The daily Gate City. [volume] (Keokuk, Iowa) 1855-1916, 1909-05-07

which once contributed 80 much to
the stability of the home"
Professor Ross finds that the intel
lectual progress Of women also swells
the demand for matrimonial surgery.
He says that today two ideals OF the
family are struggling for mastery
the old despotic family, OF Roman
origin and ecclesiastical sanction,
based on the authority of the husband
and the merging OF the wife's legal
personality In his, and the democrat
ic family, Of Germanic origin, based
on the conserving and harmonious
wills OF two equals. The one goes
naturally with pioneering, agricul-
ture and warfare, which put men to
the fore; the other goes with industry,
peace and city life, which add to the
consequence OF women. Wherefore
Professor Ross concludes that
in proportion as women escape
from abject mental dependence on
men and find point of view Of their
own, they spurn patriarchal claims
and expect marriage to be the union
Of equal Wills. What with more girls
than boys In the high schools, and
half as many women as men in col
lege, 1t Is not surprising that women
more and more enter marriage with a
connubial ideal of their own. Never
theless, the men they wed-many of
them cherish the conviction that the
husband is the rightful mead of the
family. The resulting clash Of ideals
is none the less disastrous because it
is only an incident of transition
process in social evolution
1t is found that the intellectual
ferment OF our time weakens the
grasp Of the social institution upon
the innocent individual. The voice of
authority, whether it appeals to prec-
edent, to doctrine or to Holy Writ,
is little needed. No longer is harsh
requirement or rigid arrangement
able to hedge itself about with a
divine sanction. Says the authority
here quoted:
1.-THE question, 'Cui bono?' is in
the air. Any policy that brushes the
individual or blocks his pursuit OF
happiness is challenged and obliged to
produce the best of credentials. The
feeling that marriage Is for man, not
man for marriage is, along with
heresy trials and contempt OF the
courts. an outcome OF the reign1ng
spirit of criticism. Now, as ever,
lawmaker and theologian stand ready
to bind on hapless persons heavy bur-
dens and grievous to be borne-for
49, off ho vuo11.Wod Tn the
woes of the missmated passes all be-
lief-but public sentiment is master
today; and public sentiment, taxing
the promotion of happiness as the END
Of human institutions, f1inches from
keeping the unhappy locked together
when no demonstrable harm will re-
suit. Those who would turn this SEN
timent against divorce must appeal
to sociology rather than to dogma.
It has been calculated that II the
movement toward divorce retains It's
present velocity, in forty years one
marriage in four will end by divorce,
and in eighty years one marriage IN
two. No one who understands the
vital role of the family in healthy
society anticipates any such deploraDie
outcome. Professor Ross mentions
the following influences already IN
sight that are likely to moderate the
headlong movement:
1.-THE Industrial and intellectual
emancipation OF women will. o.
course. complete itself; but the Ole
despotic ideal of the family Will die
o,t ~ mems minds and cease to be
a breeder Of conjugal discord. Tnt
distrust of institutions can hardly g
| much further. 1t is likely that tne
nublic as it wins a deeper insight IN
tn the services of the family to SO
ciety and to the race, will feel les.
sympathy with the wrong -dolngs
weaknesses, and whims that snatte
It. Individualism, too, is probably q
it's zenith. In the discussion OF nu
man relations we are likely to hea
less of the radical note and more Q
the ethical note. In proportion as TN
emancipated are led to an etnlca
view of life, they will cease to regar'
marriage simply as a fair-weather al
rangement with personal happiness y
constant view. They will recognlz
ito inexorable demands for patenc,
and self-control, for loyalty tnroue
sorrow and sickness, through mlsloi
time and the aging years.
LEAR VEL