The Olneyville times. (Olneyville [Providence, R.I.]) 1887-1917, 1907-04-12
WHY MEN DESERT FAMILIES.
Stronger Laws Advocated To Protect
the Dependent.


Rich and poor alike are in need OF
clearer ideals regarding the relations
and duties OF the home. according TO
DR.. John Lovejoy Elliott. head worker
OF the Hudson Guild, in New York,
who lectured recently before the So
ciety for Ethical Culture in the New
Century Drawing Room. DR.. Elliott
also says we need stronger laws
against family desertion.
He has had special opportunities
for studying the rich and poor OF the
metropolis and learning the causes
which lead TO the breaking up OF so
many homes. THE Influence OF
Wealth and Poverty on Family Life"
was the lecturers theme.
The rich and poor cannot help
each other very much in the improve
ment of their home conditions, the
speaker declared. because both suf-
fer from the same needs, both have
the same strength and the same
weaknesses.
Money doesn't make much differ
ence," he said. You can't reform a
boy by sending him to Harvard. or
Yale, or the University of Pennsyl-
vania. Culture doesn't mean charac-
ter"
BaSlng his opinion upon an analy-
sis Of 574 cases of broken home ties
through desertion of husbands. the
lecturer said that difference OF relig-
ion between husband and wife and
early families of children have made
little difference. From these cases it
appeared that desertion. if there is
desertion, will probably take place in
the first four or five years of married
life, while the process OF adjustment
was going on.
Another strange thing was the
large number of men who deserted
their wives after they had been mar
ried about a year. OF these two
thirds were under thirty and four
fifths under forty, and more than
twenty Of them were able to earn
more than $40 week.
1T is the strong men, in their
early years and with good earning
capacity who seem TO desert their
wives" the speaker said. Five hun
dred out OF 574 cases were under
forty years old. In twenty-nine cases
the wives mothers were in the
homes. In only two cases the mems
mothers were there. The fault as 10
bad character was rarely with the
woman, and when it existed it was
intemperance, laziness, bad temper
or a case Of the nerves
In 100 cases the man deserted his
wife Immediately before or immed-
ately after the birth of a child. Twen-
ty-two men left sickness behind
them; one, death, and one a wife
who was dying Of consumption.
In the main, DR.. Elliott said, the
homes of the poor are happy and
good but there are certain dangers
which lead to disintegration. In a
considerable number OF homes there
is no home relation. In many OF
these the members never sit together
at meals, the family never meets as
a unit. This is bound TO have a bad
effect, to weaken and finally break
the bonds.
Among the rich the main things
among the poor. but there are diff
fereuces. Comfort, order and all
that We call culture make it easier to
have a home.
The rich have grandparents.
These are rare in the homes Of the
poor. The children of the poor have
a sense of family responsibility. The
children Of the rich expect to be
waited upon and to sit around and
criticise the universe from their ele-
waited position. 1t is fine thing that
family problems and interests come
home to the children OF the poor
If this country is to be redeemed
1t will be through a purified and
glorified family life. ."-Philadelphis
Ledger.