WIFE DISCARDED.

Auckland Star, Volume XXXVIII, Issue 250, 19 October 1907, Page 13

WIFE DISCARDED.

COMPACT. One tDf -the rstrangest banquets .ever given : was 6urely that to which Mr. Ferdinand Pixney Earle invited Tiis friends at his beautiful Monroe (New Jersey) home on Monday night (September 2). The function was in honor of his discarded wife, who to please .him will endeavour to get a divorce; so that he may marry another woman. Mr. Earle is a wealthy American artist, and married his wife, a -Frenchwoman, in .1897, there being one child, a son of eight. very happy until Mr. Earle-hap-pened-to meet the lady he describes.as his "fore-ordained ..affinity." Finding it impossible to overcome his -feelings, he laid the facts before his father-in-law, who "appreciated my point of view,' and agreed to receive back "his .daughter and arrange tor the divorce. Finally he gave mc his paternal benediction." Mrs. Earle's successor was a guest at the banquet, together with lier mother and brother, and was on the friendliest terms with Mrs. Earle. The discarded wife told the -company that her husband was right, and that his affinity was a noble woman, destined to make him supremely happy. Both Mr. Earle- and his "affinity" are Socialists. SPEED THE PARTING The "affinity," who, by the Way, Is a Miss Julia Cutler, was not present on Wednesday when Mrs. Earle sailed for Europe, but Mr. Earle was, and seemed highly delighted with the sensation he had caused, though the attitude of some of the crowd was the reverse of friendly. Photographers and reporters were present on the pier in scores, and the click of the cameras was incessant as Mi Earle escorted his wife on board. By and by they came on deck, and with their child posed so that the photographers might take a satisfactory .picture. "When the 6hip had sailed Earle roamed around among the crowd, giving away copies of hispoem on marriage. "I-guess," said he, "my paintings and poems will sell; like hot cakes after all this advertisement. I am-more convinced than ever," he added, "tiat -my course is the right one. I believe that I have lost no friends by publishing my intentions frankly. On the other hand, I believe that when people have had time for fuller reflection I shall have sained many friends."

He has not done so in Monroe, at any rate. There there has been talk of tar and feathers, .much -to Mr. Earle's indignation ,- and he says lie will sell his place there as soon as possible, and move to a more congenial

It was put to him that when he had married a second -time he might find that his new wife was not his real affinity after all. "Oh, in that case," said he, "I suppose I might send to Europe for my first wife!"

Earle comes from a family that made a large fortune in the hotel business in New York, where his uncle is still in business. When informed of his nephew's act, therold man said, "'Urn, well, I always thought that nephew of mine was a d d fool. Now I know it."