davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The Spanish Fork press. [volume] (Spanish Fork, Utah) 1902-current, 1906-09-20

Des Moines, Iowa.--lsaiah F. Hard
Ing and Mrs. Isabella Englebrecht of
Dallas county Iowa, had not found
smooth sailing up the sea of matri-
mony, although both are, comparative
| ly speaking rich. Twice each had
been married and twice divorced.
\ When, therefore, seeking a consola.
! ton prize, Harding asked Mrs. Engel'
brecht to be his, extreme caution at.
tended her affirmative response.
Wed better lay down some rules to
go by" she said, and Harding agreed.
The result was the most remark
able pre-nuptial contract ever drawn
In Iowa. and, perhaps, in the world.
Veteran lawyers say they have never
seen anything quite like it.
1t arranges for almost every pos
sible contingency that may arise in
the welded life of two people.
The contract plainly sets forth who
shall build the fires, when the hus-
band may bring home guests to meals,
when the relatives of each shall visit
them, how the money Is to be divid.
ed. how often the wife may attend
social functions without being scowled
at-and even fixes a limit to the num-
ber of possible future Hardings.
BY observing in minutest detail the
terms OF this remarkable document
Harding and his thiM wife have al
ready enjoyed two months Of life to.
gether without cloud appearing in
their matrimonial sky.
Mrs. Harding Explains.
when Isaiah asked me to marry
him." explained Mrs Harding the 9TH
er day, Il told him that didn't feel
like trying matrimony again unless
we could agree on some things that
had troubled me before. Isaiah said
he'd had troubles, too. and he fell
right into the idea That was how
we happened to plan it,
The Spanish Fork press. [volume] (Spanish Fork, Utah) 1902-current, 1906-09-20
NGDyNM COUPLE Ml4AME
ODDM|AIRNTALC0NTRACT
-

transferred and recorded upon the com
pletlon OF this covenant. And this shall
be regarded as applying TO personal prop
erty as well as real.
And we hereby bind ourselves to the
faithful performance of the following
stipuations so far as within us lies:
Isaiah F. Harding. party OF the FIRST
part, agrees that Isabella Englebrecht.
party of the second part. shall upon her
wedding to him, the party of the first
part receive each week the sum of $l5
penses, but 1t is understood that he, the
party OF the first part shall furnish fuei
and water.
It is expressly understood that from this
union shall come not more than three
children. Upon the birth of each or any
child the above amount OF slb. per week
shall be increased SO per week.
The party of the second part shall FUR
nish domestic help and to assist her In
this she shall be allowed the financial out
put OF the poultry and one COW from the
farm herd. But II for any reason 4 shall
be found necessary to dispense with do
mestic help then It shall be the duty Of
the husband to build the fires and pre-
pare the morning meals for six months
to build the fires and prepare the morn
ing meals for the remaining six months
of the year.
Neither party shall invite guests to the
house except with the express permission
of the other, and then not oftener than
twice per week; relatives shall not bo
allowed to visit the family. except that
relatives of the party of the first part
shall be permitted to visit the home at
any time within the first two weeks Of
the month of May: relatives of the party
of the second part within the last two
weeks of October. This shall not relate
in any way to the children of either Of
the parties to this covenant
If the parties to this covenant shall
remove to the city to live it is agreed that
in addition to the costs mentioned above
party of the first part shall pay ice and
gas expenses Furthermore, il shall be
the privilege of the party of the second
part to attend two social functions each
week one of which, If the parties reside
in the city, shall be the theater. and this
expense shall be borne by the party Of
the first part.
Each Sunday the party of the first part
shall escort and accompany the party of
the second part to church in the morn
ing and again in the evening should she
desire IL.
Party of the first part shall keep up
the house insurance. keep the premises in
good condition. furnish at all times re-
spectacle conveyance to and from town,
see that both himself and wife are prop
erly clothed. take an active part in any
civic or rural improvement and assist in
any political movement for the general
The Spanish Fork press. [volume] (Spanish Fork, Utah) 1902-current, 1906-09-20

second husband was wealthy farmer
of foreign descent, who. it was
charged, insisted on making her do
the chores, milk the cows and even
work in the hayfields.
This was more than she would stand
and she sued him for a divorce year
ago. She got the divorce and ali
mony amounting to half his estate,
netting her fortune of possibly $780,
600.
AS for Harding, the shoe, 1t appears,
fitted the other foot and he was twice
defendant in divorce courts upon
charges of unreasonable temper. He
also was divorced about year ago.
In fact, one of the remarkable fea-
lures of this strange romance is that
Harding and Mrs. Engelbrecht met
for the first time in the divorce court
room of Judge A. H. McVey. Hard
ing and his witnesses were Obliged
to wait until Mrs. Engelbrecht OBJ
tained her decree before their case
could proceed.
AS Harding sat there he was moved
to pity by her tale. When he found
that his efforts in resisting his wifes
suit were fruitless he accepted the
situation.
Terms of the Contract.
Not month elapsed, it is said
before Harding sought out the woman
who had told the sorrowful tale on
the witness stand. He told her that
he believed she could curb his temper
and she said she thought she might
take chance. But she insisted that
the contract be drawn up and it was
signed before they were married two
months ago. Following is the curious
contract:
Know All Men by These Presents: That
we, by the terms of this agreement. made
thls "a day OF May, A. d. 1906, between
Isaiah f. Harding of the county of Dai-
las and state of Iowa, party of the first
part, and Isabella Englebrecht of the
county OF Polk and state of Iowa of the
second part, do hereby bind ourselves bv
TINS covenant to carry out entire and In
detail the terms of this solemn obllga-
uon, so that we, as man and wife may
owen together in peace and harmony so
long as this said covenant shall be in
force, to wit: From the said Sd day OF
May, A. ID. 1905. until the Sd day of Nav
A. d. 1871 period of fifteen years
The Spanish Fork press. [volume] (Spanish Fork, Utah) 1902-current, 1906-09-20

BY the terms of the contract Mr.
and Mrs. Harding agree, in the first
place, that they will live together as
man and wife for fifteen years. This
term of years was agreed upon after
some difficulty, as Harding wished to
make the contract extend twenty-five
years. Mrs. Engelbrecht argued,
however, that fifteen years was long
enough for experimental purposes,
and Harding came to her terms, else
there would have been no wedding.
Fifteen Year Contract.
Ii they prove unhappy at the end
of fifteen years their welded life
terminates there and then without
any other proceedings as to the courts.
Furthermore, either party has the
right at the time to declare the con.
tract null and void. If within the
fifteen years either becomes dissatis-
fled he or she must obtain a separa-
tion through the courts in the usual
legal form.
Both Harding and Mrs. Englebrecht
owned valuable farm land, he in Dal-
las county and she near Des Moines
1t was necessary to make careful ar
rangements for the control of these
properties.
By the contract they cut their prop.
erty valuation in two and each set
ties half on children by former mar
riages. Harding has a son and a
daughter and the wife has two sons
and a daughter Their personal prop
erty is likewise divided among the
children.
In speaking of children, it may not
be amiss to mention that contract
provides definitely and stringently
that there shall be but three little
ones born to the new Harding family.
The penalty for the violation of this
rule is not set down in the document.
but it is presumed that it might be
regarded as grounds for separation
Rt the end of the fifteen years.
The Guests Are Limited.
There will be no such thing as
hubby" coming home with a guest
under each arm for supper-no, in
deed. unless "wifey' first gives her
consent, The rules in this respect
are rigid.
Special provisions are made for the
entertainment Of relatives of either,
The husbands relatives are permitted
to visit them during the first two
weeks of May Mrs. Harding's kin.
folk are permitted to invade the fam.
lily circle during the last two weeks
The Spanish Fork press. [volume] (Spanish Fork, Utah) 1902-current, 1906-09-20

of October. However, this rule is
construed to except the children of
either, so Mrs. Harding says.
Such, in brief, are the principal by
laws governing this thoroughly or
ganized household. Past experiences,
it seems, demonstrated to each the
necessity for strong governing belt
upon the family engine,
Mrs. Harding, it is stated, was de-
serted by her first husband and Sc
cured her divorce from him. Her
The Spanish Fork press. [volume] (Spanish Fork, Utah) 1902-current, 1906-09-20

1t is hereby agreed and stipulated he
tween said Isaiah f. Harding. party of
the hrst part, and said Isabella Engel-
al the end OF the fifteen years aforesaid
described such union is not for the best
interests OF either of us the same said
union shall be terminated by either nsrtSt
without further formalty, providing tb1t
II at any time during this period above
set forth either should wish TO relinouish
the bonds OF matrimony such action sh, i
law. vi
We hereby agree that we shall Jointly
and seVeraily settle upon the children ~
each by former marriage one-half OF tba
estate OF each, the said one-half of the
estate OF the party of the first part to he
settled upon his children and the said
one-half OF the estate OF the party of The
second part upon her children. Deeds ana
papers to this effect shall be duly signed
Daily press. [volume] (Newport News, Va.) 1896-current, 1906-04-10
ART|LLERYMAN COMMITS.
SUICIDE WITH A RIFLE.
Soldier Sticks The Butt Of The Gun
against The Wall and Pulls
Trigger with Ruler.
ENLISTED UNDER ASSUMED NAME
Sergeant Kingsley Was Driven to the
Deed BY Fear CT his wife Who is
Said to Have Deserted Woman
He'd Threatened to Inform the An
thorties at the Fort.

Curtis 5 Kingsley. sergeant on the
thirteenth company, heayy1coast artil-
!ery, sent a bullet from Krag .Ior-
genson rife through his heart Sunday
evening. The artilleryman died al
most Instantly.
Kingsley. placed the butt of the
gun against the wall Of the office OF
his company and by using ruler
succeeded in pulling The trigger Tie
muzzlc If the gun had been placed
Just over the heart and the bullet az
Ter passing through that vital organ
found Judgement in tie opposite wall
Of tho room
Kingsley. whose real name is said
to have been Oliver Mitchell. left n
note t. ihe captain C Tho company.
IN which llo gave directions as To The
distribution of his personal effects
aud furnished i list of the names OF
his relatives. lie requested the cap,
tain to notify the relatives of hi.;
death which has been done
H'coInlnG 10 reports III circulation
Kingsley, or Mitchell, was a married
man. although he had enlisted in the
army as a siugle man It is said that
he had received II note from his wife
informing him Of her intention to ex.
pose him. and il is thought that the
TACT that he had been located by the
wife drove him TO commit the rash
act
Kingsley was about - years old.
lie bad only recently bnen made a
sergeant of The company and was
then detailed as company clerk. being
man of more than ordinary educa-
tionaI advantages Kingsley is said
50 have been well connected and his
family is supposed to live in Newark.
~. ~
The body is being held at the fort
pending instructions from the family
Daily press. [volume] (Newport News, Va.) 1896-current, 1906-04-10
En-. PI,lIlips Taken III.

Nh & A. Phillips. VINO lives near
Hampton, was stricken with an attack
OF heart trouble in Mr. Routtcn's oyg-
Tor house Arnisirad avenue, at ;
o'clock yesterday afternoon, lie was
renewed To the home Of Mr. K c.
tee. near the Cross Roads, where Or.
George w. NcAllister attended him.
Al II O'Clock last night Mr.. Phillips
was resting comfortably
Daily press. [volume] (Newport News, Va.) 1896-current, 1906-04-10
a POVERTY aocIAL,

Central NJ E. Church, April 18th 8 o. M.
ron Air axed 10 doin's we folks
IS going to hay" AZ the lecture rune
OF Central NJ F. Church Thursday
evcnin' April ~
F"les and ReguIashuns.
Chapter EYcry woman who k,ims
must ware a kalik.r dress or aperp o..
fomethln' okaly appropriate and leye
their poughdle dorg ~ hum
chapter 2. Every gent must ware
cid close and flannil shorts or he will
nave TO pay a fine Nv one Or too cts.
a kompetent komltec Will interduce
strangers and look arinr bashful fel.
lers Admisshun ten cts This In
cludes supper and the hull thing
Don 1orgit to KUN. ap sat
Daily press. [volume] (Newport News, Va.) 1896-current, 1906-04-10
sECoMD GAME TONIGHT.

Newport News Players VIII Come to
Hampton For Pool Tournament.
lhe second game of The pool tourna-
ment between Hampton and Newport
News players will take place in
Hampton tonight. when Parker and
Lindsay will meet Donnie and James
in Cold & Kantrowltz's place in
West Queen street.
Newport News won the first game
and has good margin.
Daily press. [volume] (Newport News, Va.) 1896-current, 1906-04-10

Furniture packed and crated-L. +
ltophs' Phone 90 ap2-su.tu1n
Daily press. [volume] (Newport News, Va.) 1896-current, 1906-04-10

Owing TO the lack of a quorum The
Elizabeth City County Medical So
riety did not elect the members oi
The board of health or attend to any
business last night The society may
meet next Monday evening
Daily press. [volume] (Newport News, Va.) 1896-current, 1906-04-10
j. NJ. Cumming
Real Estate, Rental and Fire Insurance
10 S. King ST.. Hampton.
10 N. Mellen ST., Fhoeious.
.IAP=A=LAC

we make it polAt to carry the
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One of our leaders is JAPALAC.
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ing varnish finish Colora6 Ji.P.A.
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racks gives n genuine Flemish
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We want you TO try JAP-A.LAC-- a
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And VIC want you to bear us III
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L. BORN.
The Paint and Hardware Man.
OF queen ST.. Hampton. Va.
Daily press. [volume] (Newport News, Va.) 1896-current, 1906-04-10

Mrs William II. Allen, of Colorado
Springs. Col, arrived in Hampton
last evening and IS the guest of her
father Major Edward a Semple. In
King street
Daily press. [volume] (Newport News, Va.) 1896-current, 1906-04-10

RELIABLE HARNESS is the Kind
to buy.
That's the kind LOWRY makes
from Pure Oak Tame Leath.r--lSa
hest kind.
LOWRY,
The Harness and Vehicle Man,
No. 12o West Queen Street.
The Topeka state journal., 1906-01-15
SURVEY SALTON SINK.
The Government Will Look Into Con-
ditions in Colorado Desert.

Washington, Jan. 15.-The changes
now taking place in that part of south
ern California which is known as the
Salton sink, Salton sea, Imperial val
ley, or Colorado desert, have resulted
in the director of the United States
geological survey ordering an immedi-
ate survey of the entire area.
What is now a fertile and populous
valley was many centuries ago a great
lake or inland sea. a hundred miles in
length, into which flowed the waters
of the Colorado river. Owing to
changes in the course of the river, the
inflow ceased and the water of the
lake finally evaporated. At the lowest
point in the valley salt marsh was
left, the bottom of which was nearly
800 feet below sea level.
About year ago an irrigation com
pany cut d shallow ditch through the
bank of the Colorado river into this
basin. A little later, at a time when
the water in the river was very high,
the banks of this ditch were cut away
and its bottom was secured out by the
rapid current so that now practically
the entire volume of the water in the
river flows into the basin. During the
past six or eight months thousands of
Intellectual attempts to control the in
flow of the river. The salt marsh has
been enlarged to form a lake forty or
fifty miles in length, the water of
which is rising at the rate of about an
inch q day.
The proposed surveys will furnish
data for an accurate map of that por-
ton of the old lake that lies within
the United States and will enable the
photographers of the survey to show in
correct position on the map the numer-
Gus towns within the area, the chan
nels of the two streams that carry the
water of the Colorado river to the lake
and various other topographic features.
17Sc lot in, frzT .7-ff
mate can be made of the time that it
would take to fill this great lake basin
again should the course of the Colorado
river not be changed.
The Topeka state journal., 1906-01-15
WILL SUE M'CURDYS.
And All the Men Responsible for
Waste of NIutuals Money.

New York, jan 15.-The attorney
general. Mr.. Mayer, has decided to
bring suits for restitution against the
men responsible for the mismanage-
ment, waste and extravaganza in the
Mutual Life Insurance company:
Richard A. McCurdy, ex-president, for
the recovery of part of his salary of
$150,0O0 a year. on the ground that
the committee, which increased his
pay, had no legal existence; Robert H.
McCurdy, ex-general manager, son of
Richard A. McCurdy, for the recovery
of part of the excessive commissions
he drew; Louis A. Thebaud, son-in-
law of Richard A. McCurdy, for the
recovery OF part of the excessive COM
missions paid to him; the mem bers of
the agency committee, for permitting
the payment of the excessive commits
siOns; the members of the fiscal COM
mittee who participated in syndicates
in which the Mutual Life was an un-
derwriter or purchaser of the securi-
ties marketed by the syndicates.
There are a large number of trus-
tees of the Mutual who had no direct
connection with any of the numerous
schemes by which their associates en-
riched themselves at the expense of
the policy holders. 1t is not consid-
cred probable by those familiar with
the plans Of the attorney general that
he will bring an omnibus suit against
all the Mutual Life trustees, as he did
in the case of the Equitable directors.
The Topeka state journal., 1906-01-15
EDUCATE HIRED GIRLS.
A Club for This Purpose Organized in
LeaVenWOrth.

Leavenworth, Jan. 15.-The club for
instructing and educating white girls
employed in Leavenworth homes has
been organized. and it's first meeting
was held in the minister's study at the
First Congregational church. This club
has been organized by several women,
and such girls as they select will be
taught vocal and instrumental music,
embroidery, fancy work and such
school studies as the organizers deem
necessary.
Mrs. c. M. Moses, wife of the V. NJ.
C. A, physical director, is the organizer
of the club as it was she who origina ted
and furthered the idea of such or
ganization. Several other women saw
the value of such an organization and
promptly acted upon it which resulted in
the meeting, at which a number of hired
girls were present, and the successful
starting of the project. No officers have
been chosen or elected by the members
and it is not probable that there will
be any. The women viii merely act as
chaperons and teachers.
Hereafter the meetings will be held in
the same place weekly between the
hours of and 10 p. m. These sessions
viii be divided into three periods, as fol-
lows:
The first period will be taken up with
Instructions and recitations in the work
and studies that were mentioned be-
fore.
discussion of current events and literary
works.
The third period viii be occupied in
informal conversation and parlOr games
as a recreation There will be nothing
constrained or formal about the meet
ings that would discourage the girls
The Topeka state journal., 1906-01-15
years Grebe lived

1864. For many years Grebe lived
under this cloud.
In 1896, congress passed a, bill to
remove the stigma of record in the
war department against his name; and
grant to him an honorable discharge
On February 10. 1899, a medal 81
honor was awarded to Captain Grebe
for most distinguished gallantry in
action at Jonesboro, Georgia, August
81, 1864.
Senator Long and Representative
Curtis, in their respective houses of
congress. have introduced bills to au-
thorize the president to promote Cap
tain Grebe to be colonel on the retired
list
Senator Warner of Missouri is also
greatly interested in this case, and is
endeavoring to assist the German Of
ficer.
Captain Grebe, as stated above. is
now in this city, and will remain here
for some time. He has strong hope Of
success in the special legislation which
he desires. His military record is ex-
cellent
The Topeka state journal., 1906-01-15
DIR. HARPER's FUNERAL.
Services We're in Accord With His
Written Request.

Chicago, Jan. 15.@The body Of Dr.
William Rainey. Harper, late president
of the University of Chicago. was laid
to rest Sunday in a vault in Oakwood
cemetery. The final resting place of
the body of the distinguished. educator
viii, however. be on the university
campus, where it is planned to build
memorial chapel and crypt.
The body lay in state in Haskell hall
from o'clOck until noon in the room
where Dr. Harper had led the faculty
meetings in administering the eCluca-
tional affairs of the university This
was according to his wish and the fu-
neral plans which he himself had
drawn up and signed on the day be-
fore his death. At noon the casket
was taken to Mandel hall, where the
funeral services were held. Owing to
the small seating capacity of the hall,
admission was by card, and only a
small portion of the students were
able to attend the exercises.
Addresses were delivered by Presi-
dent William H. P. Faunce of Brown
university; Chancellor E. Benjamin
Andrews of the University of Ne
braskd. Dean Harry Pratt JudsOn of
the University of Chicago. and DIR.
Lyman Abbott of New York.
The floral tributes were numerous.
and included wreaths from President
Roosevelt, Emperor William of Ger
many and many other distinguished
persons
The funeral eortege from MandeI
The Topeka state journal., 1906-01-15
TROUBLE OVER RATES.
TranscontinentaI Association to Dis
cuss Decentralization in Business.

Discussion of alleged Generalization
of transcontinental passenger rates
will take up a large portion of the
time of the meeting of the Transcon-
tinentaI Passenger association, which
is to meet in Los Angeles, Cal, to-
morrow.
Among the things to be taken up
are reported irregularities at Los An
geles and rumors that some of the
roads are not entirely free from acts
which aid and abet the ticket scalpers.
After a long investigation by a spe-
ciaI agent sent to Little Rock the aSsO-
citation has just issued a circular tend
ing to sustain a charge made by the
Southern Pacific that the Santa Fe
cut the rate on a party of twenty from
San Francisco to Little Rock. The
party consisted of members of
Christ's Sanctified church, and among
them were two ministers, who re-
ceived half rates. The Santa Fe ad-
upon the theory that they were
clergymen. The association, however,
insists that the sect was not listed as
one entitled to half rate privileges
Santa F'e officials declare they were
merely liberal in the Interpretation of
the rules.
Along the line of promoting better
conditions there will be considered a
rule against facilitating or aiding
brokerage business. An effort will be
made to get the lines to insist upon
having the names of ticket purchasers
written upon the stubs at the time of
purchase, and to organize a bureau
for issuing land and immigration
transportation. Changes with respect
to making Pullman reservations will
be considered, and a fight will be
made to secure the discontinuance OF
the practice of including admission
coupons and membership fees in
tickets sold for special excursions.