I’m not sure how this book came into my possession. This edition, published in 1888, contains a temperance tract in verse form. It tells the story of Adelia. She marries a lawyer against her mother’s wishes. Shortly after marriage, Jurist (as he is called throughout the book) falls off the wagon Adelia never knew he was on. Jurist spends all the money on liquor, and treats Adelia and their children cruelly. The first-born dies. Jurist even goes so far as to banish Adelia to another state to work, but continues to collect her earnings and use them for his own ends (mostly drinking). While Adelia is gone, Jurist takes up with Delilah with a long courtship in the Maple Dell. Jurist sues for divorce from Adelia in Pennsylvania, but is denied. He takes advantage of Utah’s lax marriage laws to marry Delilah anyway. Meanwhile he fights Adelia in the courts of other states. And all this in verse! Bad couplet verse, but verse nonetheless.
If there’s any interest, I can transcribe the text of The Maple Dell of ’76 and post it to this web site. See update below. For now, here’s an example of this masterwork!
Oh, mother, I love him! Do, do let me go!
Without him my heart is an organ of woe.
Young Jurist is wooing so charming and bland,
Farewell to the orchards and fine cultured land
Please give your consent, and his fortunes I’ll try,
He never will cause me to famish and sigh.
He’s brave and he’s handsome , the best one of all
The valiant coterie that ever did call.
My mind is fixed on him, and he is my choice,
Enraptured I listen to hear his dear voice.
He sings from best poets the sweetest of songs,
He never was guilty of criminal wrongs.
He loves from pure motives of honor and truth,
He says,We’ll live happy as Boas and Ruth.
Update: Despite searching a number of times, I couldn’t find this book on the internet. That is, until after I posted this review. Then miraculously it showed up on Google Book Search. They have the eighth edition of The Maple Dell of ’76.
Title: The maple dell of ’76
Author: Mrs. O. A. Powers
Imprint / publisher: J. B. Lippincott
Format: Hardcover
Length: 93 p.
Publication date: 1888
Subject: Women — Legal status, laws, etc.
LC classification: PS2649.P83 M3
