The Manitowoc pilot. [volume] (Manitowoc, Wis.) 1859-1932, 1890-06-26
HIS ANNAMESE WIFE.
A French Officers TribulatiOns With
Pretty Native of the Orient.


Pretty Native of the Orient.
DR.. Hocquard, who recently return
ed to France after 4 residence OF oye1
two wears in Toukin, tells about the
Annamese bride of Il French officer
stationed at Namdinh. The doctor
visited the officer at his home in the big
town, and there met very pretty Ma
tive girl about Is years old. who wore
a robe of violet silk and more rings on
her fingers than western bellies regard
as in good taste.
You see, | have married an An
namese," said the officer, laughing.
That is, have bought her from her
parents for 45 francs. They signed
contract before the notables of theii
village, in which they relinquished all
their rights over their daughter. lean
do with her as l please, but | must
treat her well. If choose l may re-
turn her to her parents, and they must
receive her again. 1t is very easy
sort of divorce. She cannot leave me
without my permission, and if she runs
away from me her father is responsi.
bic and must return to me the money
paid for her. That is the Annamese
law"
That seems to me a very practical
and economical arrangement, remark.
ed the doctor.
Not so much SO as you think, re-
piled the officer. Il give III San-fol
that is her name-15 piastres month
for her wardrobe, to say nothing of the
presents | make her from time TO time,
and The disagreeable surprises to whicl
she treats me now and then. The 9th
er day, for instance, III San blossomed
out in beautiful robe of brocaded silk
that | had given her Then, with one
of her friends, she left the house for
promenade and while strolling around
the town she saw a party playing cards
in gambling-house.
Like all her people, III San is pas
sionately fond of gambling. Nothing
could tempt her to pass that house. and
so in she went, seated herself at the
table, and was soon absorbed in the
game. There she sat until she had lost
all her money, her jewels, and, finally,
the clothing she wore, and when she
returned to me the next morning she
was arrayed in lot of rags that had
been given her out of charity.
That is not all. The contract i
made with her parents provides that i
must feed her well. That clause seems
to include her entire kindred. She had
been with me only two days when her
family (and you know families are not
small in this country swooped down
upon us and Installed themselves in a
house near me. Every time l enter
my kitchen find my cook preparing
rice for all those rayenous persons. i
offer them thousand insults. but they
never vince, and nothing will induce
them to budge from my premises until
they have had a good, square meal.
You see, marrying an Annamese girl
has its decided disadvantages"
How An Engfishman Takes a Joke.
You know that old joke of the
Chicago lawyer whose name was
Strange? It's a real roasted chestnut.
Strange had not a good reputation.
When he died he said to his wife: Il
want $50 headStone. and on it have
carved. Here lies an honest man."
But how will they know it's your
tombstone9" asked the wife. ''Oh!
they will say, That's Strange Well, |
told that to my audience and they didn't
see it at all. Only one exceedingly
bright Englishman Uttered. Next time
l made it II London lawyer, and that
helped me little.
The worst of it was that some time
afterward l met an English friend who
said: Il have now really good story
for you. Listen. There was once a
solicitor and his name was-what was
his name? Oh | have it. His name
was Strange. Well, he died, and just
before he died he called to his wife, and
said he: Mrs, Mrs. what was her
name? Mrs. Strange, that's it. Mrs.
Strange says he, i want real stun
ming funeral and tombstone, and on
it have put Here lies Il virtuous man.
| forgot to tell you that Strange was
rather shady. See9 Well, his wife
said: i will strictly follow your in
junction, but how tho dickens she
asked, will they know your name?'
why, easily enough said he. They
will say, What an extraordinary per-
formance to be sure!n Take? Devilish
good Capital. isn't it? Knew you
would like little Stranded Hunlor-
iSt.