The times., 1901-05-22
uatrimonial Ethics in paterson.


Paterson, New Jersey, must be an in
teresting place to live in if many Of
the citizens are of as peculiar indi-
viduality as one Richard Grosser. of
that city. Mr.. Grosser is a leading ofh-
cial of the local Society for the Pre-
vention of Cruelty TO Children. This
society undoubtedly originated in an
earnest wish to protect and benefit
helpless little ones, but there have been
people who suspected that in these lat
ter days its business was mainly con
fined 10 interfering with what was
properly none of its business. There
are some people who are powerfully at
tracted toward that sort Of associa-
ton, and Mr.. Grosser may be one of
them. If he is a philanthropist, his
beneYoIence is Of a type unique in the
annals of charity
He was compelled to appear in tie
Police Court not long ago and his feel
ings seemed to be considerably hurt by
the indignity of arrest. The offence Of
which he was accused was wife-beat-
ing, and he failed to see why, in the
circumstances. that action was not
quite justifable. He related the cir
cumstances with naivete which was
doubtless entertaining to all his hear
ers.
When asked how he came to chas-
tise the woman whom he once promised
to love. cherish, and protect, ne re-
piled. with an injured and amazed ex-
preston on his face:
''Why. my dinner was cold. Can any man
forgive ofenc. Of that kind2 An she had 70
do 10 keep II warm had been drinking.
and 1 needed d good. hot dinner to make me
sober. ! knox you do not blame me. judge
Wouldn't YOU beat your wife II you were a hard
working honest and size gave you a cold
dinnerg
Il don't want any love or fooIishness Ike
that but ] do want 10 have my meals hot and
il woman can't do that / say she should be
taught"
This Is a code Of matrimonial ethics
which may be more or less novel to
the people Of the country at large, but
there is always something to learn in
this world. The relation of husband
and wife is one which in many ways
differs from any other in life. Mr..
Grosser, if he had not married, and had
been In the same condition that he
was when he was served with a cold
dinner by his spouse, would probably
have gotten his meals at a restaurant
or in boarding house. IT is improb-
able that he would have beaten the
waiter the cook, or the landlady If his
meals did not suit him. If he had done
50, and was palpably intoxicated. he
would inevitably have been landed in
,sfsT
the nearness Of a policeman and the
speed Of the patrol wagon. People are
not allowed to come into a public eat
ing house in quest Of u meal Ito make
them sober" and pound the employees
OF the place If the meal is not 20 their
liking. It is only mans wife who
can be treated in that way.
Mr.. Grosser's ideals Of marriage are
also interesting, and if he had supple
Tnented them with his notions on the
subject Of the proper treatment Of chill
dren ii would have been still more in
teresting. He says that he doesn't want
any love or fcolishness like that; he
only wants TO have his meals hot
Suppose that Mrs. Grosser had retorted
that she did not want any love or fool
ishness like that, but only wanted TO
avoid the company Of an intoxicated
man. Would that have been justifable?
IL is generally admitted that man
who is too much under the influence Of
liquor to behave politely is not fit com
pany for dinner party, or In suitable
condition TO mingle in ordinary society
Is il the duty OF his wife to submit to a
beating because she fails to perform in
a manner which he thinks proper the
duties Of a cook and housekeeper? And
what is supposed to be the basis of the
marriage relation III Paterson. anyway?
1t really seems as IL the sensible way
would have been for Mr.. Grosser to
have remained a bachelor, when he