The L'Anse sentinel. (L'Anse, L.S., Mich.) 18??-current, 1910-07-09
(Copyrighted by Short Stories Co, Ltd,

~Copyngnteo py snort STORES Co, AtoD
Prof. Max wiegand to Doctor Gustav
Strauch. Berlin, November 20.
Dear Gustav: I have some news to
tell you today which will certainly sur
prise you. have separated from my
wife, or rather we have separated
from each other. We have come to an
amicable agreement henceforth to live
entirely Independent Of each other.
My wife has gone to her family In
Freiburg, where she will no doubt re-
main. am for the present In our
old house; perhaps in the spring I
may look for q smaller house =. :.
perhaps not. for / can hardly hope to
find 80 quiet a workroom as / now
have. and the idea of moving appals
me, especially when I think of my
large library. You will, of course,
want to know what has happened.
though. to tell the truth. nothing has
happened.
My wife and I are too unlike. Be-
tween her views of life and mine
there yawns an impossible gulf. The
first few years hoped to influence
her, to win her to my ways of think
ing-she seemed so docile, so yielding,
took SO warm an interest in my work.
30 willingly allowed herself to be
taught by me. Not till after our chill
dren's death did she begin to change.
Her grief at this loss--a grief which
neither of us has ever been able to
live down - matured her j.
made her independent of me. A ten
dency to morbid introspection took
possession of her and gave increased
tenacity to those ideas and convic-
tions which my influence had hitherto
held in check, though not wholly
eradicated. She plunged deeper and
deeper into those mists Of senti-
mentally fantastic imaginings, pas
sionately demanding my concurrence
In her views. She lost all interest in
my professional work, evidently re-
garding the results of my researches
in natural science as troops from an
enemy's camp. At last there was
hardly subject In the wide realm of
we agreed. To be sure we never
came to an open quarrel, but the
breach between us was constantly
widening. Every day we saw more
and more plainly that though we lived
side by side. we no longer belonged
to each other. This discovery irritated
and distressed US. and at last forced
all other feelings into the back
ground. II we had not once loved each
other so dearly, or even II we had
now ceased to feel q mutual respect
this state of affairs might perhaps
have lasted for years. but our ideas
of the true meaning Of marriage were
too lofty, our sense Of our own dignity
as human beings too profound to per
NIT us to be content with SO incom
plete q realization Of our ideals.
hardly know who spoke first, but oul
resolution was at once taken and the
decisive words uttered as calmly and
naturally as the overripe fruit falls
from the tree. For the first time ir
many years we were able with perfect
unanimity of sentiment to discuss 9
subject OF the greatest Importance II
us both, and this fact alone soothet
our overweight nerves. We parted
yesterday with the utmost decorum
without word of reproach, note Of
discord. Memories of our early mar
ried life, of the long years we hat
lived together made 1t difficult to re
frain from some manifestation of ten
derness. and l assure you that never
felt greater respect for my wife thar
at. the moment when, all petty con
siderations cast aside, the true mag
nanimity Of her nature asserted itself
Prof. Max Wiegand to DR.. Gustav
Strauch. Berlin, December IL.
Dear Gustav: Pardon me that / hav,
so long delayed thanking you for you
answer of friendly sympathy to m!
last letter.
I have been In no condition to write
and even now find 1t difficult. 70,
congratulate me without reserve OF
a step which you regard as essentia
to my welfare and to my intellectual
development, but you do not take int
consideration what 1t means to ser
arate from one who has for IL year
been ones constant companion, da,
and night. Indeed, It Is only durin
these last dreary weeks that I, my
self, have realized what the chang
signifies to me. Habit Is all powerful
especially with men who. like you an
me, live in the intellectual world an
so require solid substructure.
How are We to take observation
from the tower battlements when II
Nominations are not firmly estal
llished? OF course. am as certain a
ever was that our decision Is for tn
best interests Of us both. but in thi
queer world Of ours we can take n
step without unlocked for results.
am bothered from morn till nigh
with tribes to which have never 81,
EN- a thought since my bachelor day
things which will not mel
ton, 30 absurdly insignincant n
they and yet they rob me I
my dime and destroy my peace. / q
alta loss Whist steps to take to n
myself Of the thousand petty 6Are
and annoyaness which my wife b