Freeland tribune. (Freeland, Pa.) 1888-1921, 1900-11-09
A MANS WlFE'S LETTERS.
What His Rights Are as Decided by Ger
man Law.

What His Rights Are as Decided by Ger
man Law.
The question as to whether a hus-
band Is entitled to open his wife's let
tiers is very interesting one to people
of both sexes, both before and after
marriage. 1t is not question of open
ing letters In general, as no doubt the
circumstances of the case regulate this
point in every family and in every coun-
try in a manner suitable and accep-
table to- both sides. There are, how
ever cases in which 1t may be very i'm
portant for Il husband to know the con-
tents of a suspected letter. Chivalry
would, with most men of n sensitive
and honorable nature, induce them to
avoid directly breaking the seal of such
missives themselves, but they would
demand that the letter should be open
ed in their presence, and forthwith
shown to them. Women, it is safer to
suppose If of a suspicious and jealous
bent of mind, would be restrained by
no scruples, but would act according
to the suggestions of passion. The
trainers of the new Code of Civil Law,
that holds good for the whole German
empire, perhaps thought they had bet
ter not probe into the probabilities of
feminine action in the matter of let
ter-opening; or that the women of the
Fatherland We're better trained than
to presume to claim the right Of peer
;Y,,, i,,+, Ia -,tf+ nf., 90 bni
lords and masters. Anyhow, the rights
of women on this point are not men
toned, while it is very distinctly laid
down how far husband is or is not
entitled to open his wfes letters.
The Code confines, in cases Of differ
ence Of opinion, the husbands rights
to decide on matters affecting the mu-
tual conjugal living together, such as
the prescribing of the hour when din
ner shall be served and how it shall
be served, and the direction of other
matters connected with household ar
rangement, the number of servants to
be kept and so forth. He may also de-
fine how far he and his wife are to
mutually support one another III cases
where the assistance is required y
letter addressed to mans wife, how
ever, does not affect their mutual con-
jugal life, and therefore he is not en-
titled to open it contrary to his wife's
wish. With regard to his wife's letters
to third persons, the possibility is ad-
mitted that the letter may contain mat
ter affecting his conjugal existence
with his wife, and he is entitled to
claim obedience from his wife il he
asks to be informed of the contents of
the letter. But the law does not allow
the husband to force his wife to obey
him in this particular. He may forbid
his wife to write a certain mlssive or to
despatch it If written, but he cannot
prevent her doing SO if she is bent
thereon. And he has no right to open
the letter in order to find out its con-
tents.
If, however, he suspect his wife of
infidelity or other penal offence, and
should he presume that the contents
of certain letter would afford him the
required proof of his spouse's guilt, he
may apply to have the correspondence
in question seized by magistrate, pub
lie prosecutor or Il policeman, and have
the letters opened, by one or other of
these functionaries, in his presence;
but he may not demand from post
man or a postoffice that the letters in
question should be handed to him per-
sonally instead of being delivered to
his wife. Most Germans, however,
think that in practical life the jargon
of the law would in the above cases
stand poor chance of being attended
to. If there were real reason to induce
Il man to forcibly open his wife's let
ters the interpreters of the law would,
beyond doubt, deal leniently with him,
or would openly admit that he had act
ed justifiably in safeguarding his own
interests Telegraph.