The Bennington evening banner. (Bennington, Vt.) 19??-1961, 1911-05-31
MARRIAGE VIEWS UNIQUE
Teacher-Wlfe Would confine Matrl
monY TO Platonle Relations

mony to Platonic Relations
New York, May 25.--Mrs. Harriet M
Gordon, bride of a half year. whose
theory is that marriage should be a
Strong, spiritual friendship, nothing
more" yesterday granted an interview
to "A reporter for the American, in
which she explained her views on
marriage. She said;
u have the deepest respect and ad-
miration for Mr. Gordon No one
could have inspired loftier sentiments
in woman.
Il did not realize that my views ON
marriage were unusual until after we
were married.
Il have always looked only upon the
mental side OF marriage. My
thoughts on matrimony have always
been confined to the platonic relations
Of man and woman. | wanted chum
a friend, a mental companion. Mr..
Gordon wanted mate.
ITO this day my husband and l are
the best OF friends. We shall always
remain perfect friends
Mrs. Gordon's husband, Jacob d.
Gordon, young lawyer, with Offices
in this city, recently instituted pro
ceedings for a separation at Patcho-
que, l.. l.
Since parting from her husband on
the evening following their marriage,
November 3, 1910, Mrs. Gordon has
been living under her maiden name in
apartments in the neighborhood of
Gramercy square She continued
teaching also under her maiden name
in one OF the largest public schools in
Manhattan
Mrs. Gordon was found by an Amer
lean reporter in her classroom yester-
day afternoon. She just had dismiss
ed her score of pupils and was prepar-
| ing to depart for the day when shown
lished in Tuesdays American
AS she studied the newspaper clip
ping the caller observed the appear
ance of the young woman, whose UNI
ique matrimonial theory is puzzling
Supreme Court Justice Jaycox and
other legal authorities.
Mrs. Gordon is several inches below
average height, but possesses figure
that is petite and perfectly formed.
Her eyes are clear and Of dark
shade of blue Her mobile features
were flushed by an unwonted color
and crowned by an aureole OF Titan
hair
"A simple, healthy American girl"
thought the interviewer, and strange
y enough these were about the first
words of the young wife.
II am just a lonely school teacher,
hoe
lem, not a philosopher, nor a harum-
scarum theorist. Indeed, am not
theorist at all My modest thoughts
on this subject would be unduly dig
nifed by the designation of liberty"
'Butyour thoughts" suggested the
caller. They, you must admit, are
slightly at variance with the accepted
order. q bit peculiar, perhaps, and, as
such, are interesting"
THAT is true, returned the young
woman, and perhaps | owe II TO Mr.
Gordon as well as to myself TO make
public explanation of my point OF
view. 1t is inexpressibly repugnant
to me to discuss such matter but
for the reasons have stated | shall
do so.
feel the same admiration, the same
respect for my husband as on the day
married him. He is a man of the
highest intellectual attainments,
man of whom any woman would be
proud.
"All our trouble has been due sim
ply to a misunderstanding Although
am q years old and have lived the
usual life of an American girl, | can
now truthfully say that did not fully
understand all the duties of married
life.
ITO me marriage has always been
an ideal state OF perfected friendship
of fiawless mental companionship.
"Of course | knew of what | might
term the standard viewpoint of matri-
mony, but only vaguely Its real
significance did not dawn upon me un-
Ill after had married the man whom
thought Of as the perfect friend.
"Then ! knew could never con-
form to my husbands standards and
so decided to leave him Courteous
gentleman that he is, he agreed with
me that ii would be best to separate.
Looking back upon the experience
now, ! realize that my fatal mistake
was in taking it for granted that his
views conformed to mine. | knew he
was as lonely as | and | thought he
wanted only. a mental companion, a
perfect friend. That | was prepared
to be to him.
"Our mistake was in mt discussing
these phases of married life with abb
solute frankness before We were mar
ried All couples should do this be-
fore they seek the marriage license
bureau No marriage should be per-
formed when one of the parties there
to desires naught save companionship.
Il have come TO think now that |
knew not the dierence between friend
ship and love. Some day perhaps
mad. overwhelming love will come to
me. Until then shall remain in my
sphere of lonely singleness.
IL would not have you think, either,
that have neglected to consider the
possible effect on society and the de-
| velopment of the race If all young
women held such views as mine. |
have, but | have come to the conclu-
sions that the work of propogating the
race can be carried on by those whose
convictions are in accord with natural
lines upon this subject
II am not a wild theorist, have no
patience with those who claim the
ability to perpetuate the race by men
tai or by divine influences, | am sim
/,