Sacramento daily record-union., 1890-04-13
WANTED AN ACT or VIOLENCE.
From the French of Alphone Daudet, for the
sunday UNION; by Mrs. n z. White.
PErrrPpY SPECIAL PIEAnER

From the French of Alphone Daudet for the
SUNDAY UNION; by Mrs. N. E. White.
OFFICE OF
NJ. PETTTBRY, SPECIAL PLEADER.
To Madame Nina de B, care of her
Aunt Moulins-MADAME: In accordance
with the desire of your respected aunt, l
have studied the case in question. | have
taken the facts, one after another, and SUBJ
mitted all your grievances to the most
scrupulous investigation. Well, in soul
and conscience, lido not believe that thepear
is ripe enough; or, to speak more clearly,
that you have serious grounds for institut-
ing a demand for separation. Let us not
forget, in fact, that the French law is
very exact being, who has neither delicacy
nor any appreciation of sentiment She
recognizes but the act-the real, brutal act
and, unfortunately, it is that very act
which is wanting. Certainly, have been
deeply touched by the perusal of the ac-
count of that first year of married life, so
painful to you. You have dearly paid
for the glory of wedding a famous
artist, one of those men in whom
fame and adulation develop monstrous
selfshness, and who ought to live single
rather than destroy the frail and timid
existence which strives to link itself with
theirs. All, Madame, since the beginning
of my career how many unhappy wives
have seen in the sad position in which
you find yourself placed! These artists,
who live by the public, and for it alone,
bring to the family hearth but the weari-
ness of their glory, or the sadness of their
defeat-an unsettled existence, without
rudder or compass subversive ideas con-
trary to all social agreement; contempt
for the family and its Joys; the cerebral
excitement sought for in the abuse of to-
bacco and strong liquors-these, and much
more of which we need not speak, consti-
tute the terrible artistic atmosphere from
which your dear aunt desires to remove
you. But, / repeat that, while under
standing her anxieties-her remorse, even
for having consented to such marriage,
do not see that things have reached the
point necessary for what you demand.
| have, however, already begun a judi
cial memorandum in which your principal
grievances are classified and set forth quite
skillfully:
Firstl ly-Monsieur' indignities toward the
family of Madame Refusal to receive our
Aunt de Moulins, who reared and who
adores u.s. Nicknames of "Auntie Hunch-
back" "Humpbacked Fairy" and others,
applied to that venerable lady, whose back
is little bent. Railleries, epigrams, pen
Gil and pen sketches ofthe aforementioned
lady and her infirmity
Secondly Unsociabiiitp Refusal to see
the friends of Madame; to return wedding
calls; to send cards; to acknowledge in
vitations, etc.
Thirdly = EltrdUdgdnce: Money lent
without receipts to all sorts Of bohemians;
table free to all, and house converted into
an inn; subscriptions continually for stat
ues, tombs, and the works of unfortunate
brethren; the founding of an artistic and
literary review!!
Fourthly-RudeneSs to Madame: Having
said aloud in speaking of ourselves: 'What
a goosew
Fifthly-W treatment and riolence: Ex-
cessive rudeness of Monsieur; fury at the
slightest provocation; breaking of dishes
and furniture; noise and ill-sounding ex
pressions before the servants.
All that, as you see, dear madame, forms
base of accusation quite respectable, but
insufficient. 1t is lacking in acts of vio-
lence. All, if we only had one act of
violence-just one roie de tai before wit
nesses, our case would be superb! But
now that you have put fifty leagues be-
tween yourself and husband, we cannot
hope for an event of this kind. say
"hope," because, under the circumstances,
blow from that man would be one of the
most fortunate things that could happen.
am, madame, while awaiting your Or
ders, your devoted and respectful servant,
PETITBRY.
P. S.-A blow before witnesses, Of
coulse,