Show QUEER MARRIAGE PACT des isaiah F harding and mrs isabella engelbrecht of dallas county iowa had not found smooth sailing upon tse sea of matrimony al though both are comparatively speak ing rich twice each had been mar ried and twice divorced when therefore seeking a consola tion prize harding asked mrs engel brecht to be his extreme caution at tended her affirmative response we d better lay down some rules to go by ehe said and harding agreed the result was the most remarkable nuptial contract ever drawn in iowa and perhaps in the world veteran lawyers say they have never seen anything quite like it it arranges for almost every ble contingency that may arise in the wedded life of two people the contract plainly sets forth who shall build the fires when the husband may bring home guests to meals when the relatives of each shall visit them how the money is to be divided how often the wife may attend social bunc alons without being scowled at and ever fixes a limit to the number of possible future hardings by observing in minutest detail the terms of this remarkable document harding and his third wife have al ready enjoyed two months of life to gether without a cloud appearing their matrimonial sky the contract provides that we by the terms of this agreement made this third day of may A D 1906 between isaiah hard even fixes a limit to the number of ing of the county ol 01 dallas and state of iowa party of the first part and isabella engelbrecht of the county of polk and state of iowa of the second part do hereby bind ourselves by this covenant to carry out entire and in detail the terms of this solemn ob li gatlon so that we as man and wife may dwell together in peace and har mony so long as this said covenant shall be in force to wit from the said third day of may A D 1906 un til the third day of may 1821 a period of 15 years it Is hereby agreed and stipulated between said isaiah F harding party of the first part and said isabella en gelbrecht party of the second part that it at the end of the fifteen years described we or either of us shall have cause to believe that such union Is not tor the best interests of either of us the said same union shall be terminated by either party without further formality providing that it at any time during the period above set forth either should wish to helln the bonds of matrimony such ac alon shall not be taken except with due process of law i we hereby agree that we shall and severally settle upon the children of each by former marriage one halt of the estate of each the said one halt of the estate of the party of the first part to be settled upon his children and the said one halt of the estate of the party of the second part upon her children deeds and papers to this effect shall be duly signed transferred and recorded upon the completion of this covenant and this shall be regarded as applying to per aanal property as well as real and we hereby bind ourselves to the faithful performance of the fol lowing stipulations as tar as within us lies isaiah F harding party of the first part agrees that isabella engelbrecht party of the second part shall upon her wedding to him the party 0 the first part receive each week the sum of 15 with which to defray the household expenses but it is understood that he the party of the first part shall furnish fuel and wa ter it is expressly understood that from this union shall come not more than three children upon the birth of each or any child the above amount of 15 per week shall be increased three dollars per week the party of the second part shall furnish domestic help and to assist he in this she sh allbe allowed the financial output of poultry and one cow from the farm herd but it for any reason it shall be found feces sary to dispense with domestic help then it shall be the duty of the hus band to build the fires and prepare the morning meals for six months throughout the winter and for the wife to build the fires and prepare the morning meals tor the remaining six months of the year neither party shall invite guests to the house except with the express permission of the other and thea not oftener than twice per week relatives shall not be allowed to visit the fam lly except that relatives of the party of the first part shall be permitted to visit the home at any time within the first two weeks of the month of may relatives of the party of the second part within the last two weeks of the month of october this shall not relate in any way to the children of either of the parties of this cov anant it the parties to this covenant shall remove to the city to live it is agreed that in addition to the costs men coined above party of the first part shall pay ice and gas expenses fur thedmore ther more it shall be the privilege of the party of the second part to attend two social functions each week one of which it the parties reside in the city shall be the theater and this ex pense shall be borne by the party of the first part each sunday the party of the first part shall escort and accompany the party of the second part to church in the morning and again in the even ing should she desire it party of the first part shall keep up the house insurance keep the premises in good condition furnish at all times respectable conveyance to and from town see that both himself and wife are properly clothed take an active part in any civic or rural am provement pro and assist in any political movement for the general good it la expressly declared that he shall vote according to the dictates of his con science |