St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1891-11-15
MADAME La DIVORCE
The Social Life Of a Divorce
Is Not Altogether a Happy
One.
Excuses fop Separation So
Great That Release Is
Often Very Easy,
But, When Obtained, Social
Ostracism Frequently
Follows.
Then Come the Regrets That
Hasty Action Has Been
Taken.

ment," she exclaimed to q New ORR
World reporter.
The speaker was a beautiful woman
about thirty-fye. She possessed all
those poetic curves, warm tintS and
facile expressions that appeal to ones
admiration and indicate an emotional
and artistic 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 at masquerade. has
grown weary of its tinSel and gambols,
is motley and uproar.
She sat in drawing room furnished
with luxurious appointments. Costly
etchings adorned its delicately tinted
walls. Rare brOnZeS. china and glass
Uttered its tables. Great mirrors re-
Elected an interior like that of bit of
French art. A cluster of orchids nodded
from ala exquisite vase, a piece of dainty
embroidery was tossed on a slken
cushlOn-every detail marked the per-
feet taste Of refued woman.
surely, one might be happy here. "
thought the writer. as she noticed the
lace OH Nine. La Divorces gown, and
then, with a realizing sense of her own
a D
mud-Stained tweed.
The rain was beating heavily against
the windows, but on the hearth glOwed
fire that was 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 Scribber took iii the picture with
intense satisfaction. 1t is not the
writer's fault. but Fate's, that she is not
Sybarite; and. therefore. when a scene
OF absolute luxury is spread before her,
she feasts upon it like a 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, ''we were
both weary Of chains that CALLED u.s.
We have OutliYed all those emotions
That prompt people to one mad step
marriage. We had burnt our hearts
ont and found no pleasure in stirring
the embers. 1t was tremendous bore
that living together OF two human be-
ingS who tolerated each other for the
sake Of the bug-abOO called society. 1t
became worse than bore-it was Il hOr-
Tor. So we decided on divorce.
that | came to tue conclusion that d.
YOrce was the only way out. [ had been
brought uD TO the belief that what God
hath joined. etc. | understood, or
thought | did. what the fate of a di-
VOrced woman might be- And then
there was another struggle. 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 that you have wOrshipped for
years honestly believing it to be pure
gold. You may have detected flaws
here and there--an ugly seam perhaps.
Stlll 1t is your idol, and on that account
must be Of gold. Well, one day YOU
discover that it is only wooden image,
or worse. one OF clay, and in your fury
and anguish YOU hurl it from its pedes-
tai and leave 1t lying ShapeleSS, hud-
died mass OH the floor. And you intend
TO throw the whole thing away some
day. It's worthless. Why should YOU
keep 1t? And yet. and yet. when your
housekeeping day comes and you say,
Now l will make 4 clean sweep of il
Today, YOU falter, hesitate, stand look
ing at this fetch and remember when
you flrst possessed it, and ten to one YOU
turn the key of the loom in which it
lies and go softly away. That. my dear.
wives together.
But it didn't hold us. | remember
the day when | said to him: i have
decided that 1t will be better for us to
i've apart Very we'll said he care
leSsly. suit yourself There was
moments silence and then [ added: Il
want the separation irrey0cable-I wish
a divorce 30 you know, | didn't
know my own voice? | always think of
II such day as this. The rain dashed
against the windows just as it is COM
ing now, and the fire snapped Oh the
hearth just as that fire is Swapping. |
heard the clock tick, yes and my heart
beat. lie cid not look at me as he an
swered: You snail have your hearts
desire.
Then he went ont of the room and
closed the door behind him, and | felt
that the door Of my life was shut on an
unhappy past. | was eXultant, triumph
ant. l glOrled in my courage. Il shall
be free. | said over and over TO myself.
l looked at my flushed face in the mir
rOr, and was glad to see how fair it was.
L am young | said, life is not vet
over
HI The Court.
Il did not see INV husband again until
sat a few feet from him in the court
room. There was very little trouble
about securing the divorce. 1t is easy,
If both are willing. | remember the day
when my LAWYER congratulated me and
called me by ny maiden name didn't
feel quite as happy as had supposed l
should.
linen there came curious day when
my eN-huShand came to pack up his
faYOritc books and some curiOS. of which
ne was very fond. l sat in my room over
the library where he was at work. [
could hear him moving things about.
Once heard him Whistling Annie
Laurie
1T was nearly dusk when he left the
house. | stood at the window and
watched him walk down the street.
vaguely wondered if he would look
back
''N was not many weeks before l thor
oughly appreciated the position a di-
Norced woman has IN society. Nothing
had been urged against me. There had
been no blemish on my reputation. Still
people appeared 10 think there ought 10
be. Now. mark the different attitudes
of the sexes on this question. Women
took the defensive. men the aggressive.
Women lifted their eyebrows and said
All. well. there must have been some
thing back of his readiness for the di-
Norce, and passed me by on the other
side.
Sometimes they tried to console me
then felt | should go mad. Their COW
EFT stabs, their innuendoes, their gig
glings, cacklings and impertinences
drove me wild. | fancy | must have
offended all wOmankind, for they now
let me severely alone. [ know no women
nor do | care TO. The last woman |
trusted and whom | invited to share a
theater-boX with me made some fiippaat
excuse. and then said to a fetch-aid
carry. AS if l would show myself IN
public with divorcee.'
Natural Enemies
Men have been bolder adyersaries.
But an open fight is Drawer than an
ambush. ! think men are the natural
aennmins of ,unnnnn Nrhn arn or 10 un hoo.,