The Barre daily times. (Barre, Vt.) 1897-1959, 1908-01-08
.a.***'F *@s-F.ss &***s.a.f**.s.s.,
l An Incident Of the
I Divorce Club.

and those who were happily married
but was very popular with Divorces
It's object was ostenslbly to enable thu
members to compare notes, so that 4
| any Of them should happen to marry
again they might benefit by each 9th
er's experiences. The real object was
to find other mates.
Alexander Smlthson became mem
Der after the club had grown to be
very large. It Is questionable If Mr.
Smithson Joined for the purpose Of
finding wife. He had loved the wo-
man from whom be had been divorc-
ed and by whom ne 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. lovely woman.
Mrs Chisholm her brother having
been duly elected-told him that there
was a member Of the club to whom
she was desrious Of presenting him, a
woman who, like himself. had made an
unfortunate marriage and who might
make the rest of bis life happy. Smith
son expressed willingness to meet
the lady, but his sister, whose matri-
monial experiences had developed GER
tain theories Of her own. told him that
1t would be better he should make GER
tain Investigations before putting him
self under an influence which would
surely df 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 one of the writ
ers to be capable and reliable wit
nesses The lady they youched for
was to present list~of the faults OF
her divorced husband that led TO her
separation from him. Mrs. Chisholm
proposed 20 furnish similar papers TO
the lady in question concerning her
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 list of the shortcomings OF the
man who had been divorced from her
friend Smithson glanced them over
and found them prefxed with list Of
the mans good qualities RE was
generous, honorable, an affectionate
husband and father. Per contra. be
never appreciated the home trials
which beset his wife. He did not con-
troll his tenn er. never gave his wife
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 ia throwing the man over"
do you mean that man may give
way to them and make a woman hap |
pyT
"Well dare say | have given way
to them myself-at times
My friend tells me that any man /
So toi,nc fn~ \ eonova h,,etn.,5 ,,,,,cf 4
be free from these faults especially"
"Then | fear she will not want me,
for am not free from them, though /
| dare say were to try matrimony
lgain / would profit BY this expert
ence, Now come to think of 1t. a I
good many Of my quarreIs with Alice
began through some such cause as
hose mentioned among this mans
faults"
The interview ended by Mr.. Smith
'on giving his sister letter to the
ady she had picked out for him con-
'essing that lie regarded her husbands
'aults as human. that In some degree
lie possessed them himself and that in
.ase Of a second marriage he would
exercise the greatest self restraint pos
'ible to avoid falling into them.
Il will hand this letter to my
riend" said Mrs. Chisholm, "and now
lease give me for her catalogue Of
Alices faults that you require must
,e especially wanting in your second
Wife,
u have made such catalogue"
aid Smithson. "and have revised it.
)ne by one ! have stricken out her
auIts as simply natural irritation
i'll most of them have been erased,
nd since / have considered this paper
'ou have handed me fancy may as
ven strike out what remains"
If you feel that way. why not make
up with Alicegr
ooh, it's too late for that" And,
With sigh, he intimated that he
Wished that contingency dropped.
The negotiations went on. better
developing between the
wo club members as to what would
e expected of each. Mr.. Smithson
bought that all this should take place
fter instead Of before. but his sister
INSISTED on the contrary. Finally when
solemn promise had been exacted of
be man that he would not trouble
econd wife with her first husbands
aults and she had made a similar
romise on her part a meeting was ar
anged to take place at Mr.. chisholm's !
ssidence.
When Smithson. entered the room ,
here be was to meet a possible wife. }
here stood the woman from whom he !
ad been divorced each Of his two !