Eagle River review. [volume] (Eagle River, Wis.) 1890-1927, 1913-11-21
CHAPTER VIII.

The Extreme Monogamy of Mr.. RaWn.
1t is always more or less annoying
80 put away a wife. Even if the ex-
pense of the process be little, as in
these modern days it has come to be.
and even if consent thereto be mutual,
as is so often the case, there are in
practically all cases so many unpleas-
ant attendant features as almost to
dispose one to favor the adjustment
of the marriage idea, and to condemn
1t as one not destined to survive in
these days of modern competition.
This, the more especially as regards
that monogamic idea of marriage
which the government at Washington
harshly seeks to extend over our en-
tire domain. AS to the idea of poly
gamy, much may be said in its favor.
thus, If one be tired of one wife, or
bored by another, in polygamy it is
easy to shift the domestic scene to a
third, and that in wholly good-humored
fashion The idea of divorce has
about 1t something almost personal, as
though one were displeased over some
matter, as though one held in ones
sleart something actually of criticism,
or dissatisfaction, or mayhap con-
domination OF ones own earlier judg-
4nent in the selection of a helpmeet.
Again, even after divorce has been
consummated, 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 if only one woman
has evinced ability to prepare shout
der OF pork and cabbage in the proper
manner, and if that woman has
CHANGED to be ones lately current
wife. 1t is, let US repeat, an annoying
thing to find that that particular WON
an, after deliberately forming and fos-
tering in one craving for shoulder of
pork and cabbage after having estab-
Iished an addition, as it were, in ones
soul for that viand-has with shame
less disregard Of wifely duty and do
mestic decency obliged one to divorce
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
-rahich must be broken or readiusted
If ones wife-or one of ones wives
has been in the habit of leaving her
Eating each afternoon or the top of
xthe table near the best view out of the
bow window, and if one sees contin-
ually this abandoned tatting perma-
rentIy left there in the confusion of
Aer permanent departure-it is annoy
Sng. let US repeat, to be reminded of
habit to whose creator we have said
farewell It causes mental ennui
constantly to be removing tatting or
embroidery.
Or, if ones current wife has had the
old-fashioned and not wholly weIl-bred
habit of meeting one at the door of an
evening, at the close of the days Ia
bGrs-just as in the evening the cave
woman greeted her man at the mouth
OF the cave to ask him what had been
the fortune of the days hunt-and If
now that football, ill-bred, yet after all
habitual-and was it 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 it, or at
least against it as implying an unre-
stricted continuance, offering no
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
rs to the wisdom of his marrying Lau-
IA, 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 I'm his mind in regard to this
matter was one of censure for wom-
an wfo, having entered into the holy
state ae matrimony With q gentleman