New-York tribune., 1905-08-24
RUNAWAY HUSBANDS.
Desertion Rarely WTe's Fault, Miss
Brandt ProUes by Statistics.

There IS a tendency on the part OF many among
those who have given any attention to the problem
OF family desertion "a phenomenon which is forcing
itself more and more upon the attention Of char
liable workeTs) to throw the blame TO consider
sble extent upon economic conditions or upon the
shiftlessness bad cooking OF the wife. This view
is far from being borne out by investigation of
the subject made by Lillian Brandt, and recently
published by the Charity Organization society.
Miss Brandt has made a study OF 574 cases OF de-
serton, the statistics being supplied by the charity
organization societies Of twenty-five cities in fifteen
different States Her conclusion from the data
in her possession that while here and there the
responsibility desertion may rest with indus
trial conditions. with Ill considered marriages in
carly youth between and women of irrecon-
cilable differences OF temperament, and somewhat
more frequently, with the impossible temper and
cooking OF the wife. stin the constant element
IN the situation is the irresponsible, ease-loving
man who acts on the theory that when hard times
OF any sort he is justified IN making arrange
rnents for his own comfort which do not include
his wife and children"
MEN TO BLAME
In almost two-thirds Of the 3S5 IN which
explanations available the reports of the
charity workers indicate that the man was chiefly
20 blame. In about L per the disruption seems
10 have been chiefly the wife's fault and in 13 per
cent the and appear to have been
equally to blame In almost Z per the rnnne-
date responsibility is said lain IN circur-
stances outside the control OF both. only three
cases were the men found 10 be genuinely inca
pacitated for supporting their fanilies-two by
serious illness and one by the loss of his sight
These" says Miss Brandt ARE the only clear
examples among the 574 cases OF the hundreds and
hundreds Of men who are popularity supposed to be
driven 10 the desperate measure Of relieving their
wives and children Of the disadvantage of their
presence in order that the public shall see to IL
that they DO suffer"
The circumstances Of desertion were IN some
cases extremely shocking. Twenty-Five men left
he ind ham rlvVaA= daa
baby had just died. in another one was dying: in
two the children were ILL., in others both wife
and children and in sixteen the wife was seriously
Ill. One Of these women was left dying Of con-
sumption, without food care. and another al
most dead from abuse inflicted her return from
the hospital. where she had been undergoing a
serious operation was left alone IN the house lust
after dispossess notice had been served.
One hundred men. almost a third OF the whole
number, left short time before. just after the
Birth Of a child and many were in the habit of
doing this.
striking feature OF the statistics is the large
amount OF Iooseness they reveal in the marriage
relation This found TO be the most prominent
element in the breaking up OF the family in 10
cases t1fty-three Of the men left their wives for
SHother S woman. although one continued to make a
ing II TO them in neTson one eaven+ae;5 10y
were accused OF this particular fault. and in four
convict them
DRINK NOT MARKED CAUSE
Ahteinperance is not conspicuous among the
c~Oses OF deserticn, although a25 OF the and
- OF The women were reported hard drinkers"
ms may have been because the intemperance was
4ost sight OF in serious faults
Differences Of religion are assigned in several
"a as contributing the disruption of the
ofiney IN one Csc me we was salvation army
interest Interest IN his spiritual welfare.
Inc behavior Of the deserted wives sustains the
its o. sympathy for them that is created by the
huhcreo and twenty OF the 574 had contributed
something the support OF the family before de-
completely running their health thereby One |
husband oa The charge Of bigamy When he was
seAteilcec 70 three years she felt square with him
for al he had made her suffer Another secured |
divorce and an order for the payment 10 her Of |
p week alimony. Such vigorous measures were |
seem 10 have been the usual role and in about
half the cases the families became more less
The compelled to resume coinplete or partiai
support OF his family
"FLOATERs" AND DEsERTERs ONE
or later history Of the men little is known Thirty
hVe were reunited TO their families, and two hun |
dred were known 10 have had some communication |
with them after leaving home. Sometimes the chill
dren said that their father came 10 them when |
their mother was away. One man returned Just |
long enough TO enjoy the luxury of a fight An |
Dad 6n Gf eaag m nsG ws he
OF large proportion of the Miss Brandt
6en Of tR Rs Go oe hGn hf hs h0a ruth
be known" she says. 1T would be found that MANY
ds and make up Se bread lines M are the Tes
desertng husbands, who create a double problem
casting themselves on charity ia some other place.
Miss Erandrs essay Is published in volume en-
review OF the desertion and non-support laws In
the various States OF the Union BY William II
Baldwin. OF Washington. -
NTTRsES SCHOOL IN TTTRKEy