Pine Bluff daily graphic., 1906-03-14

Si'ii's at tile college under the aus plces of the class of 1906. The sub. Ject of the lecture was "The Divorce EVIL, and like he has treated all the others. Prof. Fisher treated the subject eXhaustively and eloquentlv. ! he lecture was well attended. and the audience was attentive and appre. ciative.
 The more important points of the address follows:
 In taking up the subject which closes this lecture course. I under stand that am entering into the holy of holies in the realm of discussion ] have tried to convince myself that the Eoung people who would listen to She subject ought not to have a mat fer of so delicate character brouah' 10 thoif attention And then there came 10 my mind this thought;
 No whore is there q school in which young people are permitted t9 1ush headfong into this estate without having been told honestly and frank F. the nature of the alliance: and that as a consequence just as soon as all is moi smooth sailing, they rush to the courts fer release from bonds which Wero not intended to gall. thus wreck ing homes and undermining society.
 There are those who hold that the 1aw will take care of this matter. so that no further steps need be taken 10 check the growth of the divorce evil can not subscribe to this belief. because the law can not regulate the human heart. Ii can compel legal regard for the mar riage estate. but it can not force men and women to desire to observe their vows and remain companions, each for the other to the end of the chapter This can be done only by creating in the minds of young peo. pie sentiment which will make them regard wedlock as an holy estate. to be dissolved only in the rarest cases.
 q have already indicated that the courts can compel men and women to respect their decrees relative to the marriage relations. but they can not prevent those differences which often arise and which render the yoke of wedlock galling and burdensome. I mean by this that a court can pre- vent either man or woman who is under the bond of wedlock from as suming new martial relations but it can not force either of them to regard divorce as an evil: it can prevent a husband and wife from separating, but it can not prevent their cherish ing bitter hatred for each other. It takes no philosopher to see that if no one ever desired to be divorced, no steps woud be taken to procure one. Therefore. all preventative measures must go even back of the courts to those causes of marital un- happiness which impel men and wom- en to seek release from wedlock through judicial agencies. To the lawmakers and the courts we may entrust the task of framing such laws touching divorce as will accomplish the maximum of good to society and the minimum of unhappiness to those now under the matrimonial yoke or who may enter hereafter. Further than this. the courts can not go; and it were worse than useless to expect that judge in chambers can, by refusing to release from matrimonial bonds to whom they have become hateful. protect society from the evils which flow out of divorced hearts and sentiments.
 Young boys and girls are permit ted to embrace the most sacred rela. ton of life ignorant of the sacrifices and duties which that state demands: and in a large measure, society must be indicted for criminal negligence in this matter. It refuses to be frank with the boy as he stands on the threshold of manhood. It refuses to tell him frankly the nature of the duties and responsibilities which he assumes when in the exercise Of the dearest privilege of his manhood he looks about among the daughters of Eve and selects one to be the heart of his heart. Society is unjust to the maiden whose thoughts are beginning t(. turn to home of her own. When she stands before the portals of wife. hood and with timidity asks, What lieth beyond this door?' society hedges and throws out oracular hints friends. damn the institution with faint praises; and even mother
 breeding over the little girl whom she jealonsly desires to keep always .. X .ia ratt1oc tho uhO1nt rOnf r0