The Nezperce herald. (Nezperce, Idaho) 1900-1957, 1910-02-17

-" A@tttt-<@+%N H+ttt @~Ht~%| 49, -"
then abe smiled grimly. Tho N. 9.
had just learned. from glancing over
the Census Bureaus statistics. that l0.b
per cent OF the divorces granted 70
men we're for the cruelty Of their
wives.
False" was the comment that 40
eompanied the glare.
Serves 'em right went with the
grim smile
Whether the last was note OF sym
patty for the men who achieved MEM
bership in the ex-husbands club or for
the women whose cruel treatment led
70 the legal change OF condition, the
suffragette did not say. As for the
Census Bureau, that department Of
state Is soulless affair, dealing only
with facts and figures as It finds
them. and It Is no use abusing the bu-
reau for showing mp American men
aud women in such a poor marital
light before the world.
IL really is sad story. though.
Fancy the Census Bureau finding out
that the pathetic story OF the deserted
wife whose husband has gone 10 parts
unknown. leaving her 10 slave for the
home alone. is losing great deal OF
its force by reason Of the fact that
more wives are deserving husbands
than husbands are deserving wives.
The figures. cold and convincing, COM
piled by reliable sfatisticians. cannot
Be argued with: they record the fact
that OF divorces obtained by the
American man for the desertion Of his
wife the percentage is 49.4. while the
figures for the desertion OF the wife by
the husband are only 1876. Well may
the militant suffragette smile grimly.
It looks as though the American wife
we're becoming a more independent
creature than the American husband
For this last development there is
reason that is obvious 10 any one The
girl OF the present day "a as well able
70 earn her living as her husband II
marriage proves a failure in her case
she has only TO tell her unsatisfactory
husband that she has resolved 10 sup
port herself and live apart from hin.
and he knows well that he can no
longer hold over her head the club OF
poverty because OF the loss OF his earn
ings. She can support herself these
days
But about that cruelty charge. II
sounds almost incredible. but here are
again the Census Bureaus indisputa-
bic figures 70 show that reviewing the
causes for divorces during the past
forty years Il has been discovered that
the legal separation OF husband and
wife In consequence OF the cruel treat
ment Of the husband By the wife has
increased 160e.s per cent No less than
hos OF the divorces granted 10 men
during the period reviewed by the bn-
reau we're for cruelty on the part Of
the wife.
AS to the form that this cruelty TO
the poor husband takes. the Census
Bureau Is silent II Is not the business
Of the statistical department 10 delve
as deep as that into causes. But Il
surely must have been sufficiently
cruel type Of cruelty TO induce an
American Judge TO grant divorce to
the injured husband. Now that our
girls are being Systematically trained
In the gymnastic class room az the |
school house and the anaemic woman |
Is becoming a rarity, II behooves the |
American husband to practice diplo-
macy In the home or take lessons in |
tho art of lodging rolling pins and
broom handles.
But with her increased ability TO |
chastise her husband. as shown by the
Census Bureaus figures there has
also come. Il is really too bad to have
to record. an increase IN wee that
has been considered one peculiarly be-
longing TO men-that Of drinking TO
excess. The figures show that the In
crease OF drunkenness among women,
As shown By the divorces granted for /
this cause. Is 554.5 per cent. In fact.
this reason for divorce comes second /
In the list. according to the census sta
tistics.
The men have still little the best Of
Il in the race for divorce on the alco-
hol line. for. while the increase among
women has been recorded as 554.5 per
cent. the drunkenness OF husbands has
increased 6ss.e per cent.
II Is appalling to note that in the
United States 73 divorces are annually
granted to every 100000 of population
To the same number OF persons Ire
land annually grants less than 1. Eng
land 2. Italy 3. Austria 1, Scotland 4.
Germany Is. France %, Switzerland 81
and Japan 215. Switzerland, with .
ratio OF so. comes next to the United
States. but this country wins by .
huge majority In the general run.
An Intelligent Cow.