Year: 1870

a young and sprisbtly widow once appeared
at a Bath masquerade with a paper pinned to
her bosom bearing these lines


To be let on lease for the term Of my life,


], Sylvia J.. IA the shape Of a Nilei


am young, though not handsome, goodnitured though
For particulars pray inquire within.


In the Gentleman's Nagaztne for l. 7Ss the TAX
ing lady on lease is treated as a sober reality
ii Birmingham correspondent of Mr. Urban 5
writing Since my residing in this town, |
have often heard there is method Of obtaining
wife's sister upon lease never could learn
the method to be taken to get wife upon lease,
or whether such connections sanctioned by
law. But there is an eminent manufacturer in
the vicinity Of this town who had his deceased
Wlte's sister upon lease for ninety years aud up
ward and | know she went by his name, en-
joyed all the privileges, and received all the
honors due to the respectable name of wife. -
Birmingham would appear to have specially
for extraordinary contracts of this nature. la
1853, a woman who accused her husband of as
saulting her, in giving evidence before the mag
istrates of that town. said she not living
with the offender, because he was leased to an
other woman. For the satisfaction of the bench
the agreement was produced it ran thus ::
Memorandum of agreement made and entered
into this second day of October, in the year of
our Lord 1852, between William Charles Capas,
of Charles-H Henry street. in the borough of Dir
mngham, in the county Of Warwick, carpenter,
of the one part, and Emily Hickson, of Hurst
street, Birmingham, aforesaid, spinster, of the
other part Whereas, the said William Charles
Capas and Emily dickson have mutually agreed
with each other TO live and reside together, and
to mutually assist in supporting and maintain
ing each other during the remainder of their
lives, and also to sign the agreement hereinafter
contained to that effect. Now, therefore it is
hereby mutually agreed upon, by and between
hac c,id M,lI Iia,n Emil, I;oI
son. that they shall live and reside together dur
ing the remainder of their lives, and that they
shall mutual exert themselves by work and la
Dor, and by following all their business pursuits
TO the best of their abilities, skill, and under
standing, and by advising and assisting each
other, for their mutual benefit and advantage
and also to provide for themselves and each eth er
the best supports and comforts of life which
their means and income may afford. And for
the true aud faithful performance of this agree
nent, each Of the said parties bindeth himself
and herself unto the other finally by this agree
ment, witness the hands of the said parties,
this day and year above written" For this
precious document fve-and thirty shillngs had
been paid TO some unscrupulOus limb Of the law.
it may be hoped it is unique; but one must all
low the agreement, far as it goes, is a fair
one, and is just such deed as may be expected
TO be drawn up between man and wife in the
happy coming time when the clamorous preach
ers Of the equality of both sexes Of man shall
have altered the laws affecting matrimony to the
utmost of their desires, and established connu-
biaity upon proper commercial basis.