A CHINESE SOLOMON.

Lake County Press, Issue 1067, 4 June 1903, Page 7

A CHINESE SOLOMON.

There lived some time at Nankin a Chinese lady and her husband. The latter, being compelled to join the Army, remained absent so long that his wife, thinking him dead, married again. The new couple were enjoying their honeymoon, when all of a sudden the first husband appeared on the scene, like Menelaus in the second act of "La Belle Helena." "Give me back my wife ! "Never ! We arc lawfully joined." ! The case was taken before a ! magistrate, who demanded that the j wife should be left in his custody for a few days, telling the parties to come again after that time to receive judgment. On the day appointed the two rivals again appeared before the judge, who informed them that, as the woman had died in the interval one of them would have to defray her fi.neral expenses. The first husband flatly refused ; the second, on the contrary, said he was prepared j to do the last honours to the dear j departed. "Very good." said the j magistrate, drawing a.side a curtain. "Here is your wife, alive and well ; j take her, if she is willing. The wo- j man did not need telling twice, but walked off with her second spouse, invoking blessings on the head of the Solomon of the Middle Empire.