The Bennington banner. [volume] (Bennington, Vt.) 1858-1894, 1891-10-16
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. JohnsbuIy Republican takes of
the social disorder that passes under the
name of the divorce question. Divorces
increase in this country because of de-
fects in our social system. Until those
defects are removed our courts will be
besought by parties anxious to be separ-
ated. 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:
l. The existence of lawyers who can
usually count upon diverse cases as good
jobs. 1t costs but little to get married.
1t is sometimes expensive to get unmar-
ried.
?. Young people are not brought up
to practice self denial, to regulate their
affections and passions, but are led by
impulse and alliances are hastily formed
which second sober thought would
able. 1t may be all right to fall in love,
but before proceeding it is better to get
up and look around. There are things
to confront that hasty marriages leave
out of the reckoning.
3. There is too marked a tendency to
marry and live without home. Men
take up with wife and leave her at a
hotel or in some business while his own
business is here, there and everywhere.
1t is not surprising that many such
couples find themselves Unmatched and
fall apart
4. This way of living makes it mex
pedient to raise children, and where
there are no children to bind husband
and wife together the marriage relation
is in danger of becoming irksome. Faith
erhood and motherhood is almost a
necessity to success 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 under
take to follow weather. people in the
way of living and fall into bankruptcy
and life together becomes hard and I'M
comfortable
6. There are too many marriages for
mere convenience, or for social consider
ations, or for wealth, for the combining
of fortunes, where the element of affec-
ton does not enter in, and slight difficult
ties hasten separation.
I. 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 sacrament and there
has come into its place the idea that it is
only partnership that can be terminal
ed at will with the aid of sharp attor-
ney.
s. We abominate the word affinity
but we believe 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 enough to justify the assurance
of happy and successful married life.
IOO many lC"P lhUo "Ulllllohy anu OHCh
discover an affinity for some other ''fel-
ler." This increases divorces. Teach
our young people TO measure the extent
of the affinity before they marry.
The remedy for divorce must be
applied in the home. We believe the
sexes should be placed under greater re
straint in their relations toward each
other. There is too much of that
familiarity that breeds contempt. No
man and woman can live together hap
PLY without high degree of respect as
well as affection for each other. The
freedom we enjoy in This country is a
good thing, but some of us are too free
for our own good.-Herald Dc Nevs.