The evening tribune. (Pawtucket, R.I.) 189?-190?, 1897-02-27
FILTRATION in LAW.
RsE COURT POINTS OUT HOW FAR
A MAN MAY GO

InAs~G Paying Damages When He Mar
rses Some other Giri-Corner Lots and
TsSps to Europe Not Forbidden Topics.
Declared Devotion Not . Promise.
Up to the present time Irritation has
b,en a vague sort of performance. Every
ore had his or her own definition Of it.
Sometimes il was an art, sometimes a
sGeuce. sometimes an accident. What
ever is might he, it was without definite
limit or determination, and its line of
demaroation ON one side from friendship
and 0n the other from more intimate
relation was established by no unvary-
ing boundary. Now, all that is in fair
way tc be changed.
The court Of appeals in New York
state has taken the initial step in de-
trmining the limit Of a mans atten-
tiou To a woman to which he may go
without laying himself liable to dam
ages Of breach Of promise suit. Judge
Haieht hands down the opinion in the
saee Il Nellie f. Yale, respondent,
against william r. Curtiss, appellant.
the general term having affirmed q
Judgment awarding damages to Miss
Yale and the case having been appealed.
Meantime Mr.. Curtiss has married an
ether woman-one who appears in the
case
IN Judge Haight's opinion a full re-
view Of the Irritation between Mr. Cur
tiss and Miss Yale is given. The little
drama, Of which the scene is laid in
Norwich, N. ", is more idyllic than
passionate. It consists mainly in such
innocent joys as band concerts, walks
home from church and calls by the sup
poscdly ardent swain, who staid until
10 or ii o'clock, never remaining after
that hour" His conversation on such
subjects as corner lots and the attrac-
tious in the New York theaters, consid-
cred AZ style of wooing, bring to mind
the eloquent plea of Sergeant Buzfuz
in the cause celebre Of Bardell versus
Piokwick: "Chopsi Gracious heavens,
gentlemen, and tomato sancep
II appears that the plaintiff, who at
the time of the trial was 28 years old,
taught school in Norwich. Nothing in
the written opinion gives a hint Of her
personal appearance, whether short or
tall. dark or fair. The same is trys of
the defendant, who returned to Nor
wioh from New York in 1884, having
inherited some property, and took up
his residence there with his sister, Mrs.
Chapman. He was 18 years Miss Yale's
senior. All details regarding the per-
sonal characteristics of the hero and her
oine of the drama must be supplied by
the imagination. The action begins at
u wedding in Norwich, where the pair
met. What Mr.. Curtiss said to Miss
Yale and what Miss Yale replied to Mr..
Ourtiss are not touched upon. Perhaps
they talked about the weather. Any
way, they became acquainted, which is
the main point, and week or two aft
exward he took her home from an even
ing prayer meeting and followed this
up by escorting her to band concert.
Then he went to New York and staid
there several weeks The opinion does
not say why.
Miss Yale was member of the Con-
gregational church and sang in the
choir. Mr.. Curtiss, upon his return from
New York, joined the church, and, hav-
ing melodious voice, was pressed into
the choral service. Occasionally he es-
corted Miss Yale home after the service
In Norwich and similar villages this
constitutes what is called keeping
company" One Of the very first times
they came homo from prayer meeting
together he said to her:
Il am going to New York soon, and
/ wish You We're there this winter in
stead of last because l would like to
accompany you to entertainments which
l am expecting to enjoy while l am
there"
This declaration Miss Yale treasured
mp. Subsequently she sprung it upon
the defendant at the trial 1t appears
that for two years he kept taking her
home after meeting and entered the
house upon her invitation and visited
with her until 10 or IL o'clock, but
never remaining after that hour " This
is known in Norwich Us "sitting up. :"
1t is "a concomitant of keeping com
pany.
Mr. Curtiss never called at the house,
however, except when he came TO take
Miss Yale out or escorted her home. On
some occasions he escorted other young
ladies, but no mention is made of any
other breach of promise suit. Probably
he didn't escort them so often. A man
can't keep company" with more than
one girl ut time without making trou-
ble-not in Norwich. Mr.. Curtiss' ac-
tions made trouble, but that comes later.
on the third summer of their acquaint-
ance Mr.. Curtiss mentioned to Miss
Yale, as they We're walking home from
church, that he had been invited to 90
to Europe, but remarked that he would
prefer to wait another year. Miss Yale
said that she hadn't any particular de-
sire to goto Europe, on account of her
Tear Of crossing the water. When they
reached home, he said:
Honestly and truly, would Won nj.