cigar; my advo-
cate made m imprisoned speech, in
which he eaid that the eyes Of the whole
civilized world were that day watching
the doings Of the Indians high court,
and he drew team from The jury BY his
description of the agunies Of The smoker
who wasn't allowed to smoke But
al to no purpose. Ths judge was . non
smoker, and Aurea's team and Aursa's
beauty ssttled The question. The jury
gave thsir vsrdict-eAAs had caused NJ
wife intense mental anguiaA-and -
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