THE LANGUAGE OF CUPID.

Manawatu Standard, Volume XL, Issue 7092, 28 August 1901, Page 4

THE LANGUAGE OF CUPID.

DOCTOB TO PAT DAMAGES FOE

BEEACH.

. In.the Four Courts, Dublin, an action for breach of promise, brought by Beatrice Kate Roberts against Dr Charles Burnett Scott, came before a Master and ;a jury for the assessment of damages. MrMoloney, K.C., said'plaintiff lived near Stieatham, London, and defendant, who now practised at ILingstown, County Dublin, was at the time he met plaintiff carrying on-his :.profession at Brighton. Plaintiff's father, was the-founder'of the London firm of Ebenezer. Eoberts and' Co,, and when he died in 1895 he left a widow and eight children. They were staying at Brighton in November^ 1897, when they were introduced to defendant through aDr Fowlerof that town. Defendant's attentions to plaintiff were: from- the first unmistakable, and in February, 1898, he proposed to her and was accepted...,He gave her an engagement ring, and also a signet ring which was an,old family;keepsake. -The engagement lasted until October of last year, when it was broken off without the -suggestion of a.fault or complaint. In' the course of the engagement defendant wrote plaintiff: letters; and as many, more were sent in return. In his epistles defendant -went : through- the whole vocabulary of affectionate expressions, and he did not even stop there, for, per.hips struck.with the poverty of the English language for conveying love idea, he liad resorted to Eussian; Italian, .trench and German, and it was almost a wonder that, in the midst of a" Celtic rovival, his sentiment did not leadhim ■•toquote Irish; (Laughter). The quotations ranged from the Bible to the latest music hall ditty, and it was curious to trace the different modes of appellation

by wlncli defendant addressed" his fiancee At one time—for a very short time—she was "Dear Kate" Then nothing but three words would express the degree of his afiection, and she was "My Dearest Kate," "My Sweetest Katie," '• My Darling Katie," "My 1 Ownesfc Kate "—(laughter)--" My Ownest Leye"—(laughter)—"My Ovrnest Sweet.- (Laughter.) Three words were -afterwards inadequate tor him, aud hef broke into four. She became "My Own Sweet Kate " — (laughter) — ana "My Own Darling Katio"—(laughter); and even tour did not satisfy him, for in subsequent latt'ers he addressed her as " My Owneafc and Dearert Kaie." (Laughter.) On F6bruary 18,1898, he wrote . " I was delighted to get your letter, my dearest Katie, this morning, as it cheeied me up greatly, and I was feeling quite miserable yesterday. I miss you more every day,-.and lam glad to see you have not forgotten me yet. lam lookinglforward to Tuesday, when I will see you again, CSarissimai and' I think I will take a sleeping draught'and sleep and dream of yoit until then." '/ 7 ■".'■- '■' On Marchß he wrote:.:■' -' ]■ • "My Sweetheart Katie,—The journey back to Brighton from Kedhill after I left you seemed to taka an awful time. I cannot say I felt altogether: unhappy', then. How could I, my own est,. when your kisses.were still warm on/my lips but I don't feel so joyous'to-day.";' . I In April he formerly.informed Mrs. Koberts of the engagement, and writing to plaintiff of a proposed visit to - Brighton he said: v" :: ;• .'. •:••• •: ■ ." ? nthe day.you.come my patients will nave to live or die without seeing me,.so you will :have to be responsible. You .mistook my meaning about 8.1.P. It was not over you that I was anxious to put those letters, but the subject on which I had been' writing, and as for resting I,hope you will do so many a time with my arm around you.—Your own Burnett." ■-•' ' • ;; ' In another letter he wrote : ' ■ "It is said that true love never runs smooth, but - that is more; or less nonsense; why it should not ran smoothbetween us I don't .know. When I make up my mind myr native obstinacy comes in, and it takes a good deal to stop me. Saturday is now the goal of my thoughts, and so until.then I am and ever afterwards your loving Burnett."1 .: In additional to.his medical practice at that time he was an officer in the Volunteers, and be told her that at a smoking concert given by his oorps he sang. _" M'sorley's Twins." "Ihope," he writes again, "to have once more a glimpse of Paradise, or what is the same, thing—to have you near me." "' 11 Your letter was.like a ray of sunshine this morning, and badly it was wanted;as it has done nothing- but^raini all day. You will be, I think, glad to hear that.-I have written to my father about you, and it has taken a weight off my mind. I also told my aunt, who lives at Hove. I was lunching there yesterday, and she^was muoh interested,' and made numerous inquiries abouc; you." -/■ ■■'" ■:

I In July he wrote.:'" " I am a truthful person as a rule, and do not want to depart very far from it,even to see you, moya lusha. These last two words are, Russian; I have been reading a book by Count Tolstoi, arid seeing that expression very frequently, as its meaning is very'sweet, I have adopted it, Katie galubchik. (Laugh-., ter). ; On August 31 he wrote to Ma" ownest sweetheart" that " I feel I want 3omeone to fondle and kiss me, and that someone is you." Plaintiff met with such an acoiden't, • as, said Mr.Moloney, " we all of us meet with occasionally." ' She fell downstairs. On May 5 'he wrote in reference to this: " What do you mean by falling downstairs and damaging yourself ? I hope, my love; you have, not hurt yourself badly. I, would like to, be near you and kiss the place to make it well, if it would have the desired effect." ' Mr'Moloney said he was not reading one-tenth of the letters, but was oniv taking a specimen here and there.- On November 18,1899, she happened to be in her brother's office, and she communicated to her loyerNin the typewriter. He replied • . .; , i "^ur letter at first sight I took to be a bill or some other equally delightful communication, and was much relieved when I discovered it was from you. *or a first attempt at typewriting it was very good, hut why, my dearest, ouly] three-quarters of a kiss? Am I not | deserving of a.whole one, or why not several?" . ,

Gentlemen, said counsel, it was- a thi-ee-quarter kiss because., she touched the wrong button.. (Laughter.) Again he wrote: . .■■■• : "If I could see you my darling, I would not call the Queen my aunt." Counsel came now to the critical -Pen°d. of the case. On October 24,----1900, m a letter which was not prefaced m any way.he-wrote toJier: ,

.''This isthe most unpleasant letter I ever wrote, but, my dear girl, it -ia best for both thatit should be written -our engagement will have to end. My. father is, I am sony to say, likely to be a confarmed invalid, and therefore can give me no help in the.,work,"whi(sh means that I: will practically have to keep, the family going,- our private means.being small; therefore I cannot;keep any ties'any longer.': Besia.es, in the last few weeks I haveniet a former friend:of mine, and I feel I cannot give you the Jove which I have done, and which you "re quire. It is very hard for me to'write this", and Ihope you will try and think well-of me ; any way, lam not breaking this offto become engaged again, for that is impossible for me for, many years on' accountvbf mv family and T would be refused if'l asked. I shall always remember you-; I am only sorry that I have been the cause of disturbing your, life.—Btonbit."-- 5 This was.as cruel and cowardly a stab as anyonecalling himself a linanever gave to a-loving woman/ Well'might^she write asshe did on the following day : - "I,_cannot. belief, you wrote "the letter I received yesterday morning, or • it you did you are: not yourself. You' wh° ™& to speak of honour, and up until the last two letters signed yourself ever your own,' to send me words like these; They'have made me very ill, and almost broken my heart.- I must ask you to send me an explanation by return, .or.is a love that has been grow>mg for three years to b e cut:off in three minutes? Surely it muet:be a dream. You are ay man,; not a Baby to be influenced by; other* people. ■ AhV Bur-1' nett, don't you remember :when- you said gopd-bye to me last year at Victoria btation how you promised to be, always true to me in spite of anyone, and ■J believed you, and, trusted; you as I would trust myself. " YourVords are - 'It is very hard for:me to write this, »nd you .wm thnik'w'ell of me.1. If J, had written you'such a heartless' cf et'e, r' , Awaiting your reply.—Katie."■n\ d, efen I dant>B explanation was given on October 28,1900 :— "It has grieved me more: than.what I can say to Wl: ite what * written io you, but I think it is best for ■both, ij I -wiU-not-.be ma'position to;marry,for :at least four years, if then, because on. Account of my father being an invalid, and not -able .to. give, me, any; assistance, it has fallen on me,:.to., support him, my. i f^,.. sister,:and aniinyalid:brother, v' .^ySn-Tonld-not be content with later nJ^tt'A v ye? : is ;^ow than; latei on P- I had hoped. untU very lately that my rather ; would; recover, and aU ;wouUhave been well, ; but npw\;i think it-better to release me.: I«m not good enough.for. you, but Ihave iot Been: : tnfling with you. , God knowi I would spare you, what pain I could.—-Bue-kevi..■.■.'■'',■-1-*'. r : -v.-.- ■-.-■■■■. :■■':.. "■■ ..■-;■.•

rGoun^eLconoliided by/asking was" a manf to -==|be. allowed .tq r trample on the affectipiis-of.a Wjoman,,disappoint her' ; ,hopeß, .and leave heY desolate and Irinelyf without .receiving ai^the hands, of a juiry' in .Bubstiantißl^ftmagesir^'^Ci!'".'- .:.:'■ ;;'<;i Miss : Roberts, a; deoidedly; attractive.. looking lady," bore; out courisells etatement.. •,-..■. ,-:■;...■ ' ','■.;.•:;■.••■■..••:- •■■■":•.; :••..,• :;/ '■ Cfo^-e^amiiied:' ::it?not: ft rathor a <^ue^thin ft to*e.tiecl;tb;a,man'

who Kad nd^fospeot of inariymg you dor years' > : Time would have shown. WhatMya you lost? I am afraid I have neyer looked at it in that light You have come hero claiming sovereigns, f The Master: There is something in this oase beyond mere sovereigns. Mr Jefferson, for defendant, said it was better, in the interest of plaintiff, ' that the engagement should be broken off. 'Defendant had nothing but the tall hat and suit of clothes he wore. > Defendant then stated that his father had given him £300 to buy the Bngh ton practice, and JEISO for furniture. Everything he made went to his mother's andjather's account. He was m debt when'he sold the piactice in Brighton. By Mr Moloney : He thought he did plamtiff a.favour by breaking off-the •.engagement. V-. ''■ HH r was in love with the .other- girl':'when-he'-broke it: off, also /when/he wrote to plaintiff on October 1, addressing-har-as,," My Darling Katie." He was'not at; present engagedto any ;giri;= o':^:.,;.;,: : ; ;\,y;v; ■-..;. .-,. .■■-,',.■ '• ■■■ : --'-:-Mfß.Sflbti, mother -•'• of defendant, stated that.every-fartbingearned by him went.to keep herself and her-husband, who, w^,s an, invalid.' " ; . : '•:■-. The Master, in qharging the jury, said he had rarely known a more shocking "case 'of heartle'ssness as that shown in the conduct of defendant. ..";■■• * '\- ...!The jury awarded 7 plaintiff £1000 damages. v_!;;-'- ■: ■■'/ ''... :..;- •■.•;'; :■■'■'>■.. '.