Evening journal., 1909-12-21
HUSBANDS GET
BACK AT WIVES
HenpeCked for Years They
Seek to Punish Widows
By VindiCtiVe Wills

This is where l get my own back"
You can almost imagine the henpeclked
husband who has borne for years the
lash OF shrew's tongue gleefully
making this remark as with the aid OF
lawyer he cuts Off his wife with
the proverbial shilling, says Tit-Bit
What reason IL was which led Mid
land tradesman recently TO leave his
wife out OF his win altogether and fur
ther stipulate that any expenses she
may incur Ia connection with his will
shall be paid out OF her own pocket,
and not be charged against his estate,
Is not known.
AS for 80 years my wife has never
lost an opportunity OF lashing me with
her tongue ran a codicial in the will
OF Liverpool merchant Of gener-
alton ago "and making me the butt
OF her vulgar wit, bequeath to her an
annuity of 800 pounds so long as she
lives under the same roof with her
mother whose tongue is as poisonous
as her own and whom she hates as
cordially as she does me, and so long
as mother and daughter together visit
my grave on the first day OF each
month, and In the presence OF my So
licitor or his deputy. express regret
for the unhappiness they have caused
mo-"
Probably, however the meanest will
on record was that Of man who left
10 his wife the sum OF one farthing
with the direction that Il should be
sent 20 her by post I'm an unstamped
envelope, complaining that she had
called him "an old pig and other
names
II was probably jealousy rather thar
affection that inspired the following
clause in a will preserved at Somer.
set House; Having expiated the er.
rors OF a single life by the SORROWS
Of n married one. / now make my will
IN the fun belief that you will outliV,
me. There are widows. my love, an,
there are widows. Some rejoice ani
some do not. Those that do are dis
creditable lot. The bare idea OF you
Joining their ranks is so distastefu
that TO damp any glee you may fee
az my death ] leave you 10 pounds
year instead Of the 100 pounds yol
expected"
A wealthy man left not a single penn
! TO his widow unless within the space O
, five years she married again. in whic
case he bequeathed 20 her tho sum q
900 pounds. MY object in maxim
this proviso," continued the testato
lis that some other man may kno'
from experience something of the dii
hcultles / have found from living wit
her"
7 During my married life" wrote All
! other disillusioned husband. Il hay
b always declared that my wife was IN
7. dearest woman In the world and ! al
o convinced that should anyone be ras
p enough to marry her after my deaf
= he will find her 80. To deter, as fl
:. as possible anyone making such
ruinous experiment, / leave her notl
ing"
p Vanity appears TO have been Il
- besetting sin of the wife OF anoth
d testator. who left her the sum OF 1870
lr pounds. TO be increased to 24O
nj pounds provided that after his dea
L she wore a Widows cap. which
u his lifetime she had stoutly deolar
she never would wear my widow
'' wrote the disingenuous husband, ''wor
W please me greatly by doing this, as
el think It would suit her" The go
e. lady. however. was as sharpwitted
d. she was vain. for after wearing {
ie odious cap for six months she bold
m claimed the increased legacy. The ma
ter was brought before a court Of Ia
, and 10 the widows delight judgme
=, was given In her favor ON the grou
that the testator had omitted TO sti
~ ulate that the cap should be worn d