Year: 1870

Three Keys to Wedlock.


While there is bat one way into


marriage, the ways out of it are
almost as numerous as the diversi-


ties of human disposition and


temperament. For the contem-


plation of the curious in sociology,


current illustrations of at least


three different styles Of rectifying


or ending matrimonial mistakes
Iare herewith selected, from as.
many of the last weeks newspa-


.pers of the country, and they may


be found of exceptional interest


as showing how different minds.


deal with the same grievious de-


nestle problem. In Albany, re-


lates the Rnicker60cEer of that


city, a gentleman of some artistic
Eeminence and marked refinement


of character, had wife whose err


rors were for long time known


to everybody but himself. His


very dignity of nature forbade him


to distrust where others less ehiv-
alrous espied and accused; and,
consequently, his first knowledge
of his misfortune came laden with
an unavoidable realization of Its.
fullest weight. Having no oppor-
tunity in reason to spare either
himself or her with the benefit of
a doubt, his first conversation with
the wife on the subject was also
his last. The accusation was
quietly and almost coldly made,
the unanswerable proofs were ci-
ted with legal precision, and the
offender was not blind enough to
expect mercy. The artistic hus-
band "did not, like Sickles, Cole,
or Mcfarland" seek the blood Of
any dealer in dishCnor, but sim
ply ordered the former mistress
of his heart and home to leave
his roof forever. On the follow
ing day, about one week ago, the
house and furniture were placed
under the auctioneer's hammer;
suit for divorce is now quietly in
progress; and with countenance
hard to read, the exemplar
of a wise way ont of wedlocl
walks among his fellows a guilt
less, if not a happy man.


The next illustration comes
from tie Leavenworth Independent,
and involves persons resident In
that community. A person who
was a soldier during the rebellion, d.
and ranked as the best man in his
regiment, believed that he had
reason to be dissatisfied with his
young wife, the mother of his in
lant child, and after much futile
argument, agreed with her that
they should separate. The house
hold furniture aud other joint ef-
fects were equitably divided, the
child was entrusted to its-mothers
custody, and while the wife found
a new home at the house of a
friend near Magnolia, in Craw-
ford county, the husband remained
alone in the desolate scene of
his early happiness.


So far, as in the first cited case,


judgment had mastered feeling.
The effect of solitude, however,
was not soothing to the lonely
man, and, on Sunday last, he sud-
denly appeared, looking haggard
and hopeless, at the house where
his wife and child were staying,
and meekly asked to see her who
had once been the light of his eyes.
Inferring from his mild, propitiatO-
ry manner that his purpose was
harmless, the master of the man
sion directed him to the room In
which his wife was yet sleeping.
Going thither he greeted the sur
prised woman kindly, and begged
to kiss his child. The priv
ilege granted, he handed back the
little one to the maternal arms,
and then, with the quickness of
thought, placed pistol at his head
and selw himself at the bedside.
THIS Was has way out of wedlock.
The third illustration comes from
the same Western States and
county, and exemplifies still an
other mode Of Tighting martial
wrongs. Another unfortunate
living near Leavenworth, yielded
not only to the conviction that
his better half had not permantly
suited all her finer tastes in him,
but was actually told by her that
another gentleman of more at
tractive manners and means was
the person whom, if she were fee
again, she would consent to endow
with her hand and heart. Mus
ing upon this important intelli-