Atlanta Georgian. [volume] (Atlanta, Ga.) 1912-1939, 1913-06-06
Nothing More Terrible Than
Plight Of MurieI Bishop, Says
Dorothy Dix,
sv DOROTHY DIX.

There is one story that can be re-
lied on TO always strike tears from
any heart not as hard as a stone. and
that is the story Of the poor little
homeless child who has been robbed
by death of its parents.
There is another story equally pa
thetic. though we do not stop to shed
any tears over 1t. That is the story
of the poor little rich child who is
homeless and who has been robbed
by the divorce court Of its parents.
A few weeks ago Pomona Borden,
the heiress to millions. related just
such a tale in explanation of why she
had run away from the place in which
her father had put her She told how
she had been a helpless little pawn
in the quarrels between her parents
who were separated. how she had
been banded about between then,
and how they had struggled and
fought over possession of her.
Il had everything In the world that
money would buy she sobbed out
but / didn't have any mother or any
home-and that was what / wanted
most-a mother and a home
The sequel to the Bishop divorce
case is a repetition of this tragic
theme. The children have been
divided between the parents. some to
be motherless. some fatherless, all
homeless in the best sense of the
word. and the final dramatic climax
came when Muriel, a little girl OF
eleven went into court to make her
final choice between mother and faith
er and chose to live with her father.
How Pitfuily Poor.
Poor little rich girl. who can't have
both mother and father nor real
home 10 grow up in, How poor-how
terribly. pitifully poor-she is,
But could anything in a civilized
land be sadder than the spectacle of a
little child being called upon TO choose
between the mother who bore her and
the father who has cherished herr
Think Of her having 20 turn from the
outstretched arms of the mother to
the welcoming hand Of the father
Who Is to teach her which 10
choose Yet she needed the wisdom
OF a Solomon in such a choice. Hon
was she to be guided Both parents
had been tender TO her, both had loved
her. Childlike, she unquestioningly
loved them without weighing her af-
lection for either. How cruel the
fate that did not permit her TO 60
on blindIy loving both without judg-
ing between them.
No Drop Of Gall So Bitter.
Nothing is more terrible than that
child should be force 10 become
partisan Of either parent, arrayed
against the other one, taught by the
very exigencies of the situation t.
self 20 Judge. and blame, and treat
as an enemy either the father or
mother. There is no drop Of gall so
bitter as that which lies at the bot
tom of the cup Of family dissension.
and no crime worse than that Of
pressing this drink upon the lips %
a child II IS a draught that pOisons
the very springs of life at the time
when life should be sweetest and most
Carefree and trusting.
The circumstances Of the Bishop
case are too familiar 70 need recall
ing here Mr.. Bishop charged his
wife with being a dipsomaniaC. Mrs.
Bishop accused her husband Of uu-
faithfulness. There We're suits and
countersuits. and in the end di-
vorCe decree has been awarded tn
Mrs Bishop
The two older girls Mary and Au-
gusta who were grown and are 10
make their debut next winter. elect
cd 10 20 with their father Mrs
Bishop alleges that they did this be-
cause OF their fathers wealth. and
because he could give them more
Injuries and social advantages Than
she could. and says that she has let
tiers from them. written within tl-
last few months. telling Esr az r-a.-
love for her.
Two other H-rTa girls Natalie aal
Abigail. the courts awarded 20 taer