The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1905-06-18

hailed into court and ordered to pay for his
family's support sum proportioned to his
earnings and their needs.
If he can get bondsman the city will
collect from the bondsman in case OF arrears
and leave it to him to jack up the delin-
auent. II h, cannot get bondsman, he
used to go to Jail But that did no good to
either the wife or the city, 80 now he is pa
rolled in charge OF probation officer, who
can Jail him at any time for neglect to pay
UP. Then his name is addei to 1900 or 80
on the alimony clerks docket, and Mr..
Kellys troubles with him begin.
Both sides in the case tell their troubles
to Mr.. Kelly, and ask his advice. One day
a sedate colored woman appealed to him
to know if her husband had any right to
send his clothes to her to mend.
Il jes' want it legally settled, boss, legally
settled if Use oblige to sew on dem but
tons she explained
Mr.. Kelly told her gravely that, as her
husband earned only'$l5 month as porter
in hotel, and was paying her $50 week,
she ought to be willing to sew or his but
tons for him
IAN right, Mistah Kelly, jes' want it
legally settled" she replied Practically as
she meandered away,
The alimony clerk looked after her ad-
mirngly.
Now, il we could just have it legally
settled that all the wives must keep the
buttons sewed on, how much trouble 1t
might save' said he.
She's the devil and ALL" complained
husband. why, she blackened nv eyes
for me. What do you think Of that And
me havin' to pay! Why, she cut me cheek
open with razor here, seer"
"No!" says Mr.. Kelly, in tone Of deep
establishment, inspecting the cut. Looks
like a shaving cut, don't it?"
"You don't know her, says the husband.
Butter wouldn't melt in her mouth around
here. But get her in room and she's the
devil and all"
Big BUSTER" says Mr.. Kelly, as the angry
one planks down his dollars and moves of.
weighs 100 IL he does an ounce and his
wife weighs about 80. Every one Of them
tries to blacken his wife's character here.
They can't seem to grasp the fact that it
doesn't make any difference to us whether
she's good or bad; that all we're interested
in ia keeping her from becoming a public
charge
Bad temper is the general allegation
against the wives. They, for their part,
allege provooation which would undoubt-
eddy ruff1e the temper OF saint.
Drunkenness is the most common accuse
ton, with gu oh triles incident to 1t as beating
the wife over the head with chair or throw
ing her down stairs.
Refusal on the part Of the husband to give
her what she considers fair amount OF his
wages to run the house is another frequent
accusation of the wife, and the other woman
plays her little part. The presence Of rel
atives of either husband or wife in the fam
lily often creates disturbance One family
broke up in row because the husbands
old father lived with them anu kept tab
on his daughter-in-law's doings to report
to his son at night
Il was only a-trying to save me sons
money, Mr.. Kelly" quavered the old man.
twelve pints that woman sent out for that
day. and thou ght 1t me duty to tell me son
Of it that night But now me life is a hell
land, sor2"
Although the husbands one and all COM
plain bitterly of being obliged to pay, and
seek every expedient to escape 1t, yet very
often they prefer to keep on paying rather
than permit their wives to marry again.
Office unique. In most other States all
these people would be divorced.
Every now and then woman confdes
to Mr.. Kelly that she has an opportunity to
marry again, and asks him to tell her hus-
band that II he will let her get divorce he
won't have to pay any more. Almost in
variably the husband refuses.
A doctor paying so week received this
kind Of an appeal. He was a small, delicate
man. and his wife a Swapping big woman
who had proved herself the better man on
many q hard fought field.
humane man and my sympathy with the man