Evening capital news. (Boise, Idaho) 1901-1927, 1914-07-05
Miss Russell in Her Second We'd
ded Role, Mrs. Harry
Braham.
By Lillian Russell
lin an lnterView.)


w IHAT is the matter with mar
w Tiaser
have taught me that it is too mucl
thought of love and too little about
money.
Money causes more divorces than
does unfaithfulness to marriage
VOWS. Money is the root of nearly
all matrimonial misery. The re-
mainder, caused by natures so dis
similar as not to harmonic. is too
slight for consideration. Most per-
sons can get along happily together
If the chief bone of contention be
removed. That chief bone is differ
ence Of opinion about money. / am
convinced that ninety nine hun
dredths of all unhappiness in mar
rage is caused by such differences.
Marriage, while not wholly fail
ure, is one of the half failures of
the world. 1t is only fifty per-
cent efficient. That one Of every eight
marriages ends in divorce proves
that something is radically wrong.
A short while ago the ratio was one
divorce to twelve marriages. Quick
ly 1t became one to eight. fear
that if present conditions continue
the descending scale will be one to
six, to four, to three and finally that
state of social chaos will ensue when
1t will be one to two, or one-half OF
the marriages will parade their
failures in the divorce court. And
the other couples, remaining in the
bonds of wedlock, will be in the
same mood which Achilles nursed
in his tent. They will chafe at their
bonds and sulh over their grievances.
They will be irked by their state.
All the signs point to a marital
revolution. l am not of those who
would destroy the institution. It
is needed to restrain the lower ele-
ments in human nature And
would prevent the marital revolu-
ton if ! could by establishing mar
riage upon a business basis. Mar.
riage is a business and should sub
init to the regulations and restric-
tions and enjoy the emoluments of
a business. l call upon the wives
and the women who may become
wives and their sympathlzers, who
are leading the revolt upon mar
riage, to issue protocol. Let them
cease their onslaughts upon mar
riage and adjust matrimonial differ
ences upon a business basis. ! beg
them to consider the marriage con-
tract as a substitute for the red flag
of war.
/ propose as compromise meas
ures a complete understanding about
money apportionment before mar
riage and that a wife shall receive
one-half of her husbands income af-
ter marriage, to do with as she
likes.
Both Of these I know are startling
suggestions. but a consideration
of them will show you that they are
reasonable. I do not advocate mar
riage without love but believe that
love should be held in leash and
what Demarest Lloyd called "the
short fever of mating" should be
held in allegiance until an entirely
satisfactory arrangement is made
for the future.
1t has been considered indicate
for the girl who is being wooed to
talk about money to her sutton. It
should be, and soon will be. con-
sidered sign of a weak intellect II
she doesn't. Marriage will not be a
lottery after Mary says to John
yes, I could love you. l know nc
other man whom I prefer for a hus.
band. But whether ] marry you will
depend upon what guarantee you can
give me that our future together
and my future, should I have the
misfortune to become your widow
will be one secure from poverty"
If John be a sensible man, not a
human balloon inflated with vanity,
he will admire his Mary's clear com
mon sense and reply as frankly as
she has spoken.
II he be a shifty, evasive person,
he viii say: "Of course, my dear,
will make a will in your favor" I