DEALING WITH FAITHLESS LOVERS.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LII, Issue 133, 3 July 1909, Page 3

DEALING WITH FAITHLESS LOVERS.

. STRANGE PENALTIES FOK BREACH ,\ OF PROMISE. Prom the plaintiff's point of view, England is the best country on earth ■ for breach of promise actions. Any girl ■ who can bring evidence that her affeci tions have been seriously trifled with ■ will (be almost certain to receive subI stautial damages from a sympathetic English jury. I In certain parts of the United States , .breach of promise actions are not allowed to be brought into court, and the man is at .liberty to become engaged and disengaged to as many maidens as lie pleases. In other parts of the States, however, huge damages are sometimes awarded on very slight evidence. In Germany a special law has been framed which has completely abolished breach of promise actions. Should a young ceuple desire to become engaged, they visit the town hall and declare their willingness to marry, and sign, with witnesses, a scries of documents' which render a change of mind on the man's 'part practically out of the question. They a r o not engaged until this formality has been carried out. Should either party discover that thev have made a mistake and wish to withdraw from this agreement, the pair again visit the tow,, hall, and another series of documents arc formally signed, witnessed, and sealed. The authorities then determine the question of compensation for injured feelings. In Franco breach of promise, actions are extremely few. The French law requires the plaintiff to prove in court that she has suffered pecuniary loss by her fiancee's f >mcss. Throughout l'ranco a- bride almost invariably lias a marriage dot, large or small, and the fact is likely to weaken her case. The same law lias been adopted in Austria and Holland, where the number of such cases is small. In most of the Continental cities the parties .concerned take the law ihto their mv» hands and get. their (big brothers or muscular friends to administer a severe thrashing to any fickle man who breaks his promise to marry. _ Still another method is followed 'a Italy. The law requires the person suing for Ibreflcn of promise, of whichever sex, to produce a written promise' o marry from the defendant, otherwise the case is' instantly thrown out' of court. The difficulty of producing such evidence is, of course, practically insurmountable, and cases are rarely tried Many a n Italian girl, therefore', whose affections have been blighted does not hesitate to revenge herself by means of the stiletto.—.Home paper.'