Herald and news. [volume] (West Randolph, Vt.) 1878-1943, 1891-10-08
The Divorce Question.

In malarial regions the doctors say that
fever and ague is not disease, only the
symptom. This is about the view the st.
Johnsbury Republican takes of the social
disorder that passes under the name Of
the divorce question. Divorces increase
in this country because of defects in our
social system. Until those defects are re-
moved our courts will be besought by par
ties anxious to be separated. What are
some Of these defects that may be counted
as causes for the multiplication Of divorce
cases. We think the following are some
of them:
/. The existence of lawyers who can us
ually count upon divorce cases as good
jobs. 1t costs but little to get married.
1t is sometimes expensive to get unmar-
ried.
2. Young people are not brought up to
practice self denial, to regulate their affec-
tions and passions, but are led by impulse
and alliances are hastily formed which a
second sober thought would have shown
to have been utterly unsuitable. 1t may
be all right to fall in love, but before pro-
ceeding il is better to get up and look a
round There are things to confront that
hasty marriages leave out of the reckon
ing.
8. There is too marked tendency to
marry end live without home. Men take
up with a wife and leave her at hotel or
in some business while his own business
is here, there and everywhere. 1t is not
surprising that many such couple find
themselves ill-matched and fall apart.
4. This way of living makes it inexpe-
dent to raise children, and where there
are no children to bind husband and wife
together the marriage relation is in dam
ger of becoming irksome. Fatherhood and
motherhood is almost necessity TO sue
cess as husband and wife.
5. There is too much extravaganza in
the style of living. Men and women both
are to blame for this. They undertake to
follow wealthier people in the way of liv-
ing and fall into bankruptcy and life to-
gether becomes hard and uncomfortable.
6. There are too many marriages for mere
convenience, or for social considerations,
or for wealth, for the combining Of for
tunes, where the element of affection does
not enter in, and slight difficulties hasten
separation.
Z. The young are not sufficiently i'm
pressed with the idea OF the sanctity of
the marriage relation. 1t has almost lost
its old meaning as a sacrament and there
has come into its place the idea that it is
only partnership that can be terminated
at will with the aid Of a sharp attorney.
S. We abominate the word affinity
but we believe a young couple should have
an affinity for each other, and they should
know each other well enough to find out
whether such an affinity exists strong en-
ough to justify the assurance of happy
and successful married life. Too many
leap into natrimony and then discover an
affinity for some other sfeIler." This in
creases divorces. Teach our young people
to measure the extent OF the affinity be-
fore they marry.
The remedy for divorce must be applied
in the home. We believe the sexes should
be placed under greater restraint in their
relations toward each other. There IS too
much of that familiarity that breeds con-
tempt. No man and woman can live to-
eefher happily without high degree Of