Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1901-07-09

cident, of circumstance. Of necessity.
And how long can such marriages last
and be real? How long can marriages
not based upon perfect love and. under
standing last and be a credit to those
who enter into them? They should
never have been begun. but under the
present social and economic system
marriages must continue on other
bases than love. Can the people con-
tracing or continuing such marriages
be honest? Can they live up to the
truth there is in themT'
Would you advise people to separate
who have ceased to love each other?''
Il certainly would advise them against
living together as man and wife,"
what about the children of parents
who would separate because they ceas-
ed to love?" They would remain with
their mothers, OF course" ''Who would
support them?" "Why, the common
fund would provide for every one ac-
cording to their needs. Women would
contribute to 1t and draw from it. And
it is this and this alone that will eman-
cipate women and make them the
equals of men. When their dependence
upon men for a living has been remov-
convenience. and women will no longer
need to sacrifice their morality by liv-
ing with men they have ceased to love
just because they have no way to earn
their own living"
What else will II do for women?"
why, give them equal rights of every
kind" "Vote?" Certainly" And
hold office?" If they choose" Should
your
mo, l have no taste for that sort OF
thing. But there are women who have.
Not all women are fitted for office, nor
are all of them fitted to be mothers.
Their spheres are just as varied as the
spheres of men. When absolute liberty
prevails, all men and women will find
their own sphere in work, thereby at
tanning the best results, and their affini-
ties i'm love, thereby being able TO live
complete life and realize their highest
ideals by reason of a perfect con-
geniality."
1T has n very ideal ring to it, Mrs.
Heron, but doesn't it occur to you that
we are very practical and very human
and it takes ideal people to fulfill
ideals?'
Mrs. Heron smiled patiently.
Your objection is not new" she
said; Indeed. / hear Ii so often l Won
der at people. There is nothing In the
world that will lift people out OF a
slough SO quickly as aiming after a
great ideal. 1t is not that people create
ideals, but that ideals create people and
make them progress toward higher
things. We have builded too long on
the belief in the meanness of human
nature. The social and political and
spiritual institutions of today prove our
lack of faith in the good. Put pint
man in a quart cup and you will find
him making every effort TO fill his
measure. Every one comes in time to
live up Tor DOWN to the opinion society
has of him. The only laws, social or
otherwise, that can endure are those
that are built upon faith in the good
in human nature. And 1 am n great
believer in that good. There is good in
everything and everybody, and the
wrong that is results from the pervert-
ing of that good by bad and unnatural
conditions. Do make myself clearY'
You do, Mrs. Herron-as a remark
ably sincere and earnest woman view
ing the world through the optimistic
specs of loves young dream. longing TO
make every one in it as happy as your
self, fixing your eye on the highest star
in your heaven.