The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1906-06-11
PEACE AND JOY BY CONTRACT.
PRE-NUPTIAL AGREEMENT COW
ERS Causes OF PAST ILLS.
Couple. Each OF whom Has Been Married
Twice Before. Put in writing "ha'
shall and Shall Not BE Exacted -E'erS
Point, Even TO Relatives Visits, Covered

Point, Even TO Hel9uNes Nis''s'
Drs MONIES. Ia, June lO.-In what is
proba bly the most remarkable pre-nup,laI
contract in existence, Isaiah +. Harding
Of Jasper county and Mrs. Isabella Engle-
hrecht OF Des Moines provided for at least
fifteen years Of welded happiness yester-
day.
The smallest detail Of their married lie
for a term Of fifteen years is set out in the
contract which was placed on record before
their marriage by a local justice of the
LeaCe.
If their married life proves unhappy it
NAV be terminated within the fifteen years
by certain settlements. and mutual agree
ment as 10 various other things. At the
end Of fifteen years either party 10 the
contract may end the married e1isten e
without the formality of a divorce under
the conditions therein stated.
Harding is a wealthy farmer. Mrs .
Englebrecht is also wealthy. Both had
been married twice before. The marriage
contract was draw up to meet the various
difficulties which made their previous
maria ges less than perfectly happy.
The document, which covers three closely
typewritten pages, is carefully drawn by
able lawyers.
Mr.. and Mrs. Harding are satisfied tina
il, is the solution of all matrimonial troubles
The contract first disposes of one-half
the real and personal property owned by
each party. which is divided among their
respective children. share and share alike
the children agreeing to forever forego any
claim upon their estates.
The contract then provides that each
rarity shall retain his or her remaining prop
erty independent of the other,
Some Of the provisions are given in brief
as follows:
There shall be settled upon the wife a
weekly income Of SIS, with which to pay
the household expenses.
Rent, gas and coal bills shall be paid by
the husband.
While living upon the farm the wife shall
have the profits from one cow and all
chickens.
The family shall never consist of more
than three children. and for each child
there shall be an additional allowance OF
IS a week. ,
The wife shall nave one servant girl and
a nurse whenever necessary. She sha!l
have entire control Of the servants IN the
house and the husband of whatever SER
wants he may have outside.
Relatives of either husband or wife are
permitted to visit the family during the
first two weeks in May and the last two
weeks in October.
The sole care of the children shall belong
to the wife, and she shall have charge of
their schooling until they reach the age OF
sixteen wears, when the husband shall take
charge.
If for any reason, loss Of property or
any other. the family shall be required to
not along without servants. the wife shall
start the fire and get breakfast during the
six months from April to September and
the husband for the remainder of the year.
No guests at meals shall be brought home
by the husband without the previous con-
sent of the wife. -,
The husband has the right, II he should
80 desire, to fix the menu three days in
each week.
intoxicating liquors are not allowed in
the house. g,
Both husband and wife shall attend
church at least once each month unless
prevented by sickness.
In case the family moves to town the
husband is not required to go into society
more than twice a week, and one OF these
occasions must take in the theatre.
There are also a number OF minor pro-
visions in regard to clothing expenditures,
doctor bills, working hours and also as to
the termination Of the contract at the end
Of fifteen yea re-, at which time the marriage
relation ia to end at the desire OF either.
There is a provision for division OF prop
erty in case of death. .
Both Mr.. and Mrs. Harding are well
satisfied with the contract and believe that
they will never be compelled to resort to
the contract in order to be happy.
case Of trouble" declared Mrs, Harding
to-day. Il nave had two other husbands
and such a contract would IA prevented
endless misery for both them and me-