Forest City press. (Forest City, Potter County, D.T. [S.D.]) 1883-19??, 1908-03-05
TIE ANT1D0Tf FOR DIvORC[
~
nELEn ROWLAND

or not it was her fault if she hadn't''-
And Wouldn't they both be sur
prised?' gurgled the Bachelor Girl de-
li%ghtedly.
MOI half so surprised as they are
now" sighed the Mere Man. "when they
find out the TRUTH
by the time they got a license. they'd
be SO wildly excited obout it, went
on the Bachelor Girl enthusiastically,
that they'd fairly run all the way to
the altar"
And so deeply in debt to the law
yers." added the Mere Man cynically.
that they couldn't fee the minister. o
pay for the trOusseau."
We'll, why shouldn't we pay a high
price for being married?" protested the
Bachelor Girl. Wed prize our we'd
ding certificates more II they weren't
cheaper THAI the fancy post cards that
are given away with every pound OF
tea or the Sunday newspaper. It's be-
cause marriage always has been given
away free. instead of being held at 4
premium. that 1T Is going out of FASH
ion. When cheesecloth was first In
vented smart people used to make
frocks of it; but now that It's only S
cents a yard they use 1t for dishcloths.
| What everybody can get nobody wants.
It's the thing we can't afford that we
always sigh for and value when we
! do get II. IL matrimOny was more diffi-
L u w 6Cl AUIlV VIC OOtA Z We 0o AtA
ious to get out Of 1t. What we need
Is not more anti-divorce laws. but a
few anti-marriage laws that would
make people think twice before they
get married once. And then. az for
divorce'-the Bachelor Girl waved her
hand over the whole sex problem
there wouldn't be any,"
Wouldn't be any?" The Mere Man
looked disappointed.
Mot II only h right sort of people
1 vtsn~N nIn.r.Vy~A IN Nn~WN ~NNINy the 0t~hA
sort Of people," returned the Bachelor
Girl confidently. Besides" she added.
raising the price and the difficulties OF
divorce will only make 1t more fash
ionable. The best way to nah 1t un-
popular would be to make It so cheap
decree framed and hanging on the
WALL"
And then" declared the Mere Man,
no real lady would be caught with n
around the house."
"Of course" agreed The Bachelor Girl.
divorces would go out of fashion as
quickly as flare hats and spotted wells
and erminiva. II husbands and wives
were as difficult to get and as Easy to
get rid of as a good cook. we'd all treat
them with the same Difference and con-
sideratiOn that we now show to the
lady OF the kitchen. Instead OF being
anxious TO part with them we'd be
afraid of losing them. It's because the
cords Of matrimony bind too tight that
we long to break them. II they just
rung around US In a casual slip-knOt,
that was easily slipped, we'd be holding
them on with both hands,"
Yes" acquiesced the Mere Man Gag
erly. III all a man had to do was to 60
down n get q divorce license as he
now does a marriage license his wife
wOuld be a little more particular about
having h dinner hot when he got
home and putting on her best frock
and curling her hair and holding her
tongue and her temper and the baby"
And II all a woman had to do was
to give notice when h wanted to re-
sign her position her husband would
think twice before he Joined q club, or
refused her a new hat. or went round
more Of q privilege and less OF a duty
husbands and wives were 1ust
leased out on probation or good behav-
Tor we'd treat them az carefully 40 W.
| do a borrowed book or q borrowed
punch bowl"
Instead Of like an old shoe or the
family door mat" finished the Mere
| Man. And yet" he added with a sigh
of satisfaction. TITS nice to think that
all a chap e to do in order to get the
girl he wants 10 to slip around to the
demanded the Bachelor Girl. pushing.
back her pompad0ur and sitting up
suddenly with q challenging glance.
Il don't know" began the Mere Man.
lamely. "because-because-"
II !do!' retorted the Bachelor Girl.
For the same reason that people who
live In New York never 20 to BROOKLYN.
and people who live In South Chicago
never go to North Chicago-because It's
too aw aasy!"
because you know perfectly we'll
that the city hail and the license will
always be accessible and waiting. But
jf they were as expensive and as hard
TO get at as Europe or South America
or the North Pole you'd be saving your
money and be making your plans this
Il ami" broke in the Mere Man des-.
perately. Il have been for years.
For years?"
But the plans always change"
"Change?"
with the GIRL" explained the Mere
Man. And every time they pu a new
nail in the door Of divorce I get a new
Inspiration to-stay on the safe side."
and he lit Il cigaret, s%huddering.
And yet" sighed the Bachelor Girl
pensively. studying her patent leather
toes on the fender. "only last night you,
were ~coaxing me-
II wasn't" protested the Man. with
apprehension in his eyes.
You were trying to persuade met
"That you'd look well in white" in
terrupted the Mere Man hastily, "and
with orange blossoms in your hair and
a prayer book in your hand. But that
was only ia poetic fancy"
ut sounded" murmured the Bachelor
Girl softly. Just like an offer Of mar
riage."
What" cried the Man. sitting up
perfectly straight n putting down his
cigaret. do o suppose I'd oRer Won
anything
"Mr. Porter!"