The herald. [volume] (New Orleans, La.) 1905-1953, 1913-12-11
A PRIVILEGE DENIED.

But as society IS constituted at the pres
ent time that is just the privilege we are
that We shall not experiment I'm this. the
most vital relation Of life Society de-
clares that II We make mistake In the
selection Of our mate We must abide by
that mistake. 1t places innumerable re-
strict!ons about divorce. II makes divorce
extremely difficult TO obtain and then pun
ishes the parties to It in ways that would
shame the Spanish Inquisition
1t IS TO contend against conditions such
as these that Amos Thomas. the socialist
retormer in Years of Discretion" is de-
voting his life Like many another ardent
socialist he is a believer In free love.
free marriage and free divorcs-a trinity
OF social reforms In which he sees the
salvation OF the civilized world.
Amos Thomas's own description OF him.
self Is that OF ''varietist," and inasmuch
as David Belasco made II incumbent upon
me to familiarize myself with the doc
trtnes OF the ''varietists'' before assuming
chis role in Years OF Discretion" ueed
not apologize TO the readers OF this
paper for what might seem otherwise
an undue familiarity with their teachings
AS varietist Amos Thomas is a strong
advocate OF the value OF experiment in all
matters pertaining TO sex He believes
that at present marriage is too easy Of ac-
complishment and divorce too difficult
He would have Just the reverse. In his
ideal state OF society. while the sexes
would be encouraged in the utmost free
dom Of Intercourse. they would be dis
couraged in forming any binding unions
until every other expedent had been ex-
hausted. Here Is where trial marriage.
SO called. would be brought into play.
II IS generally agreed upon. believe.
that second marriages are more happy
and successful than first. and Il has been
my personal observation that third mar
riages are universally so. II you will take
stock OF your acquaintance, separating
them into groups according to the number
OF their matrimonial experiences, / think
you will find that. all else being equal
the most contented husbands and wives
are remarked widowers and widows. that
they have the happiest homes and that
they contribute more to the happiness and
welfare Of the social life Of the community
than those who have been married but
once.
You will notice that ! say remarked
widowers and widowa" BY this i mean
wldower and widow in the strict sense
OF the terms. do not include the d.
vorced Of either sex. but only those men
and women who have lost their partners
by death. Now. In view of what / have
already said in favor Of free divorce. Won
may De surprised when l say that the
Of a widower or widow being
happy in a second or third matrimonial
venture are infinitely greater than those
OF divorced man or woman. Indeed
VIII go so far as to say that ! question
under present social conditions
Ihe marriage OF Divorces is ever quite a.
happy as II should be and would be war.
those conditions remedied.
Why. then. should a man or a woman
De napier In a second marriage II the
former spouse is under ground than 70
ne or she Is still in the land OF the liv1ne7
what are you going 10 do about II sor,.
practical soul asks?
The "varietist" after he has mads
divorce easily accessible 20 any married
pair who desire 1t. proposes to remove the
social stigma from the divorce. Under
such an improved system Of society, It will
be Just as honorable and creditable to hav
several divorced husbands or wives al II 4,
aow to have those same husbands and
wives reposing in the cemetery.