The daily Gate City. [volume] (Keokuk, Iowa) 1855-1916, 1913-02-26
Views Of Ella Wheeler Wilcox

OF all crimes marital infelicity and
child breeding.
Yet divorce, SO constantly preached
and written against. is a shining vir-
ture and a blessing to humanity. set
beside this black and hideous condi- |
ton OF two human beings living In
bitter strife and harboring hatred and
repulsion in their hearts, while they
periodically give rein to meer animal
impulses and produce undesired on
spring.
The little girl who saw her mother
murder her father related in stoical
manner how they were always scrap
ping. Father came in and began to-
scold, as he always did. Mother an
swered back, as she always did" And
then the climax camea more ter
lrible one than usual-a and the father
was a corpse and the mother MUIR
Or ress.
Quite as great in the eyes OF God, |
/. Relieve. are this woman's sins OF
motherhood under those awful condi-
lions, which seem to have been per-
petual, as is her final unprecedented
crime.
Dozens of married people in the
higher walks of life are living togeth-
! er Ii siEila- discord They are pos
sessed OF more eiucation and culture,
and thei.. language is less coarse and
brutal; but they find no pleasure in
each others society. and when under
the same roof are constantly quarrel
! Ing.
pressed in police sarcasms and cold
tllnces and unvarying disagreements
upon every trivial question and in a
stubborn lack CT concessions, but their
Echildren are nevertheless reared in an
i unwholesome and poisonous atmos-
Iphere of hatred and the home is
Swallowed by a cloud tenfold darker
4 than the shadow of divorce and sep
/ aration could prod, &c.
i All the laws passed by all the leg
Iislatures of the world, and upheld By
iall the churches in the land, can new
Ter make children born under such
conditions anything but illegitimate
in Gods sight-for love alone sane
, tons birth.
{. If you. madam, whose eyes follow
!. these words, are living as the lega
j wife of man with whom you are con
stantly quarreiing. and If you are the
unwilling mother of his offspring, LEI
me tell you that you have no right tx
) look down upon the unfortunate fallel
: girl whose love led her astray.
J, She has broken mans Law you ar,
breaking Gods. Only by adherence Z
$ beth can marriage be really Lawful
4 and parentage sacred.
+ When any man wants his freedom
let him go. The alnshouse is prefer
b able to life with an unwilling mate
]; There are charitable societies whic
= iwill assist his last unfortunate wifi
s. until she is able to work and supper
v herself and child If she will max
d her case known to the Associate
s Charities, New York or Brooklyn, sh
II will be attended to. | have found tn
e New York branch of this associatio
e most prompt and kind and thoroug
l. in looking up and aiding all worth
s. cases and exposing frauds.
Any woman who tries TO force
" man TO live with her when he is an
it ious to leave her lacks pride. She
lie justified in trying to make him SUI
IS port the children he is responsib
Is for, but the sooner she puts distan'
is between herself and the man vi
a ceased TO love her the better for b.
IS self-respect and her EoAanhood.
Bitter as the anguish of such Sc
IL aration may be. TO live under the san
It. roof with an unwilling man would
er more bitter TO any woman with I
I'D right value of herself and the rig
h sense of pride.
ng Use every art to keep man in 10
make a careful study how to pl
Id vent his heart or emotions from wa
RS, dering elsewhere; but. once his hef
it has gone-let him follow it. Bet
ed De tied to dead body than to a de
'ul passion.