Evening journal., 1908-01-13
An Incident of the
Divorce Club.
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those who had not tried matrimony
and those who were happily married,
but was very popular with Divorces.
It's object was ostensibly to enable the
members to compare notes, so that II
any Of them should happen to marry
again they might benefit by each 9TH
sr's experiences. The real object was
to fnd other mates.
Alexander Smithson became a mem
ber after the club had grown to be
very large. IL is questionable IL Mr..
Smlthson Joined for the purpose OF
finding a wife. He had loved the wo.
man from whom he had been divorc-
ed and by whom he had had children.
The cause OF their separation was in
compatibility. He became a member
rather from curiosity anS because he
had been urged to join by his sister.
Mrs. Chisholm. n lovely woman.
Mrs. Chisholm-her brother having
been duly elected-told him that there
was a member Of the club to whom
she was desuious OF presenting him,
woman who, like himself. had made an
unfortunate marriage and who might
make the rest Of his life happy. Smith
son expressed a willingness TO meet
the lady, but his sister, whose matri-
monial experiences had developed GER
tain theories Of her own, told him that
It would be better he should make GER
tain Investigations before putting him
self under an influence which would
surely az II existed warp his judg-
ment She volunteered to furnish him
with letters vouching for the good
character, amiability and such other
attributes OF the lady in question as
good wife should possess. The vOuch-
ers were not to be signed, but Mrs.
Chisholm knew every one OF the writ
ers to be capable and reliable wit
nesses. The lady they vouched for
was TO present a list OF the faults Of
her divorced husband that led TO her
separation from him. Mrs Chisholm
proposed to furnish similar papers to
the lady in question concerning her
brother.
In due time Mr.. Smithson received
the testimonials and found them emil
nently satisfactory. Then one even
ing his sister sent for him and handed
him a list OF the shortcomings Of the
man who had been divorced from her
friend. Smithson glanced them over
and found them prehxed with list OF
the mans good qualities. He was
generous, honorable, an affectionate
husband and father. Per contra, he
never appreciated the home trials
which beset his wife. He did not con-
troll his temper. never gave his wife a
word OF praise and II when she was
harassed with domestic cares she was
bit cross and failed 10 meet him
cheerfully on his return from business
he would snarl at her. thus beginning
a quarrel
Mr.. smithson read the statement,
pondered on It for some time, then
said:
"winnie, I'm thinking that some Of
these faults are more OF less common
with all men, and considering the good
qualities laid down the lady must have
been hasty in throwing the man over" J"
do you mean that a man may give
way 70 them and make a woman hap.
py7"
''well. dare say have given way
TO them myself-at times"
my friend tells me that any man
she takes for a second husband must
be free from these faults especially"
"Then l fear she will not want me,
for l am not free from them, though
I dare say were 10 try matrimony
again would profit by this expert
ence. Now l come TO think OF It. a
good many Of my quarrels with Alice
began through some such cause as
those mentioned among this mans
/ faults"
The interview ended by Mr.. Smith
son giving his sister a letter TO the
lady she had picked out for him con-
Tossing that he regarded her husbands
faults as human that IN some degree
he possessed them himself and that in
case of a second marriage he would
exercise the greatest self restraint pos
sible to avoid falling into them.
II will hand this letter TO my
friend" said Mrs. Chisholm, land now
please give me for her a catalogue OF
Alice's faults that you require must
be especially wanting in your second
Wife"
Il have made such a catalogue" "
said Smithson, "and have revised IT,
One by one / have stricken out her
faults as simply a natural irritation
till most OF them have been erased,
and since have considered this paper
you have handed me l fancy / may as
well strike out what remains"
"If you feel that way, why not make
Il up with Alice?
"Oh, it's too late for that" And,
with sigh, he intimated that be
wished that contingency dropped.
The negotiations went on, a better
understanding developing between the
two club members as to what would
be expected Of each Mr. Smithson
thought that all this should take place
after instead of before, but his sister
insisted on the contrary. Finally when
a solemn promise had been exacted Of
the man that he would not trouble q
second wife with her first husbands
faults and she had made a similar
promise on her part a meeting was ar.
ranged to take place at Mr.. Chisholm's
residence.
When Smlthson entered the room
where he was to meet a possible wife.