Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1908-06-27

an appalling evil and it seems to be on
the increase instead of diminishing.
ITO begin with, if divorces are to
be granted at all there should be a
uniform divorce law for all the states
for the nation-and then there
would be no opportunity to evade it,
as is being done at the present time.
1t is getting to be matter of such
Indifference to people that many per-
sons marry with the thought in mind
that they can easily slip out of the
matrimonial knot, be freed from the
bondage, SO to speak, and in no way
lose any social prestige by such a
step. When a country's people even
a small percentage of them-go into
the most sacred relations in life with
such a thought as anticipated divorce
the home and for the nation.
"We might build up the greatest
navy in the world; we might have the
good will of every ruler of the earth;
we might have credit and commerce
unparalleled in the history of nations;
but when within the homes of our
family can be broken up in twinkling
through process of law that is look
ed upon as matter of course-just
as one would file will or deed-then
there is a greater danger to our coun-
try than could come from war with
a foreign nation may seem to be
radical upon this subject, but to me
there is no PEARL so great in our coun-
fr1y tNdo hna or
cussing''
Mrs. Taft talked of other things be-
sides divorce. She told what she
women, and Of women in politics.
of president would you interest
| yourself in national politics?" Mrs.
Taft said:
"As the wife Of Mr.. Taft 1 would
interest myself in anything that vitality
affected him or in which he was alb
sorbed. do not believe in woman
meddling in politics or in asserting
herself along those lines, but think
any woman can discuss with her hus-
band topics of national interest, and
| in many instances she might give her
opinions of questions with which
| GllIOuSA duu COuIdCI SIG ud6 US-
come familiar"
| Mrs. Taft remarked that she was
a club woman just as Mr.. Taft is a
club man. They are both honorary
members of several clubs, but seldom
attend them. This, she explained,
was not because she did not believe
in clubs, but because she had her
social and home affairs to attend to
and did not particularly feel the need
of club life. Here are her views Of
clubs
$50 many people think women's
clubs are menace to domesticity, but
with that do not agree. find that
the more energetic a person is the
more things he or she is capable Of
doing and think women of that sort
can attend to their homes properly and
still go to their clubs occasionally and
j interest themselves in such things.
l They lend variety to life and oftimes
/ give women an incentive to brush up
and keep apace with the times. The
lectures, classes. and social features
attached to women's clubs are excel
lent for women, without being de-
leterious, should say.
| "I think If women kept up with
/ CQ6lT ACCOMPLISHMENTS, SUCH DIS IQuSlC
the languages, literature, etc, after
they are married, instead of eliminat-
| ing those thinks entirely, they would
make far better wives and mothers.
They would be more companionable
and more agreeable in every way.
Clubs sometimes inspire that thought
in women. Even if they did no more
they would then not be without their
USE"
| Mrs. Taft's views on all the ques-
lions covered in the Interview are
those of sensible woman. She did
not believe that a woman could have
happiness and fulfill her greatest use
fulness in this world in a business
life. To her a happy marriage is the
most complete and useful life for any
woman, and to be the mother of sweet,
healthy children was woman's greatest
heritage. The social leadership that
falls to the first lady of the land did
| not greatly appeal to her. She an.
swered question as to this probable
ity of the future by remarking that
"The devotion of my husband, the
J love of my children are dearer to me
than any other thing in life"
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