The evening world. [volume] (New York, N.Y.) 1887-1931, 1909-01-18
Mrs. Jane Welch-Strong Keeps
Her Abode in Flat With
Her Husband.
THIS HELPS NOVEL SUIT.
Plaintiff Claims That She Is
Held in Servitude in Viola
ton of Constitution.

Mrs. Jane welch-strong, the young
wife and mother who has begun d.
vorce action against her husband, W.
Edwards Strong. who as a soldier Of
fortune fought In five wars, but as
husband has missed his wfe's ideal as
a provider, explained to-day why she
had instructed her lawyer, Mrs. Hen
riette tombstone Wood, OF No. 10 Wall
street, to allege that she as wife was
an involuntary slave and should there
fore be freed from her marriage con-
tract under the Thirteenth Amendment
to the United States Constitution.
A reporter for The Evening World
saw Mrs. Strong In her little fiat on the
fourth floor OF No 545 West One Hun
dred and Twenty-nnth street She Is
not little g!r-wife, as was stated in
the early reports Of her remarkable en-
deavor to invoke the Thirteenth Amend
ment to aid her in throwing OFF the
thradom OF marriage. Mrs. Strong Is
almost six feet tall, very slender, TWEEN
ty-one years old and has great mass
Of brown hair, which was flying loosely
about her head
Some WifeIy Burdens.
She was Just coming into her flat
when the reporter called. Under one
arm she carried a twenty-five-pound
baby girl-a plump, rosy-cheeked little
beauty. Under her other arm was a
steak, a bundle OF laundry and several
bags of groceries.
Some of my wlfely burdens" she
laughed. as she dumped baby, parcels
and all on a couch. Yes, It is true
that | have sued my husband for d.
vorce under the Thirteenth Amendment.
consider myself an Involuntary slave.
My ideals have changed since four
years ago, when l married Mr. Strong
Like most girls Of seventeen wanted a
tall man Of fine physique. Now | de-
mand more-a man who can earn money
end provide for his wife and children.
MY husband Is too set in his ways
Ills earning capacity has decreased in
stead Of increasing, My love has turned
cold because the dollar has grown
skimp. When l was married Mr.. Strong
was earning twice as much as he Is
now For two years past he has ut
tterly failed to fill my ideal When my
life became a drudgery l saw my mis-
take. My love suffered a devastating
chill.
An Unpaid Slave.
"If still loved him l would be VIM.
ing to work myself to death for him,
but there is no he'll so unbearable as
working for a man you don't love.
could go out and IL a domestic and
earn some money, but here | am simply
TN unpaid slave.
We don't agree on anything, bu; "
Cont quarrel. like my steak well
done, lie wants his unlocked. lie is a
very domcstIcated animal comes home,
eats, reads his paper and goes to bed
We talked this thing all over very
thoroughly | talked to him frankly.
bIt Impressed upon him that If | must
divorce him / would get divorce n a
decent way He agreed with me that
there should &c some nlt.oaa, law that
should break such marriage contracts
as ours. lie knows | do not love him
and taxes the situation ph.Io,oF llsaIly.
Down in the South. where came
from We ate very familiar with the
Thirteenth Amendment, and I feel sure
that tine part Of 1t relating to ,yIl con-
tracts relates to my case. TIE idea
that marriages arc made In heaven is
all huncombc, y marriage contrac. in
a simple contract Is compelling WON.
an to work for n man TIL she drops
dead. 1t is voluntary sery.;uac SO long
as a woman loves a man, bat wien
she does not 1t becomes involuntary
seVi.ude.
Might Marry Again