Husbands who May Not Kiss Their Wives.

New Zealand Graphic, Volume XXV, Issue XIV, 6 October 1900, Page 639

Husbands who May Not Kiss Their Wives.

Ten years since Mrs. Charles T died at the ripe age of ninety. In the first part of the present century she had. when a young girl. l»een introduced to the Prince Regent, who had l»een graciously pleased to imprint an osculatory greeting on her dainty mouth. Thenceforward she vowed to preserve inviolate the spot that Royal lips had touched. Religiously did she keep her word. and. although for many years a wife, never allowed her unfortunate husband to sully with plebian touch that which had been made sacred by the kiss of the •’First Gentleman in Europe.” A certain M.P.. when courting his present wife was detected in the dire delinquency of kissing his pretty cousin. of whom his fiancee was inordinately jealous. A violent scene was the result. For a long time the outraged lady refused her forgiveness, and when at length friendly relations were resumed it was on the distinct understanding that those lips which had touched “that thing” were never more to press hers. 'Though the couple have now been married many years, the unforgiving wife has never rescinded her resolution. A Mr. \\ , who held extremely ascetic views upon the conduct of life, died in the early nineties, bequyeathing the major portion of his property to his niece and erstwhile housekeeper—condit iona 11y on her never being guilty of. what he considered, the highly indecorous act of osculation. The young girl was natural!v very indignant, the more so as she had but lately accepted an otter of ma rriage. The legacy, however, was far too substantial to be refused, so the young couple, though bent on matrimony, agreed to abide by the stipulation of the will. They were accordingly united in due course, ami. despite the utmost vigilance of those to whom the money would go in the event of their disobeying the i ‘stator’s behest, have not hitherto been surprised flagrante delicto. Whether they indulge in secret is, howr\cr. quite another matter. Dread of the omnipresent bacillus almost destroyed the hopes of a rising Liverpool lawyer, whose fiancee, the daughter of an eminent \merican bacteriologist, beeaim* so possessed by her father’s hobby as to r< fust* the usual lover’s prerogat ivc. on the ground that kisses were potent propagators of disease. In vain he appealed to common sense and immemorial custom. She was resolute in her decision, to which he hail finally to bow; and he led her to the altar conditionally on his never aspiring to the germ-disseminating kiss. Some twenty years since a native of Alsace, named Meissner, was suddenly seized with homicidal mania. One morning, ere departing as usual to his work, he asked his wife for a kiss. The poor woman raised her mouth, and as their lips met he plunged a knife, which In* had concealed upon his person, into her side. Without a groan she fell to the ground, ami expired almost immediately. This aw ful act was witnessed by their daughter, a young girl of twelve, on whom it made such an indelible impression that when, in the course of time, she married, it was only on condition that her husband should never on anv pretext demand a kiss. A young sailor about to depart <»u a voyage gave his fiancee a parting “That is the last kiss 1 shall have for many a long day.” she said: “the last till you return, dearest.” “You promise?” he cried. “1 promise,” was the reply. The sailor went to sea, win nee he never returned. After many years of mourning tin* girl married one who is now a well-known West End doctor. But she still remains faithful to her promise. Never has sin* kissed her husband, nor have his lips pressed hers.