The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1909-11-23

gard to American women marrying for
a home has brought forth a volley OF
discussion from the metropolitan journals.
and indeed from all parts of the United
States has the hue and cry come up that
a woman may marry for far worse rea-
sons than this very practical and natural
one.
I believe that the statement by the Pres
ident was made very near home, indeed
on his southern tour, and at the Missis-
sippi Industrial Institute and College,
when he proclaimed:
st wish every woman in the world was
so situated that she need not think 1t
necessary to marry IL she did not
want to-
All of which brings up the much mooted
question:
"For what should a woman marry, any
way2
In discussing this subject and the vari-
Gus things the President had to say In
this selfsame speech regarding the rights
of women and the suffrage question: my
friend Bettina waxed very eloquent yes
terday afternoon, and among the nTs'
things she said was this;
Nov. why In the name Of common VII
shouldn't a woman marry for home!
It seems an excellent object to nave III
view In selecting husband. In TACT
home containing a beautiful living room'
a garage with brand new touring car
lovely boudoirs with hand-emproloefeo
counterpanes, and a patent mayonaise
beater in the kitchen appeals irresistioiy
m most women-for most of them want
a home, and love 1t.
at agree with you to a certain ex-
tent" I said placidly, folding my nanos
and becoming very docile, as I always am
uhen pettina begins one of her strenuous
dissertations.
.sWell I should say So" she remarked
vebemently. There are women marrying
syerv dav for reasons not half so good.
/ know one perfectly nice female VINO &C
knowledges that she married her nus
band because another girl wanted him.
and the alliance has been anything Out
happy-in fact, It's been perfect cat ana
dog existence since the waning days or
the honeymoon
And I know a very fine matron who
boasts that she married her husband just
to get rid of him." declared.
"And did she?" laughingly asked Bet
tina.
absolutely" said I, for If ever there
has been discord between the party OF
the first part and the party of the second
part it is in this particular family
manage"
And just listen to this" shrieked Bet
| tina. IT know a woman who married be-
cause the man in question had a glorious
tenor robusto voice. Now just fancy
a woman being as silly as thatl OF
course, If he could have sung the live
long day Love Abiding or Tost's Good
by all would have gone merry as mar
riase bell but tho eternal material side
of give me the money to pay the wash
erwoman.' and have you ordered the coal
for the winter? and is your life insur-
ance policy paid for this Year,, and all
sorts of fearful, commonplace, married
questions, persisted In coming UP, and
so the poor girl declared he might as
we'll have been basso profundo and be
done with It,"
And all this misery merely because she
had always been crazy to live in the
house with tenor voice and upon hav-
ing one offered her with the owner at
tached she succumbed'' I jokingly sug-
gested.
Then the affinity kind appear upon
the scene,' said Bettina, ''those who
marry on the strength of temperamental
likeness-and what happens?
THAT ought to be the happiest kind"
suggested 1.-THE affinities that shape
our end" l pharaphrased.
Until they begin to squabble upon
How to live upon nothing year. and
How many blankets should be allowed
to each bed, and how many evenings
they should play bridge and how much
they will pay the cook In other words,
please excuse me from the good-lookng.
poor affinity"
Mercy, but you are wording, Bet
tina,"I said as I heard her views on
the subject "You might easily give
modernized version of the advice Major
Pendennis gave young Pen when he
said: Never associate with poor people
you are too poor yourself.
mot at ALL she replied snappishiy.
"Any one who has read Mr.. Taft's init
nations and given the subject any con-
sideration must feel that a woman can
do far worse than marry for home.
In the first place, any woman who really
wishes q home must have some good
qualities In her nake-ups and any man