The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1899-02-22

| was a. new play, Ine great SlludllOH III
it was the heroine, who was universally
| supposed to be light and unsubstan-
tial woman, demonstrating quite with
out design her love for her husband:
everybody was talking about it. ON
this occasion conversation was general
and some genius remarked that the
only objection to the woman was that
she was so hopelessly old, she was al
ways relapsing into weaknesses Of this
sort; there was no strength i'm such a
character, a strong woman would have
acted quite differently in the second
scene, where she could have deserted
with honor.
A well-groomed youth, sitting rext to
her, remarked poirtedlY that il she
did love her husband, YOU know. that
made all the difference. she said. II
wives didn't love their husbands it was
their (the hllsbandsD own fault.
"Quite So" / said, "if they will per-
sist in being satellites instead OF haV-
ing an orbit of their own in playing
Damon and Pythias instead of Darby
and Joan, they can't expect that the
wear and tear of their society can be
made good. unless they allow the prop
er intervals for the worn and torn to
discover that other people cant con-
ltinuously please, either"
| That's nice view to take of mar
ried life" Sc said. "T know you don't
mean it,
unfortunately" l said, "the expert
ment can't be made. or you'd see"
What should l see?"
| well, something, ] fancy, would as
tonish YOU. The fact is, l don't think
any one has understood matrimony be-
fore me. and I've had no experience of
it. 1t has long been recognized as fatal
to love. if it exists. and more or less
apt to produce it, if it does not, just
as there are places which give YOU
neuralgia if you don't take it there and
cure you if you do. But l don't think
love has anything to do with the mat
ter; that's detail important enough in
the early days of meeting, but not COM
parable to the bargain which is the
essence of the busness?"
THE bargain" she almost gasped.
Yes" 1 said. "the bargain. The he
says: / must have feminine society. l
must have the female point of view al
ways there whenever I want it; my
own womankind won't do. In the first
place, can't rely on their punctuality;
and then at any moment they may
lapse into seriousness, think hard of
me-the very thing I want to avoid.
and the mischief is done. Beside, they
know you; they never give you a
chance. Now, matrimonY at it's best
must be between people who don't
know one another and who never will.
That's the great secret. It's the only
chance of a revelation. 1t is the only
hope of getting anything read into you,
and then learning the lesson yourself,
especially anything high, noble or not
| commonplace. There is no room for
love here. That discolors such a union
such a contract, if you like--with all
the pageantry of the rainbow; it is
very natural, q pleasant sight, but it
effects nothing. On the other hand,
| the she says: I am tired of this kind
of life-I want something new. What
| ever l like in my present existence I
can practically keep; he will make a
new woman of me. Really, what she
wants, too, is a trusty companion: If
she has any qualities they must come
out, because she is in a new world. SO
what each demands is to be developed
and made the most of; really, I'm not
at all sure, when J. come tothink of it,
that an enlightened system of polyg-
amy may not, after all, be the greatest
encouragement to man to advance to
his highest ends. At any rate, 1t would
secure the requisite amount of alb
senteeism.'
| could hardly refrain from smiling
at my own paradox, but she was quite
serious, gradually maturing to grave
Don't you agree with my theory OF
a bargain now?"
"Well," she said, there must be give
and take. of course, but II think /
prefer the old fashion,"
1T is the old fashion 1 am pleading
for" ] said. AT least, il is what be-
leve and hope; of course. we never
know, because those in the secret never
tell us. But common sense tells us it
must be so. Marriage is an agreement
for occasional companionship on terms.
and very strict terms
"Oh, dear" she said, with a genuine
sigh. ~ dare say you are right, but
how horrid!'
Anyway" / went on, that's the
type, and so ii ought to be. Idealize il
as much as you like, but remember
that there is nothing in this life which
may not be idealized-crime, dress, fur
niture, a fashionable at home school
boys, impecuniosity, even bourgeoise
comfort, so why not marriage?"
| was just going on, "If ever have a
wife" when l reelected that such a
parting shot would be too crude. Be-
sides, she had clearly lost her interest
So 1 trailed off anaemically. Talk
ing of AT homes are you going to the
Idyls?" | asked.
She said she was.
Don't YOU think that kind Of hospi-
tality is a mistaken"
"Well, of course, it isn't dance, but
what sort do you prefer?"
Where each sticks to his or her kind
he foregathers with his bachelors. and
she, like Jephthahs daughter, with the
maids of her youth till they desert; the
two tributaries ought never to mix al
the matrimonial confluence like Dr.
Dombey's party"
"Then, how about seeing your
friends"
You oughtnt to want to see them
all at once; the frequent, though not
unlimited meeting of husband and wife
ought to be enough for the purposes of
companionship; all other friends are
supertuous. Indeed, society is to he
recommended as a means of avoiding
them. Good cutting acquaintance are
enough"
What a queer idea! What a pros
pect for the woman! What do you
think is to be her fate in this scheme 30
"Singleness," / said, tempered by a
husband"
who may turn out" she went on
"Who may turn her out" / said.