The Detroit times. [volume] (Detroit, Mich.) 1903-1920, 1915-11-19
Second Marriages.
eY Or. FRANK CRANE
Copyright, 1915. by Frank Crane)


News from the White House has open
ID up lively debate in the newspapers
and sewing circles upon the question OF
second marriages.
The subject, for convenience of dis
cussion, may be divided into four head
ings CD its legal, (2) religious or
moral, 60 sentimental, and ca COM
Portable aspects.
A second marriage is undoubtedly
legal, except in those cases where
partner number one is alive and undl-
vorced. There seems TO be a strong
prejudice against man having two or
more wives at a time, outside Of GER
tain polygamous districts.
man really needs several wives, as
follows: One (rich) TO support him, one
to attend To social duties, one to keep
house, one TO be his intellectual compan-
ion and one to do secretarial work for
the group. Ii is doubtful that any one
lady can fill all these varied functions.
On account of the prejudice above
mentioned however this proper division
of wifely duties remains an unrealiZed
ideal We shall have to stump along
with the first missus the best we can.
Secondly, is second marriage moral
and consonant with the teaching of re-
,Sgioe,2o +. As-., T,bSTe avaAs or bass Iheetrsc
places in the world where the widow is
burned alive upon her husbands funeral
pyre In such a case the matter OF sec
ond would not interest her.
Some faiths prohibit first marriage
to certain classes, those who have taken
vows of celibacy: but if one has commit
ted matrimony once there seems to be no
good theological grounds preventing his
committing it as often as his spouses
pass.
Thirdly, there is pronounced senti-
ment in some circles against anybody
marrying again. 1t appears to be con-
structive disloyalty to partner number
one
The point is not we'll taken. Seeking
second mate should be regarded as
compliment to the first.
There is a marrying type. Some men
cannot endure single bessedness, any
more than domesticated dog can be
happy roaming the woods like a VOL
and unattached To some master.
Many wives fret themselves over the
prospect Of husbands marrying again.
1t seems terrible. TO think OF my John
with another woman" They should re-
rel all SQCn IUOukDlS. JollH - oVNphu
venture will not worry the flrst Mrs.
John. who will be at peace. Let the sec
ond Mrs. John do the worrying. As for
John himself the wretch will probably
be nicer to number two than he was to
number one. Men always are.
Fourthlv. does second marriage con-
5uce TO comfort? Is it practical? Is it
wise?
Or is it. as Dr. Johnson said, "a
triumph of hone over experience
There appears to be difference OF
opinion here Many second-termers wish
they hadn't. Many others are glad they
did. There is no way TO settle it except
TO try it and see. as Mr.. Wilson. AT all
events the experiment will be interest
ing
There is a monument in g graveyard
somewhere M the Hudson River on one
side of which appear the names of the
eoven successive wives Of John Hawkins.
There ore Sarah, Fannie, Lucy Jane,
Emma Candace. and Flora. On the other
side is this inscription:
Sacred to the memory of John Haw-
lirs. Manv are the Affections OF the
righteous. but the Lord delivereth him
out Of them all.