The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1911-12-10
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Z 69D(N KING
BY MARY KATHERINE WOODS,

eTsO vsnquish the divorce evil--a municipal match
making bureau
To lessen the number Of unhappy mar
risges and CONSEQUENT unhappy separa tions the
community must 10 il that young meet
young women. that young women more young
The community help along the social pleas
and the courshps Of its young citizens rich
poor.
So says Mary Austin. who has probably given the
problem of divorce exhaustive study
than has any other woman in America. She has taken
her study from the Pacific Coast to New York, and
spreads II nation-wide
A municipal matchmaking bureau is one of the
thirss that w Mrs Austin declares solve problem
for It will do away with the made love" that is
she the terrible and deadly thing in the world
It will attack the evil of divorce by beginning at
marriage. It will change entire attitude toward
marriage And it is only by changing national att.
tude toward marriage, Mrs. Austin that
graphic with our national problem of divorce.
Furthermore. municipal matchmaking bureau is
10 wild dream of far fancyng hnt promise of not too
distant fnhllment The experimenting chances that its
establishment presupposes have already begun. she
esserts. ..#ts#-
= municipal bureau of matchmaking and matri-
rnony. Mrs. Austin quietly maps i out. is by
means an Office to which Young men apply for amiahe
wives maidens for prosperous husbands Quite
the contrary
The municipal matchmaking bureau Is to be Simply
community depa for and social
meeting places for people of the two sexes It
70 maintain dance halls pleasure parks roof gardens
chanerouaGe. all hound to keep hsn standard of
social custom and social charm.
In other words the municipal matchmaking bureau
IS ~ offer the boys and girls of American Cries
chance TO meet neople. 10 widen their
acquaintance and strengthen their acquainta noes
lily 1t is TO assure to American young people as they
approach marriareabe and while they of mar
rsceahle real field of choice from which t. auote
Mrs Ansn's own words fhey may cnoose their mates"
The social centers to he. Mrs Austin says IN
der woman's rhaperonaca and management
81 call these women chaperones." she explained,
sbut may inst well dub Them matchmakers
female noce. Their work will offer and excel
lent profession for carahle midde-aged women.
In urging the establishment of matchmaking bu.
reau Mrs. Astin points several conditions makes
several arguments.
Nearly rhree-fourths of modern American
rtages she asserts. less unhappy They
not really '"naa Pings" at all
Fhey" ate unhappy partly because yonns and
of the present generation offered limited
choice of possible husbands and wives.
They are unhappy. too because women have been
for centuries valued solely for their ability please
men. Marriage Is the result Of woman's power to
charm not of the fitness Of the ard the
woman to live happily and helpfully together.
They unhappy also because generations of
hesunnorted have. in URGING the necessity
win" husband forced upon unnatural
ouetres unreal arts and married life begins false
besis .Utt