St. Paul daily globe., 1892-05-29
MODERN MARRIAGE.

No phenomena of contemporary So
ciety are more startling in their signifi-
canoe and import than those connected
with the marriage relation. The time
is within the memory of middle-aged
people when q divorced man was rare
creature and divorced womm
an object of mark and suspiciob.
Today the calendars of our laM
courts are burdened with actions
instituted by injured husbands Or
wives, aud ii statistics tell the truth
there is no more polygamy in Utah
in proportion to its population than in
any of the other political subdivisions
of our country. The public recitation
of domestic differences has become so
common that that there is no room for
their recital in the columns of our news
papers; and the hasty reader, to whom
they were once such toothsome nov
city, now passes them by with the same
casual glance which he would give to
the news OF revolution in South
America.
Everybody who thinks at all ap-
preciateS the truth of all this, and the
GLOBE refers to it only because re-
cent illustration has called its attention
to the views which are current on such
methods. a very wise lawyer, who
lives not many miles from st. Paul. not
long ago had problem not easy to
solve. A young woman of some per-
s0nal attractions, who had experienced
more than her share of abuse. poverty
and hard work, consulted him about her
troubles. On investigation it appeared
that decent man was anxious to marry
her, and had offered her a home which
he was able to maintain in reasonable
comfort. To the attorney, accustomed
to decisions according tc precedent, this
seemed an avenue of escape which was
completely satisfactory, and he advised
her at once to take advantage of the
opportunity. He argued that the wrongs
which other men had done her would
not be repeated if she were under
the protection of the holy state of
matrimony, and that until her life
ended she would have guardian and
companion to provide for her.
The wise man was quite right, ac-
cOrding to the statutes and the ancient
authorities, but the young woman de-
INJURED very vigorously to his conclu-
SiOns. She knew the world, and had
seen most of what it had to disclose,
and she declared that matrimony pro-
vlded no haven of rest whatever. In
her view. based on observation, there
nnfhtnn ahnut finn nv
riage relation. 1t was entered into by
men and women with the tacit under
standing that it was to last as long as it
was mutually convenient and agreeable.
When it ceased to be this, it terminated,
either by a private arrangement to
that effect, Vi by recourse to the
machinery provided by the legisla-
ture, which was at once effective and
economical. She saw nothing to be
gained by sacrificing her liberty during
the best years of her life, to be deserted
with impunity when her attractions
were gone and her husband changed
his taste ana no longer fancied women
of her complexion. She said to the
lawyer that ii marriage were indeed
sacrament, as God and the church have
willed it to be, she would gladly wed the
man who asked her to; but since it is
something far different, she preferred
to seek her remedy against those who
had sinned against her in an action for
damages. And the complaint in this
action the attorney is now drawing, be-
cause lie could find 10 argument with
which to turn her from the position she
had taken.