The Washington herald., 1910-09-11
NEW CURE FOR OUR DIVORCE EVIL

Is this right? Is It not almost criminal for
husband TO withhold his confidence
from his wife and allow her to live at a
rate that even those on the outside know
he cannot afford? Are not the lack Of
confidence. the treating wives as though
they were spoiled babies to be INDUCED
in every whim. the leaving them too much
alone 10 find mischief for their idle hands
some OF the reasons for the fact that the
United States leads the world in the num-
Der OF divorces annually granted?
Laws Not TO Blame.
It is useless 10 cavf at the laws, use
less 20 maintain that the reason for the
number OF divorces in the United States
is because OF the laxity OF these laws.
The laws have little 10 do with it. The
reason for the frequency OF divorce
among us lies far outside Of the fact
that divorces are easily obtained. At the
bottom Of the whole subject is sentiment
tally. for while we are regarded as the
most commercial nation In the world,
we are most sentimental. Practical we
are. it is true. but our practical sense
stops short when we discuss or practice
marriage
Parents love their daughters yet they
spoil them. They give them everything
they ask for. and end by allowing them
to marry the first man they fancy. with
out inquiring whether he can continue
the spelling process. To ask for q mar
rage settlement would be considered vul-
gar. II would cause the daughter TO
break into Mysteries. and 10 declare that
her father was commercial person. and
that she was not marrying her dear
Jack" for money. II would cause her
dear Jack" TO square his manly chest
and say that he thought he was strong
, enough ard bigoenor gh to look after his
wife. and to prove Il to the cynical and
unfeellng father. Jack proceeds to give
/ his bride several times as much as he
could afford.
! The father excuses himself for not in
forming himself OF Jacks resources and
sees that Jack is a brilliant young fellow
and will surely make his way. 1t is all
we'll enough for a few years. perhaps. but
some day Jacks earning capacity does
not increase and there IS the always I'M
| expected. unlocked and unprovided for
panic. When the wolf comes In at the
door, then love flies out OF the window
/ for these two never will make good bed
/ fellows Sometimes they succeed giori-
ously, and working shoulder 10 shoulder
come out OF the conflict disciplined and
/ chastened 10 enter into a real marriage.
| But Just as often suffering brings about
! discord discord separation. and separa-
ton divorce. They go forth. these two
people. the broken and discouraged
halves OF what .hould have been a happy
and united family.
One Cause of Divorces.
One great cause Of the prevalence of
! divorce in America is the fact that young
! marriages are not started right. cannot
be started right because OF this ridicu-
lous. maudlln sentimentalism that con-
trolls them. Another reason Is the seem
Ing complacency OF the American hus-
band. who has come 20 believe himself
the best husband in the world. Now. ]
insist that man is not a good husband
who lavishes everything upon his wife
to-day without giving a thought OF the
morrow. nor is a man a good husband
/ who humors his wife at the expense OF
her morality and development. In both
cases he is simply a selfish husband. g
/ time-server who does what is most COM
/ Portable for him at the moment, what IS
! most comfortable. easiest for this little
/ word does not belong exclusively 70 the
! American housewife. A man IS not a
| good husband who treas his wife as a
toy, a plaything. a pet. and does not