Richmond planet. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1883-1938, 1905-04-29

them to remain together, and the natural
rebellion Of chafed spirit will lead to
evils more menacing to the moral status
of public and state than divorce"
Whom God hath joined together. let
not man put asunder"
The sentiment would be better re-
versed- Marriage is civil contract. in
volving fees and legislation; so is d.
vorce. The first is contracted. perhaps
Dlindly. always hopefully II habits. tenn
peraments. disposition. or other good
reason prove il failure. divorce is the
legitimate avenue OF escape"
The trouble is" said Mr.. Thorpe.
that people marry without due con
sideration, believing that they can get
divorce If they are not satisfied"
1 don't believe any such foolishness.
don't believe that any two people ever
uttered the marriage VOWS with any
such reserve purpose in view. / don't
oeileVe that any marriage Is not based
on ahection- OF course, it may not be
aHection; but SO long as they think
II Is they are about as well OF"
lhey wouldn't be so ready to get
married If there were no such thing as
divorce, urged Mr. Thorpe.
They'd get married lust the same
They couldn't help it. IL is something
mat gets into the blood and can't be got
ten out in any other way. And when
they get enough of each other. and are
weary of their contract. there is peren-
NAL disccrd, and oftentimes suicide and
murder. The marriage contract Is the
only one that cannot be broken by hon
orable course of legal procedure without
the askance glance of public disap-
proval"
In Canada. where there were only
IA divorces last year. the families are
happy"
Il happen to know a woman who CON
ducts mail order business. and the let
ters that come to her from the wives OF
Canada are the most hopelessly rebel
ious that could be conceived. should
judge from these pitiful plants that the
happy families Of Canada last year were
the IA who got divorces"
For every broken home. there is one
broken heart" said Mr.. Thorpe.
For every home that ought 10 be
broken and isn't" said Mrs. Thorpe.
there are two broken hearts. Only the
mite mind Is changeless. God mace US
amenable TO the flesh and its weaknesses
and He did not devise marriage as a tor
ment IL is the sweetest blessing He
has bestowed on humanity. ana long
as IL remains a blessing it has Divine
approval; but when the sweetness has
turned 20 gall. Il would be flying in the
face Of nature and establishing a prece-
dent to preserve the spirit as well as
the letter of IL. In short. my beloved
Harold, l have come to the conclusion
that life is too short TO be unhappy in.
! love you, and want TO live with you
doing my whole duty. and you doing
yours, and then some: but If should
discover that We two had grown ire
trievabiy asunder. l would consider that
we were divorced in the sightof Heaven.
and go after alimony."
Il suppose you'd marry AGAIN."
Il certainly would. may think I
wouldn't, but at the same time know I
would, and SO does anybody. We're lust
human, poor us, there's one reason God
loves US. and don't see Why we
shouldn't love each other. Most of US
do"
You would probably think two years
a good while 10 waltz"
"Candidly, ! don't understand the
motif for the sentence. When a man is
dead. he's as dead as he'll ever be; and
when he's divorced. he's as divorced as
he'll ever be. I don't see what concern
il is of the state whether he marries OF
works for his living"
Il am very much panied and shocked
that my wife should hold such uncon-
ventional views. How long have you
been wanting TO be free. my Lady,"
Il haven't wanted TO be free. have
| only thought il might be best Best for
you, because you have a future. and II
have only my past. so far. You are still
| a young man. You are interesting and