The Washington herald., 1906-11-11
lie HI2gS Rzzce
SPURNS WEALTH FOR MOTHER
Boy Rejects Alluring Offer Made by
His Father.
Woman Appeals to Court for Aid TO
Keep COnsumDtive Sixteen-year-
old Lad from Early Grave.

Paris Nov. ia pathetic case is now
occupying the courts. in which a con-
sumptlve boy had TO choose between
semi-starvatlon and probable death with
his mother, and luxury and all care with
his father.
In 1SsG n. Jacquet. che son Of a man
ufacturer. was a student IN Paris. where
he met and feH in love with pretty mil
liner named Mile MaIlard. After four
years OF mutual affection, a child was
born. a boy. who was Immediately. as IS
allowed In French law, officially recog-
nized by the student as his son.
Then the romance Of student life came
TO an end. NJ. Jacquet had 10 leave his
companion and enter his fathers busi-
ness. He gave her s60o. and agreed TO
pay $50 "A month toward the support OF
his son until he attained his majority.
Shortly afterward he got married
Meanwhile. the little milineT having 20
set to and earn her living. put her baby
out to nurse. After some months she dis
covered that the child was afflicted with
tuberculosis. having been kept in the
same room with a dying man in the last
stages Of consumption.
Nine. Mallard, as she was then known,
was but twenty-five years Of age. but
she brought her baby home. nursed him
and denied herself Of the barest necessi-
ties to provide the child with medical at
tendance. She succeeded in bringing him
back to health. He grew up passionate
~ fond OF his mother. who. By great
s-.s a
school for professional mechanics.
The lad PASSED his preliminary exam
ination brilliantly and then the dread dis
ease reasserted itself and al the mothers
strenuous efforts were vain. The doctors
ordered the boy to be taken out into the
country. and Nine. Mallard went with
him 20 her parents home in Alsace. But
ner little savings were exhausted. and al
last she appealed 10 the lads father 20
increase the allowance. NJ JacQuet wrote
back that he would not increase the al
lowancc. but would adopt the boy into
his own family. The mother then sought
the help Of the law 10 compel NJ Jacquet
10 increase the allowance.
The father came TO the bar Of the court
and repeated his offer. Il have q family
Of my own. he said. "a wife and three
children. Ny wife has agreed 70 take the
boy and bring him up with our own chill
dren. offer the boy a comfortable home
and I ask the court TO order the lad 70
be given over 10 my charge
To this the mother replied that the boy
had never even seen his father, who did
not attempt 10 intervene when the child
was III. Heaven knows what / have
gone through for my SON. she cried 10
the boys father Il have twice nursed
him back from death. All yOu have done
Is 10 contribute a small monthly sum. II
would be cruel, indeed. TO take the lad
away from me- All I want Is an in
creased allowance" ."
The lad himself bright, but very thin
and .consUmpJive-lOoking lad Of sixteen
refused TO leave his mother Placing his
hand in hers. he said 7 love my mother
and 7 would rather live In poverty with
. her than be pampered by my father, foT
whom I have no affection"
The court reserved its decision until
Wednesday next.