Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1891-09-01
SHE CONFESIS RgR MISTAKES TO A NEWS
PAPER RBPORTTR.
Tie Social lot Of Divorces Not a Happy Ons-Th'
The Excuses for Separation Are Now So
Many in Several States That the Release
is Easily Obiainsd-Bui When Oh
tanned Social 0siraciSm 0iIsn
Follows.
Nao York Harld

etic curves, warm tintS and faclle eX-
DreSsions that appeal to ones admira-
ton and indicate an emotional and ar
tistic temperament Her eyes were
those in which tears and laughter kiss
each other, but about her lips lurked
the diSdainful smile OF one who, having
looked on al a masquerade, has grown
weary Of its tinsel and gambolS, us mot
ley aud uproar.
She sat in a drawing-rOom furnished
with luxurious appointments. CoStiy
etchings adorned it's delicately tinted
walls. Rare bronzeS, china and glass
Uttered It's tables. Great mirrors re-
flected an interior like that Of a bit OF
French art. A cluster OF orchids
nodded from an exquisite vase, piece
OF dainty embroidery was tossed on
silkea cushiOn-every detail marked
the perfect taste OF refined woman.
surely. one might be happy here, "
Thought the writer, as she noticed the
lace on Nine. La Divorces gown and
then, with realizing sense OF her own
general Shabbiness, looked down at her
mud-stained tweed.
The rain was beating heavily against
the windows, but on the hearth glowed
q fire that was a perfect JOY. A little
table with silver jugs and china cups
was drawn up before that glorious
blaze, and as Madame'S gem-encrusted
fingers wandered here and there over
The cups the scribbler took in the
picture with intense satisfaction. 1t is
nor the writer's fault, but Fate'S, that
she is not a Sybarite; and, therefore,
when q scene OF absolute luxury IS
spread before her, she feasts upon II
like gluttOn.
"A state Of continual torment" re-
peated Madame slowly, looking in the
glowing Goals and searching there for
the past.
And yet, what would you, she went
on and talking TO herself, 1--WE were
both weary OF chains that CALLED US. We
have outlived all those emotions that
prompt people to one mad step-mar-
rage. We had burnt our hearts out
and found no pleasure In stirring up the
embers. 1t was a tremendous bore
that living together Of two human be-
ings who tolerated each other for the
sake OF the bugaboO called society. 1t
became worse than a bOre-it was a hor-
ror. So we decided on a divorce.
IA was not without some struggle
that 1 came to the conclusion that d.
vorce was the only way out. had been
brought up to the belief that what God
hath Joined, etc, l understood, or
thought 1 did, what the fate Of d.
vorced woman might be. And then
there was another struggle. I had
ceased to love my husband, but not the
memory Of my love. Do you know the
difference? 1t is as IL you possess an
Idol thatrou have wOrshipped for years
honestly believing it 20 be pure gold.
You may have detected flaws here and
there-an ugly seam perhaps. Still it
is your idol, and on that account must
be of gold. Well, one day you discover
that il is only wooden image, or worse,
one Of clay, and In your fury and an
guiSh you hurl it from its pedestal and
leave it lying a shapeleSs huddled mass
on the floor. And you intend to throw
the whole thing away some day. It's
worthless. Why should you keep it?
And yet, and yet, when your house
cleaning day comes and you say, Now
l will make clean sweep Of it to-day,
YOU falter, hesitate, stand looking at
fetch and remember when you first
possessed it, and ten to one you turn the
key OF the room in which it lies and go
softly away. That, my dear, is what
keeps so many husbands and wives to-
gether.
'sBut it didn't hold US. remember
the day when l said to him: 4 have
decided that it will be better for US to
live apart Very well, said he, care
lessly, suit yourself There was
moments silence aud then I added: Il
want the separation irreVOcable-I wish
a divorce Do you know, l didn't
know my own vOlceP I always think of
it such day as this. The rain dashed
against the windows just as il is coming
now and the FIRE snapped on the hearth
Just as that fire is swapping. heard
the clock tick, yes, and my heart beat.
He did not look at me as he answered:
You shall have your hearts desire.
Then he went out of the room and
closed the door behind him, and / felt
that the door of my life was shut on an
unhappy past. l was eXultant, triumph
ant. l gloried in my courage. i shall
be Free said over and over again to
myself. / looked at my flushed face
in the mirror, and was glad to see how
fair it was. lam young 1 said, life is
not yet over
II did not see my husband again
until l sat few feet from him in the
court room. There was very little
trouble about securing the divorce. It
is easy, If both are willing. remember
the day when my lawyer congratulated
me and called me by my maiden name.
/ didn't feel quite as happy as | had
supposed l should.
"Then there came a curious day
when my ex-husband came to pack up
his favorite books aud. some curios, OF
which be was very fond. sat In my
room over the library where he was at
work. l could hear him moving things
about. Once 1 heard him whistling
"Annie Laurie"
at was nearly dusk when he left the
house. I stood at the window and
watched him walk down the street.
vaguely wondered if he would look
back.
at was not many weeks before !
thoroughly appreciated the position 8
divorced woman has in society. Moth
ing had been urged against me. There
had been no blemish on my reputation.
Still people appeared to think there
ought to be. Now, mark the different
attitudes OF the sexes on this question.
Women took the defensive, men the ag-
gressive. Women lifted their eyebrows
and said, 'ah, we'll, there must have
been something back OF his readiness
for the divorce,' and passed me by on
the other side.
Sometimes they tried to console me;
then felt 1 should go mad. Their CO.