The Seattle Republican. [volume] (Seattle, Wash.) 1???-1915, 1911-04-21
FRIDAY, April Fl, 1911
VALUE OF A woMAN's HEART.

balm may be applied to wounded 1eelngS OF tenuer
soul who discovers suddenly that she is not as much
engaged as she thought she was?
Ten thousand doIlrs is the current market quota
lions heart balm as disclosed by two verdcts for
that amount rendered by sympathetic jurors in New
York this week.
In the first case, that of Miss Henriett French,
South Dacotah girl, who sued David H. Decker, Jr,
civil engineer of this city, for breach of promise of
marriage Justice Erlanger annouced that he would
entertain motion to set the verdict aside excessve
But when consider that the young women who must
possess least normal intelligence had to receive and
answer letters beginning My ownty donty darlngest,
sweet honey bunchums, " we may not agree with the
view of the learned court.
The other blighted young woman is Miss Fanny
Libenau, tc whom jury in the city court awarded
for injuries to her affections inflicted by Joseph
Krauss
The question of whether not Miss Bertha Grun-
span, who is suing the millionaire, William English
Waing for $1O0 900 for similar wound to her heart
and hopes will receive large financial poutce is still
to be determined by the jury which has heard her
But the problem involved in these three suits is
most interesting one
Undoubtedly the strictly logical aspect of the breach
of promise suit was pnesnted Justice Eranger in the
Frenh Decker case
Not a dollar of damages has been shown, except
that naturally arising from the alleged breach. Not
dollar on wardrobe wedding preparations any thing
ese."
But what have the sordd questions of wardrobe prep
erations, etc., to do with broken heart?
How may the damages to scared soul be assessed?
The average women of course does not feel broken
gagment poignanty that she seeks thinks of
financial BALM But the logic of the breach of promise
suit is irresistible.
To certain too frequent type of female, marriage
III itself is goal achievement irrespective of the
individuality or personality of the husband. The con-
ctata to he
dignfed than spnsterhood. Once having the goal in
sight she does not forego it without death struggle
From being assured of easy livelihood, earned by
some one ese she faces the prospects of future of
struggle and perhaps self-support What is more ma
tura for her than to seek to capitalize loves wounds
After all, marriage as it is viewed at present by
the majority of persons has it's basis the financial
dependence of woman. A deserted wife asks and
ceives financial balm in the shape of amony. Why
should not deserted ancee have similar redress if
she chooses to avail herself of it? For these who take
the view that should be supported by the
justice of the breach of promise suit inevitable
But should the extent of the damage be left to
susceptible jury to fix? Damages based on wardrobe
purchased or wedding cake ordered not adequate
or reasonable One can the clothes and eat the
cake even though the faithess bridegroom should dis
appear.
But what can one do with broken heart except
to ask for balm for it? 1t to that fair bas
is of settlement would be the mans INCOME That is
what fixes the amount of aimony.
One of the verdcts of $10 900 rendered this week
was against painter and decorator who has nothing
but his trade by which to live Yet he mulcted for an
amount that he cannot possibly pay, and young man
of some wealth. the defenden in the French case gets
off with damages for the amount.
man would give his heavenly bliss
And all his worldly worth for this
To taste his whole heart in one kiss
Upon her perfect lips.
is the poetic as opposed to the legal view Of what
woman's love is worth
But perhaps if the highly respectable British poet
who wrote that glowing estimate has ever been sued
for breach of promise he would have become pract
cal and matter-of-fact as Justice Erlanger.
Perhaps, after all, the only moral to be deduced
from the weeks crop of breach of promise cases is
that now is good time to sue N. Y. World.