NECESSARIES. Such things as are proper and necessary for the sustenance of man.
2. The term necessaries is not confined merely to what is requisite barely to support life; but includes many 3f the conveniences of refined society. It is a relative term, which must be applied to the circumstances and conditions of the parties. 7 Serg. & R. Penn. 247. Ornaments and superfluities of dress, auch as are usually worn by the party's rank and situation in life, 1 Catnpb. 120 ; 3 id. 326 ; 7 Carr. & P. 52 ; 1 Hodg. 31 ; 8 Term, 578; 1 Leigh, Nisi P. 135; some degree of education, 4 Mees. & W. Exch. 727; 6 id. 48 ; 16 Vt. 683 ; sec 10 Barb. N.Y. 489 ; Chitty, Contr. 140 ; 1 Parsons, Contr. 246 ; lodging, and house-rent, 2 Bulstr. 69 ; 1 Bos. & P. 340 ; see 12 Metc. Mass. 5.59 ; 13 id. 306 ; 1 Mees. & W. Exoh. 67 ; 5 Q. B. 606 ; horses, saddles, bri dles, liquors pistols, powder, whips, and fiddles, have 'been held not to be necessaries.
1 Bibb, Ky. 519 ; 1 M'Cord, So. C. 572 ; 2 Nott & M'C. So. C. 524 ; 2 Huraphr. Tenn. 27 ; 2 Strange, 1101 ; 1 Mann. & G. 550. And see 7 Carr. & P. 52 ; 4 id. 104 ; Holt, 77 ; Cart. 216 ; 11 N. H. 51 ; 8 Exch. 680.
3. The rule for determining vrhat are ne cessaries is that whether articles of a certain kind or certain subjects of expenditure are or are not such necessaries as an infant may contract for, is a matter of law, and for instruction by the court; hut the question whether any particular things come under these classes, and the question, also, as to quantity, are generally matters for the jury to determine. 1 Parsons, Contr. 241; 10 Vt. 225 ; 12 Mete. Mass. 559 ; 11 N. H. 51 ; 1 Bibb, Ky. 519 ; 2 Humphr. Tenn. 27 ; 3 Day, Conn. 37; 1 Mann. & G. 550 ; 6 Mees. & W. Erch, 42 ; 6 Carr. & P. 690.
4. Infants may contract for necessaries,.
4 Mees. & W. Exch. 727; 13 id. 252 ; but are not liable for borrowed money, though ex pended for necessaries. 1 Salk. 279 ; 2 Esp. 472, n.•, 10 Mod. 67 ; 1 Bibb, Ky. 519 ; 7 Watts & S. Penn. 83, 88 ; 10 Vt. 225. See 1 P. Will. 558 ; 5 Esp. 28 ; 7 N. H. 368 ; 2 Hill, So. C. 400 ; 32 N. H. 345. Necessaries for the infant's wife and children are necessa ries for himself. Strange, 168 ; Comyns, Dig. Enfant (B 5); I Sid. 112: 2 Starkie, Ev. 725 ; 3 Day, Conn. 37; 1 Bibb, Ky. 5 L9 ; 2 Nott & M'e. So. C. 524 ; 9 Johns. N. Y. 141 ; 16 Mass. 31 ; 14 B. Monr. Ky. 232 ; Bacon, Abr. Infancy (I). See 13 Mees. & W. Exch. 252.
5. A wife is allowed to make contracts for necessaries, and her husband is generally re sponsible upon them, because his assent is presumed ; and even if notice be given not to trust her, still he would be liable for all such necessaries as she stood in need of ; but in this case the creditor would be required to shovr she did stand in need of the articles furnished. 1 Salk. 118 ; 2 Ld. Raym. 1006. But if the wife elopes, though it be not with an adulterer, he is not chargeable even for necessaries ; the very fact of the elopement and separation is sufficient to put persons on inquiry, and whoever gives credit to the wife afterwards gives it at his peril. 1 Salk. 119 ; Strange, 647 • 1 Sid. 109 •, 1 Lev. 4 ; 11 Johns. N. Y. 281 ; id. 293 • 3 Pick. Mass. 289 ; 2 Halst. 146 ; 2 Kent, Comm. 123 ; 2 Starkie, Ev. 696 ; Bacon, Abr. Baron and Feme (H); Chitty, Contr. Index ; 1 Hare & W. Sel. Dec. 104, 106 ; Hammond, Part. 217.