The Madison daily leader. [volume] (Madison, S.D.) 1890-current, 1913-01-25

Her Arms.
This, the more especially as regards
that monogamic idea Of marriage
which the government at Washington
harshly seeks to extend over u en-
tire domain. AS to the idea Of poly
gamy, much may be said in it's favor.
Thus, II one be tired of one wife, or
bored by another, in polygamy 1t is
easy to shift the domestic scene to a
third, and that In wholly good-humored
fashion. The idea of divorce has
about II something almost personal, as
though n were d~ispleased over some
matter, as though one held In ones
heart something actually of criticism,
or dissatisfaction, or mayhap con
demnation of ones own earlier judg-
ment In the selection of a helpmeet.
Again, even after divorce has been
| contaminated, there are so many small
habits to be broken, heritage and hold.
over Of relations but recently sun.
dered. For instance. If one has been
accustomed to pork and boiled cab
bage at table, and II only one woman
has evinced ability to prepare shout
der of pork and cabbage In the proper
manner, and IL that woman has
CHANGED to be ones lately current
wife. II Is, let us repeat, an annoying
thing TO find that that particular wom-
an. after deliberately forming and fos-
tering In one a craving for shoulder Of
pork and cabbage-after having estab-
iished an addition, as 1t were, In ones
soul for that ~viand-has with shame
less disregard OF wifely duty and do
her, perhaps ex ~vinculo, Or at least alb
mensa ct thoro.
And again there may be yet other
habits upon the one hand or the other
which must be broken or ~readjusted.
III ones wife-or one OF ones wives
tatting each afternoon on the top Of
the table near the best view out of the
bow window, and II one sees contin-
ually this abandoned tatting perma-
nently left there In the confusion OF
her permanent department. Is annoy
ing, let us repeat, to be reminded OF a
habit to whose creator we have said
farewell. II aus a mental ennui
constantly to be removing tatting or
embroidery.
Or, II ones current wife has had the
| old-fashioned and not wholly well-bred
habit of meeting one at the door of an
evening, at the close of the days la
bors-just as in the evening the cave
woman greeted her man at the mouth
| OF the ave to ask him what had been
the fortune of the days hunt-and IL
now that football, ill-bred. yet after all
habitual-and was 1t wholly unwel-
come. after all-shall have ceased for
| ever, with what equinimity, let US ask.
/ can we regard the memory of the
woman who formed that habit and
handed down an annoying expectation
to her husband, impossible of fulfill
ment after her departure?
1t is, as John Rawn wisely has said,
true that much may be said In favor
OF the Idea Of marriage: yet upon the
other hand, how very much there is
that could be said against 1t, or at
least against 1t as implying an unre-
stricted continuance, offering nc
change in association. The which Is
by way OF saying something to prove
John Rawn's excellently philosophical
course In life to have been quite cor
rect. There could have been no DOUBT
as to the wisdom of his marrying Lau-
ra. his wife, In the first place, no doubt
as to the wisdom of continuing the
marriage relation with her for many
years; but, upon the other hand, 1t is
obvious that his idea OF the timeli-
ness of the divorce In due season was
equally wise. Indeed, the only reser-
walton In his mind In regard to this
matter was one Of censure for a wom-
an who, having entered into the holy
state Of matrimony with a gentleman
of his parts. had had the temerity to
create In his soul an addiction for
shoulder OF pork and cabbage; who
had left her tatting upon the table;
and who, departing. had given no fu-
ture address whittier her tatting
might be sent! Yes, Laura Rawn had
been, without doubt or question, an
unreasonable and unkind wife.
Above all 1t vas wrong for a woman
to 50 away and leave her late husband
AM~nS~- -m2A ~~.- MA rA-.yA