Missouri Valley times. [volume] (Missouri Valley, Iowa) 1874-1931, 1909-07-08
DIVORCE AS CENSUS SHOWS 1T
An Error to Assume That the Cure of
Drift Is In Legislation.

The census figures dissipate many
false Impressions. 1t is often assumed
that many couples separate precipi-
lately before they have given marriage
a fair trial: but the average interval
before separation exceeds six and one
half years. and Is not diminishing.
Since more than half the couples live
together above four years, while in the
majority of cases the duration of mar
riage exceeded seven years, 1t would
be rash to surmise that people are
forming risky and unstable unions In
full view of their easy dissolution.
Nor is divorce usually sought in or
der to reinarry. In Connecticut during
a period of years. the number of d.
vorced persons married was about 20
per cent of the number divorced in the
same time. In Rhode Island, from 1889
to 1895, the proportion was only %
per cent. Remarriage is one OF those
cases in which, as DR.. johnson puts 1t
hope triumphs over experience" and
it is not all certain that the rate for
divorced persons much exceeds that
for widows and widowers of the same
age. Certainly the restrictions that
many states are imposing on remar-
riage do not seem to affect appreciably
the divorce rate.
1t is doubtful If one divorce in 90
is obtained by migrating to liberal
state. A divorce colony at Sioux
Falls or Cheyenne obscures the fact
that divorce has descended among the
plain people, few of whom can afford
| to seek relief outside their own state.
| 1t is erroneous to suppose that the
| explanation and cure of the drift to-
ward divorce Is to be found in legisla-
| ton. Twenty years ago Professor Will
cox, on the basis of the most rigid in
designations, declared. The immedi-
ate. direct and measurable influence
| of legislation is subsidiary, unimpor-
tant. almost imperceptible." DIR. Dixie.
the secretary of the National League
for the Protection of the Family. said:
| THE direct influence OF lax laws In
producing the great increase OF divorce
| in the last 40 years is relatively small"
4 Moreover, the tendency of legislation
| for the last go years has been decided
i ly in the direction of greater strin-
gency
The failing grip of the legal insti-
tuition need not entail a corresponding
abandonment of the halowed ideal OF
| marriage as q lifelong union. II the
iron clamp be loosed 1t does not fol-
low that the silken cord is weaker. AL
| though in Ss years the resort to di
4! Norce has become three times as fire.
Quen. there is little to show that cou-
pies are taking the vows of wedlocls
! with amy other desire or expectation
than union till DEATH Nor can we con-
1 clude that wronged spouses are less
ialthiul IMAM formerly 70 TINS IDEAL.
The loveless couples OF the good old
times" appear to have been held to-
gether by public opinion. religious or
dinance. ignorance of a remedy. the
expense OF divorce or the wifes econ
omic helpl, ssness, rather than by q
heroic fidelity to an ideal.
In 10 cases of out 20 the marriage
4 purports to be shattered by some
/ hagrant wrong. such as adultery. Cruz
city, drunkenness. desertion, impris-
oninent for crime or neglect to provide.
Nevertheless the growth of divorce
cannot be taken as a sure sign of in
creasing depravity on the part of hus-
bands or wives. Often the Cause
that figures In the record is screen
for some deep seated irritant. Physi-
clans declare that many marital trou-
4 bles have their roots in the pathology
of sex, and do not argue moral fault
on the part of either spouse.