The Tacoma times. [volume] (Tacoma, Wash.) 1903-1949, 1916-05-17
:. The e
Confessions
of a Wife
WHBRE TWO OR THREE
ARE GATHERED TOGETHER

whats all this, Miss Mar
garet, that l am reading SO muel
about lately?" asked Annie THU
morning. This feminist ques
ton? ! went to lecture last
night and a little mouse-coloret
woman of about forty-five de
clared vehemently that Every
woman should have the privilege
of choosing the father of her chill
dren.'"
Mollie, who was sitting beside
my bed helping Annie with hel
baby clothes, began to laugh.
1T made me laugh, too, Mollis
darlin'," continued Annie with
that Irish twinkle in her eyes thai
love so we'll, for | said to my
self, Sure, we can't be dom muct
else than choosin' the fathers Of
our children when We marry
them.
What she might have meant
Annie" said Mollie, lis that if 4
woman wanted children and NJ
husband she should be allowed t.
have them"
Now, Mollie, you are making
fun of me-" exclaimed Annie
while her face expressed both &
desire to laugh and a horror Of
the idea.
mo, Annie, j am not; a good
many women are advocating these
theories now. I'll wager il yol
had made inquiries that yol
would have found the woman
who made the statement was al
unmarried woman"
"Of course she was, for / ask
ed" said Annie.
We'll, perhaps that poor WON
ans arms ache to clasp a baby,
suggested Mollie.
Well, there are plenty running
around loose that would be glat
to let her clasp Them" was An
MES observation. What woul(
be the objection to her choosing ;
baby instead of a father to one?'
| laughed aloud. There wa
the quick mind@of the Irish WON
an, and the courage to prick an!
bubble--no matter how large ant
iridescent--that was palming 1t
self off as something stable.
81 have been thinking and talk
ing a lot about this marriag,
question since | married." sale
Mollie, and | have come to tn,
conclusion that marriage as W,
now know it is far from beint
a perfect institution
Annie looked up in horror.
Whatever do you mean By
that?' she asked. do you meal
you don't believe in MARRIAGE"
Certainly, Annie, l believe il
it as the best thing we have, t.
date, for the propagation Of tn,
race and the sanctification o
the home, without which no coun
try can live. But | do not thinl
it is a perfect arrangement b,
any means. If 1t were perfect
there would be no divorces, YOU
know. | believe marriag,
ceremonial should be a civil ser
vice only. really don't thinl
marriage has anything to do will
ones religion, except in the mora
sense in which every act that ;
person does affects religious faitl
more or less"
Look here, Mollie," inter
rupted. "this is not you talking
but Chadwick"
Perhaps" she acquiesced
land yet Chad is quite as conven
tional and loath to disturb thing
as is the average man."
Yes" said Annie, with ;
laugh, Il have noticed tina
whether it was Mr.. Symone will
all his money and education, o.
my Terry with only his native wi
and good nature, each is quit,
willing that his wife SHOULD
guard the morals and religion o
the family"
(which is as it should be, An
ME. A woman should be NOR,
moral than man." said l.
WHY" asked Mollie quickly
as she not just as human? Doe
she not have the same tempta
lions and the same incentives?"
Yes, but to her is entrusted
the greatest of all work of civi
lization.
Go into the conservation bust
ness very extensively is what mos
men believe" interrupted Annie
which brings us back to the frs
question. Why should not WON
an choose the father of he
child?"
Annie, my dear, please dom
let your Irish sense of humor ge
the best of you"
But, my dear Miss Margaret