New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1889-07-16
SAbI1KS
~N0MpoysONoWs
MSN&octaNAS
FOSTER CHISHOLM.
A CHAPTER IN MARRIAGE AND DIVORCE.

Ottawa, July Is SpcciaD-The alleged fleg0
marriage Of the Hon. George +. Foster Minister on
Finance OF the Dominion 10 Mrs. Chisholm, recently
divorced at Chicago Is making unusual stir In
Canadian society. Mrs. Addle Chisholm was the w1As
Of business man in Hamilton, Ont Both Mr.. and
Mrs. Chisholm ardent Christian temperance
workers In the course of their labors they became
acquainted with Mr. Foster, who had been a school
teacher in the lower provinces and by his brilliant
advocacy OF temperance reform and unusual gifts OF
mind was making himself great name. The CHS
holm marriage did not provo one of unmixed bliss,
and business troubles coming, Mr.. Chisholm made
his way TO the United states. hoping there TO re-
trieve his fortunes, leaving Mrs. Chisholm behind.
III the course Of time the latter found herself tho
president Of tho Provincial Young womsns Christian
Temperance Union and Editor OF The Woman's
Journal in both capacities receiving the confidence
and having the personal friendship OF many Of tho
leading women Of Canada. Mr. Foster had In the
meantime become Minister OF Marine and Fisheries,
and the removal of Sir Charles Upper England
as Canada's High Commissioner was made Finance
Minister. The acquaintance renewed but sadly
interrupted by the announcement that tho lady had
accepted a place offered her in Chicago. To Chi
cago she went, with the warm wishes Of large circle
Of admiring and loving friends II soon became known
here that the lady had taken early advantage Of her
residence in Chicago TO institute proceedings for d.
vorce. she aware Of her husbands address, but
refused give 1t the court, whereupon the suit
dismissed. The reason given for the refusal
that to give It would have injured him in his business
relations About this time, Mr. Foster quietly slipped
off, The local papers that usually very precise In
noting Minister'S movements were apparently quito
in the dark TO the Finance Minister'S journey on
this occasion But the news few like wildfre on his
return that he had been to Chicago 10 marry Mrs.
Chisholm. He was promptly seen by the press and
declared that If he married he was not aware OF
IL. - If,varc
proceedings had failed and he arranging renewal
of the cause Finally, he suddenly and very quietly
left the capital after finishing his days work at the
Department Of Finance and sped of by the night
express to Chicago. The marriage took place tho
next day.
The most prominent divorce lawyer in Canada the
morning after the news became known, pronounced
the marriage Illegal number OF other leading
lawyers had long talk the points and concurred
In the opinion expressed. These facts became known
and It had decided effect society Tho marriage
anyway IS of such character that the wife OF tho
Canadian Finance Minister cannot be received by
Lady Stanley, the wife of the GovernorGenera repre-
sentative OF Her Majesty. whose rules the subject
Of divorces well known. Neither can she bo
recognized, according TO the strict canons of Ottawa
society," by the wife of the Premier, any OF those
with whom she has been terms Of the closest per-
sonal intimacy.
As W INC HSai aePON's VI 'iiS '"''' '"0 f'AA 80
IS that Canadian marriage cannot be set aside. In
Canada tho English divorce law prevails, but in de-
tails it IS more strict Lord Brougham laid this
down: If 1t has not validity and by the highest al-
thortes I'm Westminster been holden that foreign
divorce cannot divorce an English marriage, then
nothing whatever has been established" For Ameri-
can opinion. story, Conflict Of Laws. page %, IS
quoted The law of the place where the marriage is
celebrated furnishes just rule for the Interpretation
of its obligations and It's rights. IL does ID the case
of other contracts which held obligatory according
to the lex loci conractus. It is not just that one
party shall be able his option 10 dissolve contract
by a law different from that under which It was
formed and by which the other party understood 10
was governed" Tho Canadian marriage OF Mrs.
Chisholm. now Mrs. Foster could not be dissolved by
the Illinois any other State court except % after
the party prosecuting had been legally and formally
domicled In the States ~ only for offences committed
under that domcile; and 81 for such only as would
afford legal grounds for divorce in Canada IL these
indsputabes have not been complied with the divorce
land consequently the mariage is not worth the paper
on which 1t Is written