The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1895-10-23
PRESENTS HER SIDE
DR.. MAMIE STEPHENS WRITES
ABOUT HER DIVORCE CASE

She Applied for 1t on the Grounds of Nom
Support and Asked for the Custody Of
! Her Chiidren-The Judge had Exper-
| lowed His Prejudices to Get the Best of
| His Judgement--He WAS Also Openly
Openly Opposed to woman's Suffrage
aud That Cut q Figure, Too.
+, The following letter from DR.. Mamie
| Stephens. evidently written for publica-
ton, will interest her friends in this
| city. and they are numerous. II would
seeem that the girl who chooses pro-
fessNnal life should eschew matrimcny
motherhood. DR.. Mamie Stephens is
sensible but a sensitive woman. Her
character is, and always was. above
| suspicion or reproach. Her husband Is
a resident of this city. He. too. Is all
right. The trouble is they were never
intended for each other. They are as
far apart in their tastes, views, coavic-
/ tions. experiences and in everything as
1t would be possible for two people TO
be. He is wholly practical and an
everyday kind OF a man; she profess
sional woman with a strong sentiment
tai side Apart and separate. both ara
all right, but marriage nor anything
else could never make them one in any
sense. The papers of the state have
had much to say of the divorce proceed
ings. principally because she is a pro-
fessionai woman. This publicity has
been an agony to Dr. Mamie. Divorce
proceedings ought to be in chambers. or
in private. OF this we have been con-
WINGED for years. Another thing: A
woman takes great chances of trouble
and agony in becoming mother. often
at the risk of her life, and the children
she bears she ought TO have providing
she can support them. The one love OF
earth which surpasses all other loves in
depth and in lasting qualities. is the
mother-loye. There is no other love To
compare to il for unselfishness. purity
and enduring fatthfulness. II is the
love Of which the angels above whisper
to one another, the devoted love OF a
mother. SO holding We believe no pow
er lower than that OF heaven should
separate the mother and her offspring.
However. here is the letter she writes TO
which We allude:
kansas City, No, Oct u, 1895.
Colonel NJ. NJ. Murdock.
Dear Sir-In justice to myself an ex-
PLANTATION is necessary after so much
unwelcome newspaper notoriety which
has been forced upon me.
II applied for a divorce on the ground
of cruelty and non-support, and asked
for the custody of the children.
The divorce was 10 be allowed so the
attorney told me. but the children were
to be given 10 ;heir father as the de-
Tense made it appear that had neg
lected my home and children for clubs
and the suffrage cause.
The judge is openly opposed 10 suf-
frage and having had bitter exper-
fence 10 regain his own child. he allowed
prejudice to rule him. l do not believe
that even you with all your opposition
TO suffrage. think | failed 10 do my
duty as a mother or that / neglected
my house in any way.
And as TO expecting any one save
my help. or myself. 10 do my house
work or the cooking, is also false.
THE unhappy conditions which make
the application for divorce necessary
existed long before any clubs were
formed in Wichita.
However, the petition has been |
amended and the case will again be
called in January and If necessary con- |
tinued until justice is at least half way |
accorded. notwithstanding the fearful
ordeal through which / must pass.
II had supposed my case would be |
heard in private las all divorce cases !
should be- but to humiliate me Justice 1
in open court was demanded.
IAN effort was then made to prevent |
press reports Of the trial which contain !
so much that IS false. Three papers !
agreed TO the contract 10 say nothing. !
but one failed and then the unhappy |
result followed that each tried 10 make /
his report more sensational than the !
others
'All this Juror being made because I
am physician Any poor dressmaker 1
or waSherwoman can obtain divorce
without any public notice. It's only 4
when mans domain is supposed TO be
entered that the cry of new woman
and adjustment of affairs is heard.
1T seems to me there Is great deal !
OF vicarious suffering in this life and .
that some are called upon TO endure a
great deal more than their share.
Respectfully yours.
MAMIE A. STEPHENS.
ISL TrooSt Avenue"
INTNUn " I'M HrTTTMAN-S AGENCY |