The herald., 1897-07-09
"Cupid Winged by Poverty"

To the Editor of the Los Angeles
Herald: 1 doubt If Mrs. Bradbury ever
conceived it among the possibilities OF
her future that the one role she was des-
tined to play with greatest success was
that of the philosophic lecturer on the
great social problems of the day. She not
only has her theories, but acts upon
them, and who today in California has
such an attentive audience? If there is
any truth in the saying that when your
opponents resort to vituperation instead
of argument it is sign of their defeat,
then certainly victory must be ready to
perch on Mrs. Bradbury's ramparts. Let
me sum up her argument:
Marriage is purely a civil contract
entered into principally for the protec-
ton of the wife and children, to the end
that the husband is bound to afford them
guaranty against ever becoming a
charge on the community. Whenever
this contract can be dissolved without
any economic loss or charge upon the
community, and in case one or both of
the parties to the contract desire dis
solution, then the community has 10
cause to interfere. With Mahommetans,
Jews Christians, Buddhists and others
who have various superstitions regard
ing the sanctity of marriage, owing to
their religious views, 1 have no words to
waste"
This is simply our modern theory of
marriage, and is held either openly or
secretly by every body who has thought
enough about the matter to have the
ory and who is not bound up by some re-
1;<r;.& 20, I,o - Il
acted upon every day of the year when
a divorce by consent is obtained. know
well enough that the letter of the law
prevents such divorces, but it is a dead
letter and will never be resuscitated.
The public may have a gneral theory
that divorces are bad thing. but when
a particular case turns up and two indi-
viduals wish to separate, it never inter-
venes to prevent it, The sin that society
considers Mrs. Bradbury as having COM
mitted is not in leaving one man for an
other, but in leaving rich man for a
poor man. If either she or Mr.. Ward
were millionaires society would not now
be in such state of Historically shocked
virtue. 1t would be too busy in studying
how best to receive them on their return
when two people have a desire to be
united, if they can arrange the matter
to themselves we have no
call to interfere, but as matter Of fact
it is better for the community that con-
genial people be mated Of their own vo-
lition than that the state try to force the
union of uncongenial couples. That it is
not only better for the directly interest
ed parties but. considering the future
generation, it is infinitely better that
they shall be the children Of love rather
than hate
However, the dollar will decide. Love
is luxury; life nece ssity. To marry
poor man is foolhardy, while to run off
with one Is crime. Unless funds re-
plenish Cupid's exchequer then all theo-
ries as to the unification of souls in
affinity are blown to the winds. There
was time in this country when young
couple without money might success
fully defy the world, but not now.
Fly down from your nest, dear Cupid,
and permit us to witness graceful sur
render. Do not wait until your pretty
wings are singed by poverty's flame,
and we see an ignominious, sprawling
tumble down into the hands of vulgar,
exulting captors. "VIVE EL'AMOUR."