The intelligencer. [volume] (Lexington, Mo.) 1887-1891, 1890-08-02
LOST
Good News For wives Who Arc spher-
ing From tho rnngs Of Jealousy.

Good News For wives Who Arc SHner-
ing From the Pangs of Jealousy.
For many years husbands IN TINS
country have been bringing suits against
men for alternating he affections OF
their wives. In many cases they have
secured sums of money for the lost love
of one woman hat would enable them
to secure the affections of twenty wom-
en-. The ~pecuniary value Of the afiec-
lions of a married woman as determined
in a court of justice is variable, and APP
pears 20 depend much on the youth and
beauty of the female and the wealth OF
the party against whom an action Is
brought.
In few of the States have actions been
brought by wives against women 10 re-
cover damages for alternating the alice
lions of their husbands. But such a case
was brought in New York, decided in
favor of the wife, and taken to the court
of appeals. The justices united in de-
claring that by the common law a wife
could not bring such an action or sue In
her own name. They were divided on
the question of the statutory right, but
a majority decided that it existed.
Justice Vann, in delivering the opinion
of the court, said:
As the wrongs Of the wife arc tho same In
principle and are caused by acts OF the same
nature as those OF the husband, the remedy
should be the same. Why should be have q
right of action for the loss OF her society unless
she has a right of action for the loss OF MS 30
cietyf Does She not need the protection OF the
law In this respect NJ least as much ~ he docs
VIII the law give it's and TO him und withhold II
from her?
This is good news for poor wives whose
husbands affections have been alien
ated by rich widows and spinsters and
giddy young girls who have property In
their own right. 1t is also good news
for poor lawyers. as it has opened up {
new and promising line Of business fol
them. Rich women who firt with hus
bands now may have to pay dearly fol
the sport. A case is now on trial In
New York City in which the plaintiff
claims that her husbands affections
stolen from her by a brazon widow, wer,
worth to her $50, 900 in cash.
The most difficult thing the courts
will have to determine is tho none,
value of q husbands affections. Tn,
worth of most things is ascertained b,
the market quotations on a given day
But c~oniugal affection is a GommOdit,
new to the trade, and its market valut
has not peer fixed. 1t may be Difficult
to decide on it's exact worth. Court
may declare that it. depends on its quail
ity, its quantity, it's lasting character O
it's scarcity. Courts are not run by sen
timent. A Judgment is always renders
for a certain sum of money.
Now that welded bliss is to have
money value given to it., there seems t
be good reasons for organizing cOmpaI
les to insure It to the possessor. A
engaged girl could tako out a policy o
the affections of her proposed husband
, and by that means secure 4 liberal SUI
In the event of their being lost or stolsI
Such a policy might be more desirabl
, than one on the life of a husband, 8
love Is more uncertain than life.
, wife who has insured her husbands q
{ fections in a strong company would haS
Y something to solace her in hours Of a
fiction.-Chicago Herald.