Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1915-03-26
WHY HUSBANDS
ABANDON HOMES
CHICAGO PUBLIC SERVICE SUR.
vEv REVEALS MANY INTER.
EsTlNa FACTS.
LARGE WOMEN OR WORKERS
ARE SELDOM ABANDONED
Gossip Found to Be Peril to Home
Steady Job and Children Greatest
Insurers Against Domestic infslicity
Children Frequently Bring Dis.
agreeing Parents to Harmony.

Chicago, March 26.-''why Husbands
Desert Their Wives" might be the sub
ject Of work based on q survey Of de-
sertion in Chicago which is being made
by c. D. Blachley, Of the bureau OF
public welfare. Z.
Altho the survey Is a serious and
monumental work, statistics embodied
in it reveal many whimsical facts re-
garding the question Of marital In
felicity in q big city.
Factors in Problem.
According to these statistics, past
experience in Chicago has proved:
That the solidarity Of the home de-
Ponds upon the nationality OF husband
and wife, their relative ages, envir-
onment, occupation, size. physical
strength, moral standards. color, men
tally, temperament, health. discretion,
wealth, religion and number OF chill
dren.
The percentage Of desertion is
shown to be lowest among Italians and
highest among the American-born,
with Germans occupying 2 practically
intermediate position.
These Reasonably Safe.
According to the figures in the sur
vey, wives stand relatively small
chance Of being deserted if
They are big physically.
They are good laundresses or other
wise contribute to the family income.
They are sweet-tempered, helpful.
interested, affectionate and loyal.
They have children.
II.
borers.
These Likely to Face Woe.
Contrary wise desertion is an ever
present peril to wives who
Are weak physically and unhealthy.
Are extravagant, shrewish, untidy,
do not desire children and are critical
or gossips.
Have husbands who earn relatively
large salaries.
Conditions beyond the control Of
either husband or wife interpose some
times, however, &c Sc: e"-y "!sest
calculations. This Is proved by the
fact that unemployment stress IL
shown to be responsible for more than
10 per cent Of all assertions.
The low percentage of desertions
among Italians is shown graphically In
the following survey Of 357 families
selected at random in one of the for
eign quarters Of the city:
Italian families. 333: Irish, s; Amer
lean, 4: Polish. A; Swedish, 3; Jewish,
2; Russian, 2; German. /; Bohemian,
1. In these 1857 families there was but
one case Of desertion, and that was in
an American family.
Children Reunion Factor.
~ 80
relations, quoted in the survey, show
that husbands and wives who have
children generally become reconciled
before they leave the court room.
Mrs. Leonora z. Meder, commits
sioner Of the bureau Of public welfare,
under whose direction the survey Is
being made. expressed this aspect Of
desertion.
Next to steady employment plenty
Of children seems undoubtedly to be
the best possible guarantee Of marital
permanence and solidarity
The survey Is being based on a
QUESTIONABLE which Is considered the
most comprehensive ever applied to
the study Of a similar sociological
problem.
Some Questions Asked.
Here are Few OF the nundre0s OF
questions to which the bureaus in
vestigators are seeking answers:
Is the woman SLOUGH? A shrew? A
gossip? A poor housekeeper? Is she
inclined even now to confess her faults
too freely.
Is the husband lazy, cruel, drunk
ard, loafer, a spendthrift? Does he
abuse his family?
Is either husband or wife nervous,
morose. sullen, fault-hnding, immoral.
feeble subject to epilepsy?
Is the family income flush? Ample?
Cramped?
Was ilere difference Of opinion be-
tween man and wife as TO the desir-
ability of children?
In addition to the compilation Of
specific facts concerning desertion in
Chicago, the survey comprehends q
study Of conditions abroad with view
Of arriving at recommendations which
shall serve as groundwork for legis-
lative and social action looking toward
the amelioration Of the situation in
Chicago.