stitch of the same silk; 1 inches from the edge on each side are straps of white llama, inch broad, which button over each other to form six divisions for placing gloves. At the sloped ends are a ribbon with a knot and two uneven ends for fastening the case when rolled up.

Pretty, simple sachets for handkerchiefs are made in colored cardboard, crimson for instance. A square the necessary size is bound with very narrow black ribbon, and to this is sewed a ribbon about an inch and a half wide. Four semicircular pieces of cardboard are then bound with the narrow black ribbon, and sewed to the upper edge of the wide. Two of these have ribbon to tie, and on them may be designed any pretty device in gold leaf or otherwise.

SUGGESTIONS AS TO DRESS, ETC.

How to Dress for a Fair-Raffles--Bran-Tubs-Fish-Ponds-Articles supplied from Stores.

How to Dress for a Fair.-The dress of the stall-holder should always be as neat and simple as possible. Heavy material, profuse trimming, trains and fringes encumber and harass the wearer, making her hot, tired and dusty; the fringes catch in everything, the trains are continually in the way, and the thickness of the dress makes the whole business a weary work.

In these days of light and pretty fabrics, there will be no difficulty in selecting such as will be tasteful and appropriate, giving satisfaction to the wearer and to others. Washing materials are decidedly the best; they do not catch and hold the dust, and they keep a cool and refreshing appearance throughout. Cambric, percale, batiste, chintz, oatmeal cloth, holland, or sateen will afford ample variety of choice. Foulard, too, is exceedingly suitable. The dress should be short and as waitress-like as possible. It is customary to wear aprons or the pretty pinafore costume, giving a graceful effect. These aprons can be of any suitable material. Many are made of the bright-hued Indian handkerchiefs, others of shepherd's plaid, or muslin. We noticed a very pretty apron made of white muslin, with a bib and bretelles passing over the shoulders to fasten at the back. These bretelles are only an inch wide, and are edged on each side with lace. A belt or sash can be worn if preferred, but the prettier style is as described.

In the matter of head-gear there is no limit. Caps are sometimes seen, but hats are most in favor. These may be as large and eccentric as the wearer pleases. Any bizarre style, or a hat worn with a fancy costume, will be just the thing. They should

be profusely trimmed with feathers, lace, flowers, ribbon, etc. Gloves, of course, are not worn, though mittens may be.

Raffles, Bran-Tubs, etc. These require much patience and good temper, since there is great trouble in getting them up and much disappointment in the drawing of lots.

The ugliest and least saleable articles should be raffled at the commencement of the Fair, or they remain unsold and in the way.

Towards the close of a Fair a number of articles should be put in a giant lottery in which are no blanks, so that none go away empty-handed. This form of raffling is usually popular.

The manner of conducting these raffles is to make so many shares of the value of fifty cents, or twentyfive cents, etc. When the full value of the article has been attained by means of the shares, as many slips of paper as there are shareholders are put in a hat, a basket, or bag, and each in turn draws out a ticket. The one who draws out the slip with the word "prize" written on it becomes the owner of the article and the lottery is over.

Bran-Tubs and Fish-Ponds are, however, those most chiefly patronized, and especially by juveniles. The prices will vary, of course, according to the value of the articles. The usual charge is ten cents a dip, though sometimes it is necessary to make it twenty-five cents, or lower it to a cent. A bran-tub at which the charge is so low as this last is always a success. A large tub must be procured, care being taken that it is first well scrubbed and cleaned; then cover it with glazed calico of a color corresponding or contrasting with the prevailing tone of the room, and further ornamented with flounces of lace or muslin and bows of ribbon. The bottom is then strewn with sawdust, and the articles, neatly wrapped in white paper, are packed in it. Now put more sawdust, pack in more prizes, and so on until the tub is filled.

The drawing of prizes takes place on the payment of the fee. Each subscriber plunges his hand into the tub, withdrawing it on securing a parcel. The chief amusement derived from this lottery is the ab surd incongruity between the prize-winner and the prize. An old gentlemen may be seen parading with a toy drum, or a grandmamma of sixty with a rosy-cheeked doll.

709

MARRIAGE.

ARRIAGE may be entered into by any two persons, with the following exceptions: Idiots, lunatics, persons of unsound mind, persons related by blood or affinity, within certain degrees prohibited by law; infants under the age of consent, which, in the State of New York, is 14 for males and 12 for females, and all persons already married and not legally divorced.

The same is true if another husband or wife of either of the parties be living.

Bigamy or polygamy is an indictable offence in all the States, but exceptions are made in cases of long-continued absence, with belief of the death of the party, etc. But these exceptions to the criminality of the act do not change the question as to the validity of the second marriage, which is the same as before. And so if the parties are within the prohibited degrees of kindred.

The consent of parents or guardians to the marriage of minors depends on the statutes of the several States.

ited degrees of kindred, age, and so forth, varies according to the statutes of the different States.

Marriage may be solemnized before any person professing to be a justice of the peace or a minister of the gospel.

But a precise compliance with all the requirements of law has not been deemed necessary; and in some important provisions it has been held that a disregard of them was punishable, but did not vitiate the marriage; as the want of consent of parents or guardians, where one party is a minor. The essential thing seems to be the declaration of consent by both parties, before a person authorized to receive such declaration by law.

Consent is the essence of this contract, as of all other contracts. Hence it cannot be valid, if made by those who had not sufficient minds to consent; such as idiots, or insane persons. Hence such marriages are void at common law and by the statutes of several of the States. It is usual, however, for such marriages to be declared void by a competent tribunal after a due ascertainment of the facts. In some of the States this can be done by common law courts.

From the necessity of consent likewise, a marriage obtained by force or fraud is void; but the force or fraud must be certain and extreme.

held valid, though the person celebrating it might be held punishable.

In the statutes of some of the States there are provisions to the effect that a marriage not lawfully celebrated by reason of the fraud of one of the parties shall yet be held valid in favor of the innocent party, as in case the husband imposed upon the wife by a forged or unauthorized license or a pretended clergyman.

FOREIGN MARRIAGES.

It is a doctrine of English and American law that a marriage which is valid where contracted is valid everywhere. But it is subject to some qualification. A marriage contracted elsewhere would not be held valid in a State the law of which forbade it as incestuous, although an issue might be made whether it would be held incestuous, so far as to annul the marriage, if within the degrees prohibited by the laws of the State in which the question arose, or only if it be between kindred who are too near to marry by the law of the civilized world.

If a married man, a citizen of one of our States, went into a Mormon territory, and there married again, he would not be held on his return to be the lawful bus

band of two wives; or if a Mormon came to any of the States with two or more wives, he would not be held to be the lawful husband of all of them.

Though the rule is true that a marriage which is void when contracted is valid nowhere, there are exceptions to it: as if two Americans intermarried in China, where the marriage was performed in presence of an American chaplain, according to American forms. If such marriage were held void in China, it would be held valid in the United States.

The incidents of marriage, and contracts in relation to marriage, such as settlement of property are construed by the law of the place where these were made; this being supposed to be the intention and agreement of the parties. But this rule does not hold when the parties are married while accidentally or temporarily absent from their homes, as then there is no domicile, and the marriage is regarded as constructively domestic.

DIVORCE.

The law and practice in relation to divorce differ in the different States, being exactly alike in no two of them.

Absolute divorce can be obtained in the State of New York for adultery alone.

rights of an unmarried woman, with regard to property, business, and contracts. The husband is relieved from his general duty of maintaining her, the courts generally exercising their power of decreeing such maintenance by the husband as the character and circumstances of the case render fit.

In some of the States it is the custom of the legistures to grant divorces by private acts, and this is sometimes done for the feeblest of reasons.

As a general rule, a divorce granted in a State in which both parties had their actual domicile, and also were married, is valid everywhere. Again, every State generally recognizes the validity of a divorce granted where both parties have their actual domicile, if granted in accordance with the law of that place.

In the United States the law on this subject is generally regulated by statutes, and these differ very much. In the absence of statutory provision, the rule of the courts generally is that a divorce, which was valid where granted, and which was obtained in good faith, is valid everywhere.

CONTRACTS TO MARRY.

Contracts to marry at a future time are valid and effectual in law as any; and, in actions upon them,

1. Idiocy or lunacy.

2. Consent of either party having been obtained by

force or fraud.

3. Want of age or of physical capacity.

suffering and injury to condition and prospects.

Where the promise is mutual, an action for breach of promise may be maintained against a woman.

This action connot be maintained against an infant.

5. Inhuman treatment, abandonment, neglect or failure on the part of the husband to provide for the wife. 6. Such conduct on the part of the defendant as would render it dangerous for plaintiff to cohabit with defendant.

A divorce a vinculo annuls the marriage entirely, and restores the parties to all the rights of unmarried persons, and relieves them from all liabilities that grew out of the marriage, except so far as may be provided by the statutes or made a portion of the decree by the court. Thus the statutes of some States provide that the guilty party shall not marry again. The court generally has the power to decree the terms of the separation, regarding alimony, possession of children, and so forth.

Strict care is taken to prevent divorce being obtained by collusion. It will not be granted merely upon the consent or default of the party charged, but only on the proof of cause alleged.

The causes of divorce from bed and board are now very commonly made sufficient for divorce from the bond of marriage. As a general rule, a woman divorced from the bed and board of her husband acquires the

an adult.

A promise to give to a woman, or settle upon her, a specific sum or estate on her marriage, is valid.

RIGHTS OF MARRIED.WOMEN. Any and all property owned by a woman at the time of her marriage, together with the rents, issues, and profits thereof, and the property that comes to her by descent, devise, bequest, gift or grant, or which she acquires by her trade, business, labor, or services performed on her separate account, shall, notwithstanding her marriage, remain her sole and separate property, and may be used, collected, and invested by her in her own name, and shall not be subject to the interference or control of her husband, or be liable for his debts, unless for such debts as may have been contracted for the support of herself or children by her as his agent.

A married woman may also bargain, sell, assign, transfer, and convey such property and enter into contracts concerning the same, on her separate trade, labor or business with the same effect as if she were not married. But her husband is not liable for such contracts, and they do not render him or his property in any wise

liable therefor. She may also sue and be sued in all matters having relation to her sole and separate property in the same manner as if she were sole.

will behind him, is distributed among his heirs by what is called "the operation of law." This is regulated by the statutes of the State in which the deceased resided at

First-When the contract is created in or respecting the carrying on of the wife's trade or business.

Second-When it relates to or is made for the benefit of her sole or separate estate.

Third-When the intention to charge the separate estate is expressed in the contract creating the liability. When a husband receives a principal sum of money belonging to his wife, the law presumes that he receives it for her use, and that he must account for it, or expend it on her account by her authority or direction, or that she gave it to him as a gift.

Should he receive interest or income and spend it without her knowledge and without objection, a gift will be presumed from acquiescence.

Money received by a husband from his wife and expended by him, under his direction, on his land, in improving the home of the family, is a gift, and cannot be recovered by the wife, or reclaimed, or an account demanded.

An appropriation of her separate property by a wife, herself, to the use and benefit of her husband, in the absence of an agreement to repay, or any circumstances from which such an agreement can be inferred, will not create the relation of debtor and creditor, nor render the husband liable to account.

And though no words of gift be spoken, a gift by a wife to her husband may be shown by the nature of the transaction itself, or it may appear from the attending circumstances.

A wife who deserts her husband without cause is not entitled to the aid of a Court of Equity in getting possession of such chattels, as she has contributed to the furnishing and adornment of her husband's house. Her legal title remains, and she could convey her interest to a third party by sale, and said party would have a valid title, unless her husband should prove a gift.

A wife's property is not liable to a lien of a sub-contractor for materials furnished to the husband for the erection of a building thereon, where it is not shown that the wife was notified of the intention to furnish the materials, or a settlement made with the contractor and given to the wife, to her agent or trustee.

ADMINISTRATION.

Administration is the legal right to settle and control the estate of deceased persons, as also the exercise of that right. Letters of administration are the warrant under the seal of the court granting the legal right. The estate of a person who has died leaving no valid

administrator duly appointed by law, and who is appointed by the court having jurisdiction in such cases on being satisfied that the person is legally qualified. The appointment must be made with the consent of the person appointed. It is generally accepted as a rule that any one is legally competent to be an administrator who is legally competent to make a contract. Certain classes of persons are disqualified by statute, as, in the State of New York, drunkards, gamblers, spendthrifts, and so forth. The relatives of deceased are considered as entitled to the appointment of administering the estate. The order of precedence is regulated by statute. Administration is to be granted to the husband on the wife's personal estate, and administration on the husband's estate is to be granted to the widow and the next of kin in the following order, provided they will accept:

1. To the widow.

2. To the children.
3. To the father.
4. To the brothers.
5. To the sisters.

6. To the grandchildren.

7. To any other of the next of kin who would be ●ntitled to a share in the distribution of the estate. The guardians of minors who are entitled may administer for them.

Should none of the relations or guardians accept, the administration will be given to the creditors of the deceased. The creditor applying first, provided he be legally competent, is to be preferred. In case no creditor applies, any person who is legally qualified may be appointed.

In the city of New York, the public administrator may administer the estate after the next of kin. In the State of New York, the Surrogate may select, among the next of kin, any one in equal degree, and appoint him sole administrator to the exclusion of the others. Where there are several persons of the same degree of kindred to the intestate, entitled to administration, they are preferred in the following order;

1. Males to females.

2. Relatives of the whole blood to those of the half blood.

3. Unmarried to married women, and in case there be several persons equally entitled, the Surrogate may grant letters to one or more of them as he may judge

best.

Letters of administration unduly granted may be re voked.

Administration may also be granted on certain conditions, for a certain limited time, or for a special purpose.

The powers and duties of an administrator differ from those of an executor inasmuch as he is bound to distribute and dispose of the estate according to the direction of the law, as he has no will to follow.

First. The administrator must give bonds with sureties for the faithful administration of his trust.

Second.--He must make an inventory of the goods and chattels of the intestate, in accordance with the requirements of the law.

Third. Two copies of said inventory shall be made, one of which will be lodged with the judge of the court, and the other will be kept by the administrator. The latter will be obliged to account for the property mentioned in the inventory.

Fourth. The inventory completed, the administrator must then collect the outstanding debts of the same, and follow the order of payment, as regulated by the local statutes.

All the debts of the intestate being liquidated, the administrator will divide the remainder of the assets among the surviving relatives of the deceased. In doing this he will act under the directions of the court.

Letters of administration are of three kinds: first, upon the goods, chattels, and credits of a person who shall have died intestate, as considered above; second, special letters of administration authorizing the administrator to collect and preserve the estate either of a testator in certain cases, or, of an intestate; and lastly, letters of administration authorizing the person appointed to execute the powers given by will of the deceased, called letters of administration, with the will annexed.

The last named is granted when there are no persons named as executors in the will; when all the executors named shall have renounced, or shall be legally incompetent; or after testamentary letters shall have superseded or revoked.

When a man having a family shall die leaving a widow, or a minor child or children, or a widow shall die leaving a minor child or children, the following articles shall not be deemed assets, for the purpose of distribution, the payment of debts or legacies, but shall be included and stated in the inventory of the estate without being appraised.

I. All spinning wheels, weaving looms, one knitting machine, one sewing machine, and stores put up and kept for use in the family.

II. The family Bible, family pictures, and school books used by or in the family of such deceased person, and books not exceeding in value fifty dollars, which

were kept and used as part of the family library before the decease of such person.

III. All sheep to the number of ten, with their fleeces, and the yarn and cloth manufactured from the same; one cow, two swine, and the pork of such swine, and necessary food for such swine, sheep or cow for sixty days; and all necessary provisions, and fuel for such widow, or child, or children, for sixty days after the death of such deceased person.

IV. All necessary wearing apparel, beds, bedsteads, and bedding; necessary cooking utensils; the clothing of the family; the clothes of the widow, and her ornaments proper for her station; one table, six chairs, twelve knives and forks, twelve plates, twelve teacups and saucers, one sugar-dish, one milk-pot, and teapot and twelve spoons, and also other household furniture which shall not exceed one hundred and fifty dollars in value.

All articles and property set apart, in accordance with law for the benefit of a widow and a minor or minors, shall be and remain the sole personal property of such widow, after such minor or minors shall have arrived at age.

The executor or administrator, pending the final settlement of accounts, should not suffer any considerable balances to lie unproductive. When real securities are not to be had, he should obtain the approval of the surrogate as to the investment.

The executor should always exercise the care which a prudent man would use about his own affairs, as to title, when real estate is in question, or as to the security offered by a bank if a deposit is made of the fund.

Reasonable funeral expenses are to be paid in pref erence to any debts, and are charged as expenses of administration.

DISTRIBUTION.

When the deceased shall have died intestate, the surplus of his personal estate remaining after a payment of debts, and where the deceased left a will, the surplus remaining after the payment of debts and legacies, if not bequeathed, shall be distributed to the widow, children, or next of kin of the deceased in the manner following:

1. One third part thereof to the widow, and all the residue of equal portions, among the children, and such persons as legally represent such children, if any of them shall have died before the deceased.

2. If there be no children, nor any legal representatives of them, then one moiety (that is one half) of the whole surplus, shall be allotted to the widow, and the other moiety shall be distributed to the next of kin of

the deceased.

3. If the deceased leave a widow, and po descend