Daily Ohio statesman. [volume] (Columbus, Ohio) 1855-1870, 1864-12-30
" The View Atmosphere - Gail
ESnniltOn's Book on Marriage.

That sprghtly writer. Miss Gail Hamil-
ton, has written book which we are not
going to review, although we might, for we
have not read it. This book is called 'Ihe
| New Atmosphere,' and excites considerable
discussion, with not little adverse criti-
cism on the part of the religious press, and
among religious persons of the old style.
If Miss Hamilton is not misrepresented or
misunderstood, she, in her book, which
treats of marriage and the rights and
wrongs of her sex, takes the ground OF the
"free lovers' or 'passionate attractionists"
| in regard to the relation of the sexes in
marriage. Not that she openly, or even
consciously, adopts the extreme views of
that class, but that she advances principles
which logically admit no other conclusions.
For instance, she declares love the only
bond in the state of matrimony; that indif-
| ference is as good ground for separation or
divorce as ill-treatment-leaving the infer
ence that both are sufficient. And she holds
the doctrine chat woman degrades herself
who remains i'm the marriage relation with
a man whom she does not love.
1t is strange to see woman, and especi-
ally so intelligenta woman as the author
of 1.-The New Atmosphere" take such po-
sition upon subject of such vital interest
to her sex. We speak not at all now, OF
|
ence to it's practical bearings. Were there
no objections founded on natural morality
or revealed religion, we think it not only
not difficult to show, but almost obvious at
the first glance to any intelligent thinker,
that marriage ought to be based upon some
principle other and more permanent than
mere mutual attachment. AS simple
fact all nations, Christian as well as heath
en-, have found it necessary to make mar
riape the subject of laws which ignore love,
and place it upon the same foundation sub
stantially as other contracts. And the moro
mankind has advanced, the more the neces-
sity ofwoman's advancing with equal steps
has heen recognized, the more stringent, as
a rule, have become the civil and religious
obligations which surround the marriage
rite. .
IL is necessary for the accomplishment OF
that very end to which wom,u like Miss
Hamilton devote themselves, the elevation
| of their sex, that this should be So. These
laws are made in the interests of women as
a body. and although, like all laws, they
| NAV and must bear hardly In lndlvidual
cases, high policy requires their strict OBJ
| seryance. We do not here mean to main
tain the Justice Of all civil laws in relation
to marriage. These are sometimes severe
and unfair, especially to women, and when
found so, exertions for their modification
are proper and right. But all laws which
look to the indissolubility of marriage are
SO far manifestly in the interest at once OF
woman and society.
The grievances of which women mostly
complain in marriage are no doubt rea
!, grievances. Few men deal justly In al
!, things with their wives. But on the othel
. hand men find failings to complain OF il
i their better-halves. Marriage is mutual
: trial, and mutual education, too, to thos'
, who SO accept it. 1t may be, and often il
the ease, that continued want Of consid
/, eration i'm the husband will result in wasteS
: love, and finally indifference, in the wife,
J Then, according to those wholook upon tn
. matter from the same point OF view as Mis-
Hamilton, it is not only her right, but 1t be
v comes her duty to separate herself Iron
| him. Many timesitmay seem great hard
ship, even when there is no real cruelty
n but mere incompatibility of temper, tha
n the relationship in its full extent should
: maintained. But if actual separation Q
divorce were permitted in such circnn
stances, nothing seems palmer than ths
the great burden of consequences woul
" fall uponwoman, and that its weight woul
y be found far more grieyous to her than th
law of indissolubility. For 1t is not wiyt
n only that become Indifferent. Husband
! too, and their PARTNERS less pleasing. lr
Z amiabIe, perhaps, after q term of marriag
D than they thought. Are they to be aliowe
Il for such reasons, to abandon them? IFS
we fear the world would contain far mo