The Manchester journal. [volume] (Manchester, Vt.) 1861-current, 1917-09-13
My Hypothetical
Wife
A Story Of Preparation
For War
d. r. A. mitchell

While driving through the country.
came upon a house situated Ia a yard
all~d With shrubs and flowers IN which
a sign was hung. IN follows School
Of Matrimony"
school Of MstrimonyF ! repeated
90 myself. surely there Is something
interesting behind that sign viii
~ In aud see what II is.
found a middle aged. Intellectual
looking man. who introduced me to his
wife comely woman, who excused
herself. leaving me alone with her nus
band Before quitting the room she
spoke a few words TO him, and ! no.
tieed that, though what she had TO say
was Of ordinary character. there was
something IN her tone aud manner
that denoted n deep affection for him.
Seeing your sign, sir" said TO the
gentleman Mir Larramore WAS his
name-"l have called 10 learn what 1t
means"
Are you meditating matrimonyf r. he
asked
"Wcll. yes, Every man meditates
matrimony except those who are mar
ried. and many OF those mediate d.
yorce"
"lt Is that divorce1 mean divorce
between couples with no well founded
reason for separation which my wife
and undertake to prevent by educat
ing those about 10 be married in the
dangers which they are sure to en-.
counter during the early days OF wed
ded life.
"Will you state your educational
plan;" asked
Certainly: there Is nothing secret
In t. BY attending divorce court pro-
ceedings my wife and ! have collected
a large number OF reasons why cou-
pies drift into what Is commonly called
incompatibility. On these reasons or
Incidents we have constructed tables
showing that the greatest number OF
breaks which occur between two nor.
NAL. well intending married persons
take place within three years after
marriage From that time they dimin-
fish rapidly The most difficult period
for them 10 get over is from the third
10 the tenth month of welded life. We
instruct our pupils In the dangers they
are liable to meet during these critical
months. Those which follow are but
q repetition OF those that have been
incurred before. Those who know the
perils they are to meet have far bet
ter chance OF resisting them than those
who meet them without having been
prepared for them"
do your courses consist simply Of
verbal instruction. or do your pupils
receive practical Instruction."
ave deliver lectures, l to men, my
wife TO women. but we have co-edu
cative course wherein couples hypo |
thetically married are carried through
most quarreIs, During the quarrels
they use their own judgment AS to
wherein either one or the other Is in
error. the instructor correcting them
from time 10 time. pointing out the
dangers Of certain acts during trying
moments or suggesting methods liable
20 bring about immediate reconcilia-
ton"
Il think" broke In at this part,
"that ! will enter myself In your acad
IN. sIt,nn ftn m
plan"
Having been accepted az n pupil, !
paid my tuition fee. and after attend
ing the lectures for "A couple OF weeks
photographs of youGg ladies' from
whom ! might select n dummy wife. !
pounced upon pretty girl whose APP
pearancc denoted amiabillty and ap-
piled for her II happened that she
was not engaged. was introduced to
her. and our drill was commenced.
was handed printed slip which read
as follows
MY dear. when | married you J sup
posed was marrying You alone.
had no intention of marrying your
family"
/ was instructed by Mr. Larramore
TO speak these words angrily to my
dummy wife | did SO, and despite the
fact that was playing "A part ] saw
the hot blood mount 10 her check. She
made no reply. for the instructor inter
posed.
"Thosc words should not have been
he said. though they may
have been felt When n man marries
a woman. IN sense he marries her
family that IL to say. he cannot IL.
more them. Whatever Is near aud dear
10 her must be treated with considora.
ton by him. IL some old maiden aunt
addresses him on first meeting him by
his first name he may writhe within,
but outwanily he SHOULD act as II the
lady and he had been brought up as
near relations"
Him." remarked. Are my wife's
relatives one Of the dangers 81 matri-
nonyF
zone ~ the principal ones" replied !
lur teacher.
Il would have you 10 understand"
replied my Hypothetical wife. that nv
family is as good as yours and. I've no !