St. Tammany farmer. [volume] (Covington, La.) 1874-current, 1911-02-18


homes annually? Thou
sands Of wives and children are desert
ed every year in the principal Ameri-
can cities. It Is one of the most seri-
GUS sociological problems confronting
the country's workers in the cause OF
charities and correction and the metro
politan police authorities.
The deserving husband and father
has attained the dignity of civic
problem. He is looming up so large
as an item of municipal expense that
special laws are being passed to pun |
ish his offenses, special officers are
being appointed to track him down
and special courts are being estab-
lished to try his case.
In New York city alone an average
of 40 assertions day are brought TO
the attention Of the city officials. The
number Of cases in which the deserted
families are cared for by relatives or
charitable societies is beyond reckon
ing Cincinnati is said to lead western
cities in the number of assertions, but
Chicago, St. Louis, Philadelphia, Bos-
M.
north and cities south, have hnaily
discovered that the deserted family
must have the aid not Of church and
charity workers but Of the law.
Thousands of these deserving men
claim that they have been driven to
the cowardly step by the high cost OF
living. Their claim does not seem to
be borne out by the facts, however
And one can readily understand that
II must be more expensive for couple
IN live separate than together unless
their mode of living is radically
changed for the better.
New York city deals with this PROB
lem in what is known as the domestic
relations court. whose blunt slogan Is
bring 'em together" and the num-
her of divorces prevented In the dingy
court room is known only to the re-
cording angel.
"The general cussedness OF the men,
+ha incompetency of the women, the
other man or woman coming oe-
tween husband and wife"-in this
order do the causes of desertion run
according to officials OF the court
only the husband vows It's all due 70
the Increased cost OF living.
"The high cost of living?" echoes
tho magistrate thoughtfully, In re
snonse to question. Il don't Kno"
u don't know! OF course money IL
What we're after for these deserted
wives and children, but there arr
other problems to solve mere: ins
huehand may start out in married HI
meaning well, but he marr1es gir
vbo knows nothing about homemah
ing. and that is the first cause OF 'nei
ouarrels. Or she wants more clotne
than he can buy for her-and goo
times. These moving picture house
haya curious fascination for mai
r;ed women They admit slttlns
moving picture house hour ai.e
hour when they ought to be gettin
,noo,s for their families. The movlh
n,cture show has taken the place
r. ohean novel with this class {
women.
"And then the girl who has earne
her own living often has troupie WI
her husband. She Is used 10 spehuin
nor money as she likes, and sne wan
~ .nend his the same way. Often q
soaa not earn double what sne oil
"a sha misses her income. A ma
~,,t RI consider the earning capacl'
woman before he marries ne
~ ,arv fact that she has earned
..,oh before marriage may make II
their unhappiness. Or she may re.u'
n the store or factory rather ans
,,ro an his wages. women Oh III
a,ass are no longer economically q
pendent upon men. -. thoro
ain both OF these cases there
hone Of reconciliation. But Wnen a
A.her woman has come between d,
oen and wife we don't try to pr'l
o,,nIe together. Then It's simp
case Of forcing the man 70 Supp N'
his family, whether ne Will iSe W.
MJ;,Iiam Desmond, for score
- chief or the st. Louis detecti
s..rsau while in official position d
p occasion to study TINS pre
sar,ously. In answer to g
ie sno,,trv of the subject, Mr.. ~
a declared that most huspan
m0nu away because of inability
ran a" IN with the procession in t
.nc,al race of these twentieth een.o
S.rs He characterized society as
o and merciless automoo'
n,h1cb rode down, without Warnhs'
who happened in its path. IN,
"n .It Ia IL the swift pace that XIII