Courier Democrat. (Langdon, N.D.) 1891-1920, 1908-04-30
An Incident Of the
Divorce Club.

tfsS~t
[Original.l
The organization of the Divorce club
was looked upon with amusement by
those who had not tried matrimony
and those who were happily married,
but was very popular with Divorces.
Its object was ostensibly to enable the
members to compare notes, so that it
any Of them should happen to marry
again they might benefit by each 9TH
er's experiences. The real object vas
to find other mates.
Alexander Smithson became a mem
Der after the club had grown to be
very large. 1t is questionable if Mr..
Smithson 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 and because he
had been urged to join by his sister,
Mrs. Chisholm, a lovely
Mrs. Chisholm-her brother having
been duly elected-told him that there
was a member Of the club to whom
she was desirious Of presenting him, a
woman who, like himself, had made an
unfortunate marriage and who might
make the rest of his life happy. Smith
son expressed Il 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 Off it 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 a
good wife should possess. The vouch-
ers were not to be signed, but Mrs.
Chisholm knew every n 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
Tie ldQy III QueSllOu SollSGl HlllS dCl
brother.
In due time Mr.. Smithson received
the testimonials and found them emf
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 prefiXed with a list of
the mans good qualities. He was
generous, honorable. an affectionate
husband and father. Per contra, he
appreciated the home trials
which beset his wife. He did not con-
troll his temper, never gave his wife a
word of praise and if when she was
harassed with domestic cares she was
a bit cross and failed to 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 or less common
with all men, and considering the good
qualities laid down the lady must have
been hasty in throwing the man over"
"Do you mean that a man may give
way to them and make a woman hap
py?"
Well, l dare say l 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 I fear she will not want me,
for l nm not free from them, though
l dare say were l to try matrimony
again | would profit by this expert
ence. Now | come to think of it. a
good many of my quarre!s 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.
g" 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"
II have made such a catalogue"
said Smithson. "and have revised it.
One by one l have stricken out her
faults as simply a natural irritation
till most of them have been erased.
and since l have considered this paper
you have handed me- l fancy may as
well strike out what remains"
eff you feel that way, why not make
it up with Alice?"
"Oh, it's too late for that" And,
with a sigh, he intimated that he
wished that contingency dropped.
The negotiations went on, a better
understanding developing between the
two club members as to what would