The Iowa plain dealer. [volume] (New Oregon, Howard County, Iowa) 1867-1895, 1891-08-20
MARRIED FLIRTs.

Optimists like Henri Watterson de-
clare that the world is all the time
growing better and not worse. Per-
haps we are growing better and not
worse, and perhaps We are, as this
journalistic genius affirms, masters of
the best country on the face Of the
globe. But everybody knows that
''straws show which way the wind
blows and there are some moral
straws that seem pointing to sure
disintegration and decline in this
country of the very pillar-the great
under-prop Of the nation, viz: the
HoME-and home means marriage
first and last. And this decline is due
to the existence among ns-in larger
numbers than in any other country
save perhaps France-of certain
class of moral tramps whom all will
recognize in the MARRIED FLIRT.
/ do not believe that our present
easy divorce system is the cause of SO
many stranded domestic ships. Di-
vorce is sometimes an unmixed good.
1t is but sign-not a cause-that the
ship is already stranded. 1t is mere
signal Of distress. Better separation
than dishonored home. Either pure
homes or not any homes is my gospel.
But say again, that back Of all this
divorce business is it's one greatest
promotor-untruth to the marriage
vow, and the greatest of these ravish-
ers of homes is the married flirt, male
or female.
There Is one fundamental attribute
of the human heart more potent than
all others, and that is Love. True
love cannot be bought or sold or
forced. Like the delicious, perfumed
zephyr of summer days, it comes,
whence or whittier, who can say?
Two people meet-a glance of eye in
to eye; the touch of hands, and love
is born, and they who could least ex-
plain the causes which brought forth
this wonderful sentiment are they
who gave it birth. None can tell its
origin. But it is there-at once the
most elusive and the most tangible
force of the human heart. 1t is heav-
en- in the soul, or it is hell, literally.
For its sweet sake many misguided
souls have counted the world well
lost''-noble ones like Geo. Elliott,
Heloise and Abelard, Robert Burns;
the great Antony, who thus ''madly
threw a world away" our own Patti
and others. This sentiment has been
the theme of poets and painters. 1t
has given to the world such master
pieces of literature as Maud Muller;
Lucille; Mrs. Browning's crown jewel
of verse Aurora Leigh, and Mrs. Bur.
nett has depicted its tenors in her
in imitable book Through One Ad.
ministration.
But this sacred emotion, which has
always brought to its real victims SC
much more of sacrifice and sorrow
than of joy, has been SO travestied
and parodied by the rabble that the
original would scarce be recognized
when met with. 1t is not to be named
in the same breath with it's vile sub
stitute-the stock in trade Of the
married fiirt. 1t has been made by
this class a mere excuse for vile prac
tices that would shame the blood o.
honest people merely to think of: u
am not happy in my married life, -
II am SO disappointed in my mar.
riage,-"He is not what dreamed
"She comes SO very far below my
ideal"-''Oh had but met you sooner
81 never loved before; never knew
what real love is till now and such
like rot that would make a ston,
image blush with disgust. 1t is tn,
very easiest matter in the world t.
persuade ones self that one has ,
grievance and that one is unhappil,
married, and that some one else's hus
band or wife is ones ideal soul mate
Bosh! In nearly every instance
were the peculiar characteristics O
that very same coveted "ideaP' bu
analysed before the eyes by the pot
ent chemistry of truth, without doub
we won Id draw back abashed ant
thank God for the good one mas
Ones own mate is far more apt to b
the better fitted to bear more patient
ly ones own peculiar failings thar