Atlanta Georgian. [volume] (Atlanta, Ga.) 1912-1939, 1914-04-05


element of chance in mar
rage has created the saw that mar
riage is a gamble" Human frailty,
the swapping of the sense of proper
ton and of foresight by the love vi
brations, unforeseen complications,
all menace the matrimonial bark. 1t
is. in fact. conceded that no lottery
ever offered ingenious patrons
greater risk. Witness the manifold
ing of divorce.
An ingenious and philanthropic
plan for lessening the risk in this
greatest of human relationships has
passed the incubation stage In New
York. Not that Solomon has arisen
wise enough to guarantee that love
will last, nor to PROFOUND formula
for the blending of human oil and
water. That problem still battles the
magi. But an organization has been
completed to make the hurt of sun
dering the ties less. 1t proposes 10
offer you, on your wedding day or be-
fore. an immunity policy. 1t Will
make your marriage gamble less by
itself gambling on the risk.
1t enables a man as he leads his
blushing bride to the altar to reflect
comfortably that if things don't turn
out right he has behind him a con
Germ which will keep him from going
to Jail for not paying his alimony;
while the happy bride can be happier
in the conviction that if he doesn t
turn out right the same concern Will
provide her with the sinews of war
TO make him regret 1t and also pro-
vide her with theN alimony he won |
or cant pay.
To the objection that such a pro-
ceeding is destructive of true romance
the promoters answer that 1t is TO
nance that puts the mar in marriage
and that it is the plain intention or
the plan to substitute a little useful
business foresight.
To the objection that 1t is immoral
in that it affords protection against
certain consequences of breaking the
marriage vow, and so, in theory, en-
courages such violations, the promo
tiers point to similar insurance taken
out by physicians, dentists and auto
mObilists. The doctor will take out
a policy which insures him against
the financial consequences of NAL
practice or carelessness, even to the
killing of patient; the dentist takes
out insurance against the conse-
quences of pulling the wrong tooth,
or breaking the jaw or injecting the
patient; the automobiles in the same
way takes out insurance that puts
the cost of the thing when he smasheS
another machine or runs over Pc
destrian upon the insuring company.
These are acknowledged and lie
Ultimate" risks. 1t might be urged
that the doctors and dentists policy
puts a premium on inefticiency and
stupidity in that if either knew that
damages must come out of their own
pockets they would be more careful.
And the automobiles would not drive
so recklessly if he knew that dam
ages would come out of his pocket
instead of the rich companies. So
the alimony insurance men point out
they are at least in well-knOwn, ii
not distinguished company. Besides,
they say, anything which will keep a
man from the criminal absurdity OF
loating in prison because he cant pay
a debt, or help along a poor aban-
doned wife, has much better morals
in it than the cases of the profess
sional men and autoists
Furthermore. whatever profits ac
crue to the concern will not be used
for dividends, as in the case Of the
insurance companies They will be
used, instead. to promote uniform
divorce legislation throughout the
United States.
Mr.. Mirabeau l.. Towns, the dis
tinguished New York attorney, is the
founder Of the relief measure, which
came into being at the time the
handsome and romantic actor, Con
way Tearle, was cast into Ludlow
Street Jail, that New York dungeon
for debtors and matrimonial delin-
quents.
Five men who have married and
suffered sympathized with Mr.
Tearle," said Mr.. Towns, who has
curling white hair, a luXuriant beard
the color Of snow, flashing dark eyes
and the gift Of poetic imagery
They are all men of high standing
socially and in the professions OF
business. One is rated as the owner