The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1901-09-23
CHATTEL
PROPERTY
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D" HoUGH slavery is abolished
among civilized nations, the
idea OF ownership in human
beings has been by no means
abandoned. IL lives and works
today I'm the breasts Of those
who are joined in the holy estate of
matrimony. The old saying that your
soul Is your own should be amended
by the addendum, unless you are
married" II is deemed one OF the priv
ileges of wedlock that each half of the
unit may hshitually sneer at sit down
upon and spray ice water shower
baths upon the other hslf's dearest
aspirations and fondest ambitions.
This, however. is not the fault OF
wedlock per Sc. IL is the fault of
the people whom IL ties together
ties apart. perhaps. would be better
for these same folks before marriage
were as one in sympathy with each
others aims and talent. 1t is as N they
laid a hand each upon the others shoul-
der and said: Il own this man Cor this
woman). He Tor she) shall do as /
say"
model domestic man may bend over
the grindstone eleven months and a
half. lie is at home every night his
wife talks when he wants 10 think, she
drags him out 10 mild social festivity
when he wants 20 60 10 bed or the chill
dren Chamber over him when he would
like TO sit and play solitaire 10 let his
wrought up brain down easy. He has
not murmured, but. like a good. obe-
dent husband and father, has submit
ted gracefully. He does this nifty weeks
in the year. The other two weeks con
stitute his vacation. when he is sup
posed 10 get rest and change. He
would dearly like TO go off in a jolly
little stag party. as was his wont ere
ma trimony claimed him. He would
like 10 so fishing. camping in the woods
or TO any place where the wild man IN
him awakens and is glad.
But. no. You shan't so unless you
take me and the children along!" says
madam. and the model domestic man
submits TO destiny.
often a married partner absolutely
stunts the whole life of the other half,
leaving an intellectual or artistic dwarf
or cripple where a being half divine
might otherwise have enriched the
world. Wives are oftener dwarfed in
this way than husbands because their
power OF resistance is less. A woman.
married young. perhaps develops after
ward a talent for professional career.
dramatic, musical or otherwise. 1t is
her hearts longing TO let her light
shine. The husband says:
You shan't do IL. | won't let my
wife do anything but stay at home.
even If she does fret her heart out"
She stays at home accordingly, she
does fret her heart out, she is never
happy a day again in all her life. be
cause of the dead talent which a hus-
band strangled.
You are an individual put, here TO de
velop your own powers and save your
own souls. Nobody can save IL for
you, not even a husband or wife. You
are not saving IL so long as you let IL
be overslaughed and dominated by an
other, letting its gifts and desires lie
dormant. Every soul is entitled TO the
satisfaction of all desire and aspiration
that does not interfere with the rights
of others. only through such satisfac.
ton can il achieve the aim of creation
and grow and bloom out in immortal
beauty. Everybody knows this. II he
does not. he does not know much.
And yet heaven have mercy on them.
husbands and wives tyrannize over and
thwart each other and pull the check
rein on each other constantly, even 10
meddling with each others tastes in
the matter of food and the garments
they wear.
Il won't go out on the street with
you if you wear that thing" says he.
II don't care If you do like corned
beef and cabbage" says she. 1T shan't
come into this house. You must not
smoke down stairs. II makes us all
sick and you should not smoke up
stairs, as the odor OF stale tobacco
smoke is unbearabie about a bedroom"
she grimly observes.
Its no worse than impregnating the
whole house with the fumes OF gasoline
while you are trying 10 clean a pair ot
wcrnout gloves" he cheerfully retorts
Both suffer, alike the tyrant aud the