Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1886-10-14
The Problem of Marriage.

There is class of people that is GREAT
ly worried about the operation of the di-
vorce laws; and there has been a society
organized to make it more difficult to ob
tain divorces and to make the laws upon
the subject the same in all the States Tn
deriving the movement is the belief that
divorce, except for one cause, is unscrip-
tural and hence with many the movement
partakes of religious character With
such people the object of course is that
our laws shall not conflict with the divine
laws. But, more generally. perhaps, the
purpose is to put stop to what is regard
ed as great social evil. The rather in
definite aim is to make marriage more
generally happy, and thus throw protec-
ton about the home. All who have the
welfare of the home and of society at
heart must lament the activity of the d.
vorce courts. But the courts are not the
cause. They are an effect We might
shut them up, and though, bv thus bring
ing men ana women face to face with the
tact that when they promise to each other
to stick for life it is a promise that Is
binding. we might lead them to be a great
deal more careful about their intercourse
with each other. we should not insure
happy marriages. Beginning at the d
vorce court is not the place to begin the
reform OF the evil which we are irving to
reform. There is no objection at all in
smashing the court. Upon the whole we
believe societvwould be better off if divorce
were impossible. though there may be
two sides to the question. But until we
can get some more sense into the heads of
men and women who fall in love we shall
tail of our real purpose.
A young man and young woman fall IN
! love-and so do old men and old women
for that matter, and the last ray of good
common sense fades into nothingness. In
the majority of cases they at once become
| irresponsible idiots. They are utterly in.
apprOachable with reason. Evidence as
clear as the sun at MONDAY against their
fitness for each other only makes them
love the harder and talk the softer. They
are each perfect in the others sight. and
the only thing outside of the burning, all
consuming sentiment in their hearts that
ever engrosses their thought for a
moment is the improbabillty that human
nature will ever again reach such marvel
Gus perfection as each exhibits to the
other. In time the wedding day com es
guys, anu Will It's SplU0 COMES Inc
stern reality of things. Gradually. as the
faults inseperable from human nature
begin to creep out. rude change comes
to their dreams. and it may continue to
work until there is only about one thing
upon which they agree, aud that is that
both have made unmitigated fools OF them
selves. Divorce court or no divorce court,
that agreement will be reached, and the
future amity of the family will altogether
depend upon whether or not they continue
to be fools or turn about and exercise
good Judgement.
Now we confess that we do not see how
the difficulty is to be avoided as long as
human nature is what it is What is need
ed is to impress men and women with the
solemn fact that there is vast deal about
courtship and marriage besides sentiment
Matrimony is one of the most important
business matters with which people have
anything to do. We can better afford to
make mistake in almost any other direc-
ton, land before the important step is taken
the heart ought to be kept down and the
mind awake until the most scrutinizing
investigation is made of character. DISPOSE
ton, habits, etc., and it would be well for
each party to begin to investigate himself
or herself before giving much attention to