The Miller press. [volume] (Miller, S.D.) 190?-current, 1913-12-18
CHAPTER VII.

The Extreme Monoqamy Of Mr.. Rawn.
IL is always more or less annoying
TO put away a wife. Even II the ex-
pense OF the process be little. as In
these modern days 1t has come to be,
and even IL consent thereto be mutual,
hs 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
IL as one not destined to survive In
these days OF modern competition.
This, the more especially as regards
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 It's favor.
Thus. If m be tired OF one wife, or
bored by another, In polygamy II 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, ~
though one were displeased over some
matter. as though one held in ones
hear something actually OF criticism,
or dissatisfaction, or mayhap' con-.
demnation OF ones own earlier judy.
ment 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. Fol instance. II one has been
accustomed to pork and boiled cab.
bage at table, and IL only one woman
has evinced ability to prepare shout
der OF pork and cabbage In the proper
manner, and II that woman has
CHANGED to be ones lately current
wife. it is, let US repeat. an annoying
thing to find that that particular worn
an, after deliberately forming and fos.
tering In one a craving for shoulder OF
pork and cabbage-after having estab.
lished an addition. as II were, In ones
soul for that viand-has with shame.
less disregard OF wifely duty and do
nestle 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
which must be broken or r~eadjusted.
IL ones wife-or one of ones wives
has been in the habit of leaving her
tatting each afternoon on the top OF
the table near the best view out of the
bow window. and IL one sees contin-
ually this abandoned tatting perma-
rently left there in the confusion of
her permanent departure-it is annoy.
fng, let us repeat. to be reminded Of a
habit to whose creator we have said
farewell. II causes a mental ennui
constantly to be removing tatting or
embroidery.
Or. n ones current wife has had the
old-fashioned and not wholly well-bred
habit of meeting n 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 cave to ask him what had been
the fortune Of the days hunt-and ii
now that football. ill-bred, yet after all
~habitual--and was 1t wholly unwel-
come. after ail-shall have ceased for
ever, with what eouinimity. let us ask.
can WI regard the memory of the
woman who formed that habit and
handed down an annoying expectation
to her husband. impossible OF fulnll-
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 II 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
ss to the wisdom Of his marrying Lau.
Ka. his wife, In the fret place. no doubt
az TO the wisdom Of continuing the
marriage relation with her for many
years: but. upon the other hand, II Is
obvious that his idea Of the timeli-
ness Of the divorce In due season was
equally wise, Indeed. the only resers
In his mind In regard to this
was one Of censure for q wom-
IN whxs, xavinx enteret-ixtor the hoss
.tase OF .uatrimnny with q gentleman