Woman's chronicle. (Little Rock, Ark.) 1888-1???, 1890-02-08
as human deficiency allows to marry wrong; and
we make it all but unnecessary TO ask if divorce
be right. ELIZABETH STUART PHELPS.
WHY DO THEY?
Chicago Express, !


attention and held me almost spellbound until we
had accomplished distance of about three miles
by cable car, and | had gotten out on the transfer
which brought me to this office. The reason of
this interest lay not in their beauty, their wealth,
nor yet their intelligence, but it was in the pro-
found study of and pity for their too plain weak
ness and cruel Wickedness. One of these danes
was probably about As or so years of age and the
other about 40. They were neighbors evidently
and were we'll acquainted. Probably they were
very near neighbors, and were on their way to
view the pretty Christmas display of beautiful
goods in the various dry goods emporums, jewelry
stores and shops of this great city. The moment
they were seated they began to gggle, and it was
gggle, gigge, giggle, like two silly girls, and one
might have taken them for such only those gray
locks betrayed them.
But, the conversation was what drew my atten-
ton They were discussing some other woman
who evidently had been recently married. Such
lot of 'she-shes," and II told her $685. and
''she-sheso again and again. 1t was study to
watch their faces, now wearing smile of derision
and now look of hate and mimic horror Her
dresses were discussed; her boots, her bonnets
her underwear, her hosiery. Her habits came in
next and she was lampooned without stint for
coming down. ''after her husband had gone to his
work, for breakfast"
Then the young life of the girl bride was taken
into consideration and her beaus before marriage
gone over. Each agreed she had not married when
she ought to, nor the one she wanted; and then
the prospects of future fidelity on her side were
gone over, and divorce was nearly applied for.
Her extravaganza and, above ALL her affectation,
as they called it, came in for its share, and by the
time they ''let up' on the poor victim there wasn't
pn-feather, metaphorically speaking, left on her.
Poor wretch, she wasn't there to stand her ground
for self-defense and justice, and those women had
no mercy
Her husband was "a model of all the virtues"
What pity he should marry such baggage"
was the verdict AS their tongues wagged on the
cars rolled on, until it seemed their music was one
with the din of the constantly ringing guard bell
on the grip car, and they looked to me like two
automatic machines set to do very disagreeable
job and they did it. After left them l fell to
thinking, and though tried hard not to think
harshly still felt how useless it was to hope for
better things for women while they yet dwelt on
plan (which countenanced so much useless and
wicked expenditure of precious time in such an
unwholesome and loyeess way. l wondered if
they had nothing better to do if they had no
time to devote in nobIer study than the manner
of life of some poor child whom they admitted was
but 18 years of age? 1 felt really more sorry for
them than for the young girl they were so cruelty
assailng. I thought, OH how long it will take to
tone such minds up to the understanding of Wig
orous thought. 1 haven't doubt but they are
good church members and what society reckons
the respectable portion of society. But, if they
were to be measured by their heads and hearts
how far they would fall short of that high standard
of womanhood needed as representative in these
trying times. These reflections were not pleasant
and they have not left me yet. am trying
to solve the question as to the ways and means
needed to educate our women up to the summit OF
pure unselfsh, helpful womanhood, the one to the
other and especially to the very young brides just
starting the responsible journey of life.
~