The Washington times., 1904-10-16

q
men and women. Divorce. was the. fash
ion and the government even declared
that there was nothing beyond the ma
. terlal world Ga which we live. such q
state Of affairs could not and did not
last II the law OF the land permitted
men and women 10 enter into q contract
whereby they might live together for a
number of years VEith the understanding
/ that the contract was 10 terminate with
out the loss OF cast 20 either the man or
/ the woman, Iewdness would receive a
I vast encouragement. That which Is al.
1 ready TOO wide spread would become
more so and there would be no restraint
such as is now exercised by moral pub
I lie opinion
'aThe proposition that provision should
I be MADE bv the state for the children
: born IN these periodical marriages is de-
/ cidedly socialistic- What would become
/ OF the home and the home Iife2 Ii would
vanish from the face OF the earth"
IT am opposed TO George AIeredith's
shOrt-term marriage scheme. j believe
E in marriage as il exists today. and
have my doubts as TO the ability OF any
[ living man 70 suggest au impr0V eneut
upon it, There are unhappy marriages,
far too many Of them, but that does not
prove that marriage is in Itself fail-
ure- In my opinion the cause OF the nm
happiness OF many couples is 10 be found
Ia the mistaken idea held by the mothers
OF today
Spare the rod and spcl the child is
the maxim which unfortunately governs
the INFRINGING Of the great fority OF
children In this twentieth century
This is the opinion Of William A. CTof-
fut. the president Of the AnII-lEnperIali
League Of the District Or Columbia
Marriage is a partnership. a contract
i'm which the interests Of two human be-
ings should be adjusted 20 the satisfac-
ti9n OF both parties. III men and women
are taught from early childhood that
they can do as they please, can have all
their wishes gratlded- is IL any wonder
that by the time they have arrived at
the maria geabIe age they are not ca
9abIe of making allowances such as are
demanded of them every day after they
are married2
Believes in the Rod.
II believe i'm the rod. Mothers should
whip their children when they need
whipping. and there are few children
that never need such correction, and
fewer vet. ] am sorry to say who get II.
School teachers should be allowed 10
whip their pupils But where VIII you
ind mother who is willing that an
other person thsn herself should lay
hand upon her child? IL the mothers
VIII moi. correct the selhsh. tendencies or
their children themselves and VIII not
permit others TO co So how can we eX-
pect that the children viii grow up 9TH
ervise than selhsh2
.Given q selfish woman on the one
hand. q selfish man on the other, and
is there any reason TO suppose that
marriage between the Two results other
wise than unhappilye
Spirit Of RestIessHess.
.4rhe spirit OF restessness that is
found in society today is due IN large
part 10 the same cause. Tales come to
us daily through the press Of the ez-
VACANCIES in which the wealthy in
duIse. These eNrravagancies are not
confined TO the rich. Hundreds of youug
married people who cannot afford them
give themselves up TO the enjoyment OF
Iuxuries which eventually bring ruin
Many Of these cases end in The divorce
courts.
"A shOrt-term marriage would be no
remedy for these evils. In fact IL would
give greater opportunity for indulgence.
If selfish woman knew that at the
end of a few years she would regain her
liberty and be free to marry again.
what would hinder her from running
through her husbands fortune with the
expectation or providing another and
perhaps a greater fortune by her next
marriage2 The male fortune hunters
would have the same opportunities
Cupid and Hymen.
ct believe I'm cupid as weu as IN
EIymen. Marriage with love is the ideal
relation between n man ana b woman.
Marriage without love is deplorlble;
that such marriages do occur is an un-
doubted fact The merceuaTy spirit Is
becoming moro developed as the years
go by. How we are going TO end and
what society viii become are questions
too obscure for any man 10 answer
THE tendency. however, IS TO the bad
and from bad DO worse. III there were
some means OF keeping men and wo-
men from rushing bIiudly into marriage
without intimate knowledge Of each
others characters and without the GER
-ainty OF love, conditions might improve
"AIeredith's scheme instead of sUg-
costing any such restraint. puts e prem
.um ON nasty marriages 0y assuring the
contracting parties tleir freedom al che
End of q few years Young people OF
adventurous spirit would be inclined 20
rush into marriage III tley knew that
hey could escape Laerefrum 81 The union
should not prove satisfactory,