Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1891-02-07
AN UNUSED DECREE,
An Ebony Casket and the Papers Which 1t
Contains.

An Ebony Casket and the Papers Which II
Contains.
From the New York Times.
In the dressing room of happy married
woman who lives in a Madison avenue mansion
there stands III a conspicuous corner a small
ebony casket with silver trimmings. 1t is locked
and has not been opened for ter years. Few
know Its history, which is one full of romance
and also OF food for reflection for those on
whom the marriage yoke bears heavily.
little over ten years ago tho occupants OF
this home were married. The wife had been
brought up in luxurious home and was mem.
Der OF gay social circles. The husband was
equally rich in worldly possessions, but with nc
liking for the round of society's pleasures. His
young bachelorhood had been passed in irde-
pendent club life and the sober enjoyments OF
MS books and pictures, for which he had q
strong taste. The honeymoon was barely over
before speck OF discomfort appeared on the
horizon OF their lives. 1t grew rapidly and soon
obscured the sun of their welded happiness.
They mutually fretted under the strain of the
marriage bonds. He disliked to be dragged to
receptions and balls, and she chafed over his
library inclinatiOns and wanted to keep the
house gay with guests and incessant going and
coming.
AT last the explosion came and after n full
anu Tree discussion 1t was mutually agreed that
they should separate. AS there was TO legal
grounds of divorce in this state they journeyed
together beyond the Ohio and consulted coun-
sci. The plant laws of the west would give
what each wanted-a decree They remained
away long enough to acquire statutory resi-
dence and on a certain day a decree was duly
granted severing the marital chains. The law
yers IN handing each copy of the decree ex-
planned to them that. although granted by the
court, 1t would not take effect and was SO much
waste paper until entered and filed in the
clerks Office of the county where the court was
held. The lawyers fees were paid and each
took the parchment. Both felt free and indie
pendent, but each hesitated to put the anal
seal to the transaction. BY Il common decision
arrived at separately. it was settled to return TO
New York, whence the DEGREES could be mailed
for proper filing.
The return trip was on the same train A
conversation arose the subject of their
changed relations Their newly ACQUIRED free
dom put different phase on the discussion
Explanations and expressions of opinion were
more tolerant In the face OF restraint removed
concessions, which false dignity prevented
hitherto. were now preached as possible had
they remained man and wife. In the end it was
discovered that it was not the tie itself which
was CALLING and unbearable, but the fact that it
was tie, binding fast and permancntly
Inc separation never took place. The de-
crees were locked in the casket to which each
carried key. At first the casket stood in the
husband library, but as years went on occa-
sional questions about it became irksome. 1t
was sent upstairs to the wife's room, who. in
her turn, tired OF it, anu it was tucked in a cor
ner OF the dressing room. But it still exists.
and there are those who will say that il holds in
Its possibilities of freedom the unalloyed hupui-
ness OF that home.