The Monitor. [volume] (Woodstown, N.J.) 1884-1892, 1886-07-02
RGa4DYFoa a DIVORCE.

Nat i4t4-t aar gone ~ thtlHFktel .
ing.
housekeeping ] didn't know that she
was married.
''oh, yes. She has been married six
months ami more.
Why, She isn't sixteen years old, IS
she j seems only yesterday that She was
a little girl in short dresses.
SHE Will be seventeen on her next birth
day.
what kind Of q man has she married 2''
''Oh. "a man Of words and not Of deeds,
as our school copybook used to say One
of those fellows that sit in corner groceries
with their heels braeed against the store
smoking a eigar-more than twelve years
older than Kate. By the time She grown
lp they'll be ready for 4 divorce.
The conclusion struck me forcibIy /
had been hearing a great deal about divorce
lately-sermons on divorce. newspaper ar
tieles, dismal croakings and prophecies,
pr~omuIgations of remedies. etc. was re-
minded Of the old saying An ounce Of
prevention is worth a pound ofcure.
Here was Kate Hardy, but the other day
going to school with the other children Of
tie ~neighborllood, a bright. forward, rather
willful girl. f%retting a little as shegrcw older
at the mofiotony Of her life and the prosi-
ness Of her surroundings: longing Tor a
journey, new books. a pretty room. Her
home was hopelessly commonplace. Cook
ing, cleaning. sleeping. was the daily,
monthly and yearly routine. Once when
Kate petted some %geraniums and eoaxed
them into bloom. her mother found fault
because they were in the way.
Il want something to cheer mt up a lii
tie. said Kate pleasantly
My work is enough 70 cheer me ~.
said Mrs. Hardy.
At that moment she was dressed IN a
faded calico. with her hair drawn back ina
tight little knot. she was minus Of 4 collar.
and her dark apron was soiled and greasy.
Size was not a s%lattern, but she believed in
saving washing and dressing according to
her work. Kate looked from her flowers to
her mother. and something not entirely m
like disgust dawaed ia her face. Feeling
such as WAS then awakened in tie yonilg
girl rapidly develops into character. We
do not realize how plastic is character in
the young; indeed, If only exists as emo
ton But in some sudden hear ii takes
form, and if a wrong form, can only be
changed by great suffering.
Here, then. was my little friend married,
and toa man unworthy Of her: amam who.
by and by. would be sure 10 arouse her re-
pulsion She would grow into 4 strong
woman aud find herself mated to a weak
man. There would be a~ntagonism. bick-
ering, wearisome efforts at adjustment. and
in a moment Of irrepressible and maybe
righteous anger. a resolve to separate.
This is liow many divorces are prepared.
We often hear it said that the stream can
not rise higher than the fountain. The
fountain is the home. There is where onr
efforts shauld be directed. concentrated.
There are certain crimes that justly rouse
the horror Of the community where they
arr committed; there are other crimes that
are smiled npon or ignored. These latter
are committed in respectable homes where
children are brought into the world and
ilcn left 10 chance. Their bodies indeed
are cared for after fashion, bur VI have
il al the highest authority that 'llie life is
more than meat. and the body more than
raiment.' De not parents want teaching
npou this vital subject ,
G;,r,If.st,- +.,4t. 49,. 80
wise relaxation i'll the home-lo not these
subjects need discussion . Weuldthey not
better become the pulpit than the recon-
stiuction Of the dry bones Of A dead Ihcol-
egy Waul,l we have soeial ethics take
the place pf religion ? asks one. Social
ethics are a part &c religion. The Religions
needs of the people are different fran what
they used to be The sanctions Of the
church are net So strong III their effects
upon the minds af men and women. Thou
shalt, and tsFhou shalt moi, areno longer
felt to he commands from which there is no
appeal The community must ir control
led by etlucafioil by reason, by influence.
The preacher must ,lmw nowadays What
God commands IN oar structure. ii mind
aSw Fl as body. not y hat He commansied on
Sinai merely. The nnwritten law ofevcry-
day life must liz exIspanded, with all its
wonderful and unlocked for and unexllain-
able variations. To teach the parents is
more important to-day than 70 teach tile
children,
There is a need d studying first princi-
pies in a restatcd form. The law should
be delivered anew. and with ihunderings
and lightnings.
II, then, the question is asked. how shall
divorces be prevented, we may safely an
swer, by doing all in cur pawerto prevent
marriages, 50 called, that naturally lead to
divorce. And here a vast field &C edaca-
tion is opened Hrs H s. Rafts, u Phre-
aoiaqical ,Jo,tf,urk,
HEALTHY GIRLS.