The Democratic advocate. [volume] (Westminster, Md.) 1865-1972, 1891-01-31
Selett Sturp.
LEWIS VS.. LEWIS.
Arthur Lucas in Epoch.

An elegantly dressed young woman left
the law office of Judge Sharpejust as Walter
LOSING was about to enter it.
As she swept by him the young man
caught a momentary glimpse of her face
which told him as plainly as words could
have done that she was unhappy. He
wondered what trouble could have come to
one who was so evidently in want of moth
ing that money could provide.
Walter LOSING was what is commonly
called in euphemistic newspaper phraseol-
ogy, IA rising young lawyer" In other
words, he had been recently admitted to
practice, was as poor as the law allowed
and, as is well known, the law is very lib
eral in this respect-and had hard work to
'risc" high enough to keep his head above
water. This, too, in spite of the fact that
his ability was above the average.
Just now he had come to get the old
judges opinion on knotty point which
had come up in one of the few cases which
he had succeeded in securing. Judge
Sharpe had taken kindly interest in him,
and had already given him valuable advice
and otherwise befriended him on several
occasions. In fact, it is highly improbable
that the knotty point that was puzzling him
would have troubled him at all if it hadn't
been for the judge, who had thrown the
case in which it occurred in his way.
Judge Sharpe had just tied together a
bundle of legal papers and thrust them into
pigeonhole when the young man came in.
GLOW are you, my boy? Sit down.
What can do for you to-day? I've just
got to the end of a case that ought to be a
lesson to all of you young fellows, said the
Judge, all in one breath, as was his manner
"What case was that, judge ?" asked
LOSING, as he dropped into chair.
"Lewis versus Lewis, action for limited
divorcelcn the ground of incompatibility
cruel treatment and so forth, You saw the
young woman who just went out ?"
LOSING nodded.
"That was the plaintiff. Nice sort Of
girl. Well-educated, refined, handsome,
and all that, but not the right sortof wife
for the man she married. You see she il
the only daughter of wealthy people, wh'
had naturally gratifed every whim thai
came into her head. She fell in love with
a young man whose responsibility was hi
chief recommendation.
"Well, wasn't that the principal thing t.
be considered p exclaimed LOSING
"Other things being equal, yes; but il
this case it was only one of the principa
considerations, as you will see. The youns
man was as poor as could be; he had onl,
a modest salary to depend on and nothing
in the way ofprospects The girls parents
objected at first, but finally consented t.
the match They probably knew that sh
would have her way in spite of all objee
tions they might interpose. You hear an,
read great deal about the tyranny of par
ents who refuse to sanction marriage
which they believe will end in unhappiness
but tell you, my boy, that what is calle,
tyranny is in many cases hard, honest CON
mon sense and observation.
"Well, they were married, and for shor
time they were happy. Then the youn!
wife was discontente9 She missed the lux
uries she had been accustomed to enjoy
The modest home her husband could pre-
vide for her was so different from the elt
gance with which she had formerly bee
surrounded, she began TO fret Her dis
content soon found expression in what h
considered her lack of devotion. Whe
she suggested that her parents would len
financial aid he became indignant and il
sisted that she should be content with he
! lot until by his own efforts he could bettt
their condition. You can imagine that th
:. state of affairs soon led to something wors
Quarrels became frequent; love was thin
of the past No doubt thinking herse
much abused she left him and returned I
r her parents. Then application for sep
: ration was made. All efforts to effect
h reconciliation were fruitless. Well, this
the end The law has sanctioned the Sc
}. aration that already existed in fact; Il
: : young woman remains with her parent
:, the young man will probably to go tt
$ devil, for his unfortunate marriage h
taken all ambition out of him
aAnd the lesson p suggested Losing.
@Don't marry woman who is beyol
your station, financially; don't take wi
,r Is from mansion unless you have a mansi,
in readiness for her.
But surely, all marriages of this XII
don's result as this has done.