The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1911-06-19
Peter Sharp Tells Preference for
His Younger Spouse.
Says Older Woman Has Lost Her
Former Sweet Disposition.
WIVES IN A QUARREL
Each Believes Other InterIOper
Only There to Work.
Old Man Tells How Dream of
Bliss Ends.

Pittsburg, Kan, June 19.-If Anna
Catherine Sharp does not quit her
"bossing'' Peter Sharp says she can
pick up and go Sharp prefers mis-
younger wife, Mrs. Louisa Sharp and
he has made this preference plain.
He said so while hiding behind a tree
at his home here.
Peter Sharp was digging potatoes in
the garden. When he was consulted
he looked first around the edge of the
apple tree that hid the house from
view and then he said:
THAT woman (Mrs. Anna Cathe-
rine) hasn't the same disposition she
had when I married her fifty years
ago. She had a sweet disposition then.
Now she is a crank. She is trying to
boss Louisa around as if she was the
only wife. BY gum, I've seen a law
yer and he tells me that first wife is
not my wife at all When she dis
appeared forty years ago and was
gone for seven years without me hear
ing a word from her, she was the
same as dead. Legally and lawfully
dead is what the law says. That's
her standing
Will Build Her House.
II want 'em to get along together,
Id like for 'em to both live under
this roof. But if they can't agree I'll
have to build Anna Catherine a house
and let her live by herself, for I'm
not going to give up Louisa. If Anna
Catherine won't do that she'll have
to pack and go, that's al"
Sharp lost his first wife, Anna Cath
crime. forty years ago. She was visit
ing in Chicago then and when the
great fire burned the city he went
there to search for her but could not
find her. For forty years, she, like
Evangeline. hunted the country up
and down looking for him, and he was
travelling around looking for her. At
last. after forty years of search, she
found him through the pension office
and she came from California to his
home here. Sharp had another and
younger wife he had married nine
years ago, supposing his first wife to
be dead
At first it seemed that the two wives
would be good comrades But Anna
Catherine was 20 years old; her hair
was as white as carded wool.
Louisa, on the other hand. was 20
years younger, and she was spry and
always busy about the house, but it
on the other wife all the time, esp &C.
tally when the first wife was inclined
to put on airs as if she was the legal
wife and Louisa was not.
At last the storm broke. just a few
days ago, and the neighbors heard the
wives swapping at each other:
New Wife Ordered Out.
you get out; you're not his wife
anyway"
you are not"
When a reporter went to the Sharp
home today the screen door was open
ed by Anna Catherine, the wife of
forty years ago.
where is the other Mrs. Sharp"
asked the reporter innocently enough,
to be sure. but with a sore lack of di-
plomacy as he quickly discovered.
you see the only Mrs. Sharp be-
fore you" said Anna Catherine. And
her black eyes snapped.
II mean Mrs. Louise" corrected the
reporter.
'.Oh, if you mean that woman who
has been staying with my husband in
my absence, she is in the kitchen
washing Dishes
Anna Catherine went on to say that
she had consulted lawyers and they
had told her that as she had never
been divorced she was the lawful we'd
ded wife of Peter c. Sharp and could
enforce her claim any time she chose
to do so.
"Of course, I am not going to make
other woman does the homework and
am willing that she should stay as
long as she deports herself with be-
coming respect to the head of this
household, which is myself. But I'M
doubtedly the time must come when
shall have to put my foot down and
assert my rights. because she is be-
ginning to show disposition to usurp