New-York tribune., 1910-07-31
a naSSocbuSefks Jude
Says YES. A Web"
vorf Loevs>s~ NO.

SO much that Is il.-ocns;dered and intem-
perate has been said, and will continue
be said, on the subject Of divorce,
causes, tendencies and remedies that when
one comes across a sane, tempered state
ment, delivered without heat. by a man
whose position and experience are assur-
snce that he has given the question intelli-
gent study it is almost a duty to tender
him respectful hearing.
Such a statement was recently made by
Judge William Gushing Wait, one Of the
members OF the Superior Court of Mass
chusetts. the tribunal before which divorce
cases tried in that state He is quoted
saying:
''As for rontrfbutory reasons for divorce
I might mention the elaborate, not to say
elaborated, stories published in the news
papers regarding enormous sums Of money
paid for alinlony- Without passing CRIT
cis1n. but simply stating what think 70 be
obvious conditions. may say that I think
that such liberal alinnony is an incentive
to seek divorce II the courts were less W.
eral in the awarding of a1iU1ony tntgs-
be that some of these persons sorn in pov-
eyty and raised to wealth by reason OF
marriage might not be SO anxious to sever
The tie that bound them to the one from
whom they received income. Granting
that aparice may lead some persons 10
marry another Of the opposite sex because
OF money and luxury, the attitude of some
Of our courts in granting an extravaSanf
sltn1onv seems to put a premium di-
roroe for such avarcious persons
The Judge has expressed something un-
doubteSily true. Many women otherwise
hard headed seem to let their imaginations
run away with them in dreams of luxury
1sTly 1T
slt,nony. The knowledge of how well other
women have reathered their nests by this
means makes them restless and dissatis-
fed, and probably in many cases leads to
the breaking up of homes that otherwise
might have been maintained happily and
peacefully.
Personally believe In moderate alimony,
,o,,t only IN certain cases, comparatively
rey in number / don't believe. Tor IN
rance in a young and able-bodied woman
with any business eXperience-or business
sbtlity-taking money from man she no
longer cares for. simply because he was
once her husband. end because IL Is easier
than hustlinz for herself Pride shouio
rtep IN, and IL she won't live with MIN she
shouldn't be willing 10 accept money from
him. II doesn't seem 10 me 20 be square
Or sturdy o. American
Nor do admire the woman VINO. ha'iha
married for money IN the 6rst place, uses
the courts as a means 70 gain hbefsl
share OF her husbands wealth SO that s"e
can continue to 1--we ;u sdieness ana iu1ufy
while dispensing with his society. This
business Of aiming 20 get without giving
hes always struck me as about TIE small
est thing q woalan-or q nan eitheF-cah
6o. and aiimony certainly does seem 10
piny q di.Eusrngly prominent part in mod
ern divorce.
Sut Z wondered whether Judge Wht
seeas ,vsIe practical. whether any stsps In
ACCORDANCE x1.h ht. views could be taken
70 induce . rather wholesome reformation
IL tho mater, 50 tnat wives would not get
80 much e.se tstter Of things For fusthef
ci.tHhte1Msnt therefore. I decided 10 see
aEother expesc On tue came subt0
went, therefore. 90 Charles E. LIE Bar
bier, New York lawyer. formerly Assis'-
Sat rtstyfct Attorney for this oofnV'