The free lance. (Fredericksburg, Va.) 1885-1926, 1902-07-15
MARRIAGE AND DIVORCE

'AhRt AUt- AND DIV OK T..
Some days ago, We called atten-
tion to the large numbered divorces
being granted in Virginia and also
to the laxity of our laws along this
line.
IL Is our intention at this time to
inquire into the cause or causes for
so many people to seek a divorce.
Undoubtedly the act of marrying
Is fraught with more momentous
Consequences TO ones future life than
any other act we may ever be called
upon to do, and therefore. fit Is ex-
pected to be happy and to stand the
STRAIN OF time. it should be approach
ed with profound though andt every
opportunity should be given thecon-
tracing parties that they may avoid
mistakes in this most of all impor-
tant matter. for they may be very
sorry for it afterward.
Is this serious thought everconsult-
ed? Not often, unless by theparents.
lhe couple see each other once or
more times in their best clothes and
manners, and fall in love. Frivolous
love has taken place OF all serious
thought on what hazardous ground
they are walking: Generally he falls
IN love with her pretty hands. ewes.
lace or figure, and perhaps her money.
This applies not only to the young.
but also to the older personsA They
seldom ask themselves whether they
are really suited, and If il is asked il
- often unanswerable from want of
any real knowledge OF each other.
This l. the sort of foundation each i
laying for his future happiness. Yer
all the world loves "A lover. and urges
him on. When in this state OF giddv
love and also bereft of his common
sense, he Is called upon to make his
lifelong pledge, and if there is any
physical or mental defect in either
party it is carefully, cruelty hidden
away Is this a sacred marriage?
And when a preacher pronounces
them man and wife does this thin
MIN oil religious ceremony purify the
whole? When the dream is over they
wake up 10 married life. perhaps to
happiness, perhaps TO bitter disap-
pointment. Some persons seem TO
think no matter how false the court
ship may be, that we are bound to
the marriage by virtue OF the mar
rage ceremony, which would seem
TO make the marriage ceremony ac-
cessory to the deception. but as we
are trying to show that false court
ships leads TO divorces. we will leave|
the happy ones alone in their happi-
ness and will take up our trend OF re-
asoning with the unhappy ones.
They start out upon their new form
oil lie more or less disappointed. per
haps deceived; love is soon lost they 4
grow colder and more Indifferent TO-
ward each other, and if they look up
on marriage in the light of the civil
law, namely civil contract or 40
reement, they grasp at every CD
portunity for a divorce, and but for
the moral law there would seem no
reason why they should not get one. /
And If they look upon marriage in /
the light OF the divine law. as often
Is the case, they will not ask for q
divorce, no matter what the provo /
cation may be. If they have
made a great mistake, or been deceiv-
ed, they prefer to live on to the end
a life OF social unhappiness rather
than ask for any redress, which. bv
the way, seems very far from carry
ing out the real purpose of marriage
and, indeed, redress is not always at |
hand, no matter how they may seek /
1t, Tor there are many things that
make married life very unhappy. but
are no grounds for a divorce. and
could have been avoided had they
been known previous to the cerc-
mony.