MEN WHO EXCHANGE THEIR WIVES.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 7293, 4 January 1902, Page 3

MEN WHO EXCHANGE THEIR WIVES.

{Tit-Bits.) Extraordinary as the statement may appear at first sight, it is nevertheless an in- J c&ntrovertible fact that the records of connubial existence contain various instances of men who have actually exchanged their wives for the spouses of other people, and a remarkable case of the kind comes from Luton, Bedfordshire, where an elderly individual offered his marital partner to a friend in exchange for the latter's wife. The ladies beingi, strangely enough, willing to assent to the particular bargain, a deed of exchange was duly drawn up, signed, witnessed, and stamped. A somewhat similar case occurred some years ago near Inverness. A middle-aged farmer, having perceived that his wife was J displaying much devotion to a certain neighbour, proposed, jokingly that the said neighbour should take possession • of the j lady, whilst he himself would be willing to accept in exchange the latter's wife. Thin proposition made a keen impression ton the agriculturist's madam, who communicated it to the other parties, and within six weeks of the making of the suggestion the affair had been carried out and THE EXCHANGE JkATXETED. It is to beiioped that the arrangement worked harmoniously, and that ©one of the individuals concerned had reason to repent thereof. In certain parts of Italy it is by no means an xuicommon practice for husbands to exchange their wives for cattle, horses, or mules. Early in the year 1870 a Milanese peasant handed over his spouse to a Wealthy farmer im consideration of the latter presentiog) him with seven acres of meadow land and hklf-iirdozein sheep. Another peasant, a native of Calabria, exchanged the ■Wife of his bosom for ten sacks of flour— .verily an exceedingly moderate rate .of barter when it is taken into accoxmt that the lady was prepossessing and domesticated to a high degree.. . . ,-..- Perhaps, however, one of the most sensational oases of the kind was that which took place not so very long ago in a Western State of America, where an elderly artisan exchanged his wife and four children for the spouse and corresponding dumber of olive- 1 branches appertaining to an acquaintance 1 who waa employed in the same factory. Whether the youngsters approved of the change or not the writer is> unable to say ; but the wives themselves entered into the transaction: with delight, and expressed themselves as being more than satisfied therewith. After the queer barter had taken place the two families visited each 1 other as in the past,, and exhibited no sign whatever of diffidence or awkwardness in .their mutual intercourse, though the situation was certainly i} GBOTESQTJB IN THE EXTREME. !A Russian farm labourer exchanged his wife, who was ybnngi and attractive, for the middle-aged wife of a neighbour, but he did bo on the understanding that the hitter ■'' took over " as well his mother-in-law, who had made his life a veritable burden to the son of the sotL Soon afterwards the 7 neighbour, groaning under the repeated attacks of .his new spouse's mother, desired to undo the bargain, but the other mam refused to. assent to the proposal, and the unforitunate fellow' lived a life* of domestic infelicity until the death of the aggressive woman. . '. Early in the last century it waa customary in certain parts of Austria to hold fairs where peasants congregated for the purpose of exchanging their wives. Sometimes as many as . a hundred exchanges . were made in the course of a single day, but, owing to the fact that riotous scenes frequently took place at these queer fairs, the Government interfered and they were prohibited henceforward, though the bartering) in question continued privately for many years afterwards. ; ':■ ri ■