Reforming a Drunken Husband.

Waikato Times, Volume XXI, Issue 1771, 10 November 1883, Page 6

Reforming a Drunken Husband.

There lives a man on West Pratt street who had recently gone through an experience which discounts the Maryland wife-beating law, and goes it one better. Mr Blank, as he shall bo called here, is a married man, and his wife is an industrious, persevering and faithful woman. He, unfortunately, is — or rather was— addicted to periodical sprees, and when in an intoxicated condition was in the habit of replying to his -wife's reproaches by blows. Mrs. Blank endured this ill-treatment silently and patiently, having too muoh pride to undergo the humiliation of a Polioe Court trial. At last, however, the conduct of her husband became unendurable, and she docided upon a plan to correct hi 3 bad ways, and at the same time toseour* her own rights. For that purpose, she obtained a sheet of strong canvas, and spread it upon the bed. Some strong twine, a large bodkin, and two barrel staves completed the outfit Early Sunday morning Mr Blank came home tremendously drunk. His wife, without a murmur, helped him up stairs and 'put him in bed, upon the canvas sheet. He soon sank into a drunken stupor, and wtnt so fast asleep that an Eighth Ward mass meeting could have held forth in the next room without disturbing his slumber. Mrs. Blank then folded the canvas sheet about her husband, and with the twine and bodkin sewed him securely in. After about a half hour's work she had bagged her game most completely. So much for the prologue to the drama. Mrs. Blank then grabbed one of the barrel staves and raised it in the air. It descended upon the canvas. Several neighbours say that they are sure they heard a dynamite explosion ; others assert that the chimney fell over, and Mr. Blank thought that an eternity of infernal machines had wrecked his earthly career lor evermore. Meanwhile the stave was ascending and descending with vigorous frequency. The victim winced. - He wiggled, squirmed, cursed and breathed forth imprecation without end, but Mrs. Blank worked away with her stave without a word or without delay. At lass Mr. Blank was reduced to a point where further resistance was useless. He began to beg of. Mrs. Blank made him solemnly promise never to come home drunk any more, and never to strike or illtreat her in the future. The twine was cut, and he was released from close imprisonment. He has since been as docile and obedient as an exemplary husband can be. His sprees are for the present postponed. He has been studiously zealous of domestio peace, not knowing what instrument of torture his wife's inventive mind may hereafter devise to meet any emergency that may arise. — Baltimore Avierican.