Perrysburg journal. (Perrysburg, Wood Co., O. [Ohio]) 186?-1965, 1914-04-03
Should Wives
Take Holidays !?

Q HATT,HRING belief In hmeworn
~ adages anent absence making the
heart grow fonder, the Rev. Frank
Dewitt Talmage of Philadelphia, has
come out with an urgent plea against
the separation of families during the
summer, declaring that these holidays
SOW the seeds of divorce that reap 80
great a harvest for the lawyers every
year.
Beware" he says, "of separations
which take away for any length OF
time wives from husbands, husbands
from wives, brothers from sisters and
parents from children. Where do you
say you are going this summer
"'Well," you answer, 4 do not
know. I have not yet made UP my
mind. l would like to go down to
the seashore If l could, but that is 80
far away. My husband and boys could
be with me only a little while II
did 20 there
Mother, wife, l would not go far
away from home Il were you. II
your husband and boys and brothers
have to work during the summer to
earn a livelihood 1t is not good to be
separated from them. 1t is not good
for you. 1t is not good for the hus-
and the boys. Nine-tenths Of all
vorces are due to the tempta-
t..-. of our summer resorts.
These separations lay tempta-
tions, awful temptations, at the feet
Of the men who are compelled to
at home and work. They lay temp
tations, awful temptations, at the feet
of the women who are off in the sum-
mer hotels. Be in place where all
the members of the family can get
together every few days.
Never let your husband learn the
lesson how to be happy without you
and the children. Wives and mothers,
never learn yourselves the lesson how
you can be happy without your hus-
bands and the children by your side"
Is he right? Or should husbands
and wives be away from each other
at least for part of the summer that
each may forget the little grievances
and difficulties of housekeeping and
remember only the love and tender
ness of each other? e
Philosophers, students of human
nature, and even the comic artists
have from time immemorial pictured
the woe of the man left to keep bach
elor's hall through the summer, and
the joy with which he vel nes back
his wife. We have, too, seen how the
women at summer resorts forget the
daily difficulties of life at home and
sigh for the time when they may re-
turn to it, while new interests, differ
ent points of view and a wider scope
Of life are all brought about by trips
TO some distant resort away from the
home where we spend too many
months Of the year.
But if DR.. Talmage is right-ther
this is all wrong, and the absence oil
the wife is the first step to legal sep,
aration instead of a step down the
path that leads to a deeper under
standing and wider sympathy with
each other.
1t opens up wide field for discus
sion, doesn't it? And it is essentially
a woman's question, and one which
she alone can settle. What are you
yourself going to do? Will you put
your faith in your husbands loyalty
and leave him TO spend his summer
alone? Or will You stay near him
and only perhaps take that conjugal
vacation during a week or two later
in the summer?
The majority of men grow restless
beneath marital bonds that are toe
tight, just as the majority of women
grew restless If they must face fifty
two weeks a year of household duties
So after all isn't there prospect that
no vacation may also sow seeds OF
quarreling and divorce? And that is
the question.
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