The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1914-07-06
THE MARRIAGE CONTRACT.
Differences Between the Parties RRferred
20 q board OF Arbitration.

To THE EDITOR OF THE SUS-Sir. No
thinking man can do otherwise than
view with alarm the possibility sur-
gested by femlnlsm that marriage Is to
be "shunned by all thinking women" The
peculiar type OF political and economic
competence of mind prevalent throughout
the country, and particularly conspicuous
west OF the Missouri River and In the
halls of Congress. affords convincing evil
dence that any appreclable lowering OF
our eugenlc standards OF intelligence
must be frauzht with grave peril and II
all thinking women are to refuse abso-
lutcly their good Offices In replenlshlng
the population and man henceforth must
depend entirely on his own mental equip
ment In bequeathing facility or under
standing TO his progeny, our unfortunate
race Is quite certain TO degenerate
rapidly from Its present high plane OF
mere iinbecility 10 the level Of mollus-
cous incogtauce.
The responsibility toward the public
OF tho marriage state regarded M a
copartncrship seems not 90 be well under
stood by femlnlsts. yet the recognition OF
1t Is a social demand OF the greatest
urgency. Marriage has TO do with the
practical affairs Of life, and the family
requires constantly to he represented IN
It's dealings with the world by one or
another of its members. In all contrac-
tual relations there must he OF necessity
some competent authority with which
society may deal " ls because OF this
necessity that one or other Of tho con
tracing parties IN marriage must he
recognized as tho authorized representa-
tive Of the family; and because the mans
relations commonly are by far the more
largely extra domestic. he has been es-
tablishcd, originally by custom and later
by law. as the responsible head OF tho
household before the world And OH the
Af,,I1 h.t L.. f,.I
filled only through ample authority. It
follows that the man must he recognized
as tho master OF the family in tho ult-
mate decision OF all matters whatsoever
OF permissible conduct In a business CO.
partnership some arrangement Of this
sort runs with the duration of the con-
tract and since marriage ls designed to
be a permanent alliance. the representa-
tive responsibility quite logically IL en-
tended throughout life.
The theory Il quite simple, tho practice
OF II not necessarily more difficult than
tho operation OF n business firm. No
degradation can attach TO the obedience
OF n woman intelligent enough 10 choose
reasonable husband, and no method Of
family association comparable with this
In Justice, effectiveness and tolerable sue.
cess VI application has been devised.
IL II "a satisfaction TO have evidence
from time n time that women Of the
HlkUfFt llIFliEfftFs TtVinklnE women. IN
the meaning that men attach to the OK
preston, havo no great difficulty In grasp
Ing this masculine view of the essentials
Of contract, responsibility and authority.
But for persons of feminist persuasion
there appears to be n distinct need of
some further refinement OF the CONTRACT
tual relation of marriage TO enable the
inasculized woman to share In form, as
all women do in fact. In the exercise OF
domestic authority. with this progress
sive and uplifting inspiration, It gives mo
pleasure to offer an improved method for
the adjudication Of marital infeliclties
which perhaps may operate to salve the
spiritual wounds Of the feminist without
weakening materially the responsibility
OF tho family copartnershlp in Its deal
ings with tho public.
The procedure suggested is not new
but tho application OF Il Ia. The clause
embodying II is adapted from the official
building contract form OF the American
Institute Of Architects and the National
Association OF Builders. Promising only
that near-feminlsts may designate the
husband the party OF the first part" while
fully demented femlnists may reverse the
nomenclature. | append tho paragraph for
subscription In conclusion of whatever
marriage ceremonial they may prefer
I'm case the parties to this contract
fail TO agree in relation TO matters con-
corning them mutually or concerning one
with respect Of the other or concerning
either or both with respect OF intra-do-
nestle or extra domestic affairs. or should
the party OF the second part dissent from
tho decision Of the party of the first
part, which dissent shall have been filed
In writing with tho party of the first part
within ten minutes of the announcement
Of such decision. then the matter shall DO
referred to board OF arbitration TO con-
sist OF one person selected by the party
nF ha ~ at .tI ..1. "A
by the party of the second part, these
two to select a third. The decision OF any
two OF this board shall be final and bind
ing on both parties hereto. Each party
shall pay one-half Of tho expense OF such
reference; and may the Lord have mercy
on their souls - FRED METcALF.
FLAiNFIEIp, y. j., July 4.