The Mason County journal. [volume] (Shelton, W.T.) 1886-1927, 1890-05-09
LOSf AFFECTIONS.
Good News For Wives Who Are Suf1e
Ing From the Pangs Of Jealousy.

Good News For Wives Who Are Suffer-
Ing From the Pangs Of Jealousy.
For many years husbands in this
country have been bringing suits against
mon for alternating the affections OF
their wives. In many cases they have
secured sums of money for the lost love
of one woman that would enable them
to secure the affections of twenty wom-
en-. The pecuniary value of the affec-
tons of q married woman as determined
in court of justice is variable, and ap-
pears to 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 to re-
cover damages for alternating the affec-
tons of their husbands. But such 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 wife
could not bring such an action or sue in
her own name. They were divided on
the question of the statutory right, but
majority decided that it existed.
Justice Vann, in delivering the opinion
of the court, said:
AS the wrongs OF the wife arc the 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 he have a
right Of action for the loss of her society unless
she has right of action + the loss Of his So
ciety? Does she not need the protection of the
law Ia this respect at least as much as he does!
Will the law give its aid to him and withhold it
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 for
them. Rich women who flirt with hus-
bands now may have to pay dearly for
tho sport. A case is now on trial in
New York City in which the plaintiff
claims that her husbands affections,
stolen from her by brazen widow, were
worth to her $50, 900 in cash.
The most difficult thing the courts
will have to determine is the money
value VI u dHCCJ1Ono. nc
worth of most things is ascertained by
the market quotations on given day.
But conjugal affection is commodity
new to the trade, and it's market value
has not been fixed. 1t may be difficult
to decide on it's exact worth. Courts
may declare that it depends ON its quail
ity, its quantity, it's lasting character or
its scarcity. Courts are not r&n by sem
timent A Judgment is always rendered
for certain sum of money.
Now that welded bliss is to have a
money value given to it, there seems to
be good reasons for organizing compan-
les TO insure it to the possessor An
engaged girl could take out policy on
the affections Of her proposed husband.
and by that means secure liberal sum
in the event of their being lost or stolen.
Such policy might be more desirable
than one on the life of husband, as
love is more uncertain than life.
wife who has insured her husbands af-
fections in strong company would have
something to solace her in hours of af
1iction.-Chicago Herald.