The herald. [volume] (New Orleans, La.) 1905-1953, 1915-12-16

] mOnial life. they fail to give the one
hundredth part of publicity that they
should give to the tens of thousands
of good, happy homes, where marriage
and family life is a foretaste of heav-
en-. The masses will not read be-
tween the lines, will not look at the
reverse OF the medal, and so public
opinion has readily been led TO be-
lieve that the marriage state is not
such a desirable one, and that when
ever it is found undesirable the only
safe and legitimate remedy is di-
vOrce. The stage. that power for good
! if properly used, has unfortunately
given its lions share of help in form
| ing public opinion in favor of divorce.
! Hardly a performance can be staged
without there being remarks made
! which are at least SCurrilous and very
often scandalOus against such a noble
and sacred union as that of husband
and wife in the Christian wedlock.
Yes, continually and persistently, any
where and everywhere from beyond
the fOotlights, married life is decried
as a burden and its obligations are
held up to scorn. No wonder, then,
that the mass of the people has been
led astray Now, because a certain
general law works hardship on a few
/ individuals no statesman will advocate
the abrogation of that law whilst it
is promoting the general welfare of
the community.
Certain tariff regulations may work
| hardship on some states or industries,
nevertheless when the whole country
is considered the individual interests
OF the few must give way to the gen.
eral good. That there is misery in
many homes, that there are broken
hearts. that some homes are living
bells, no one will deny; but when the
general welfare of the millions is
considered the laws cannot be ev-
pecled to change to remedy the evils
of the few. 1t Is an unfortunate crea-
ton of our existence in this world
that perfect uniformity and equality
are impossible. Hence We will have
at all times misery In some form or
other in any state or condition of hu-
man life, and marriage life is no eX-
ception to the rule. 1t would, there
fore, seem unreasonable to deviate
from the usual rule in favor of the
marriage contract. Moreover. if the
parties were forced to enter this state
of life we might have pity on them
and feel inclined towards helping
them, but in most cases the parties
that clamor loudest for separation are
those who entered the holy state of
wedlOck in most careless manner.
Why make the masses suffer for the
mistakes of a few? Granting that it
might help some, how many others
there are to whom it has only given
new opportunities to fall into more
misery. Witness the many who have
been divorced several times in the
vain hope of finding happiness.
If people were more cautious in en-
tering this state of life, were more
familiar with it's obligations, there
would be less ill-mated couples. But
when people will contract such a SOL
emn obligation on a dare, or prompted
by so-called love at first sight. and
many other ridiculous reasons, there
will be unhappy marriages. This care
lessness, however, would not be so
frequent if the parties realized that
death alone could free them from
their contract. Knowing the deprav-
ity and trickery of our human nature,
it seems absurd to give it such an OBJ
portunity as the divorce laws give it.
Though the proceedings are surround
ed with the solemnity of the court, we
must hang our heads in shame when
we look into the records and find the
ridiculous, tri1ing causes for which
divorces are granted. Smoking in
some cases has been considered
strong enough reason. There is no
limit to the abuse in this line, whilst
the other course is so enrolling, so
God-like. All admire the man or WON.
an that is able to stand honorably by
mistake, and all the more so in the
conjugal state. All are filled with re-
spect and love for the person that pa
tiently endures and stands by the hus-
band or the wife in misery, whilst we
instinctively feel repealed at the sight
of those selfish and INSCRIPTIONS peo-
pie who at the least provocation air
their troubles in public and are ready
to put aside the companion they had
chosen for life.
Divorce has not, in the mind of the
impartial thinker, been the success il
was thought it would be, and this on
account of the enormous abuse of this
privilege, and also on account of the
imminent danger to the country by.
undermining the foundations of our