Idaho County free press. [volume] (Grangeville, Idaho Territory) 1886-current, 1918-06-06
no .eEp1Es IN SECRET MARRIAGE

mond Va. for the murder of his wife
!. seems was in love with another CIR
su,;ng the entire period of his court
obin and marriage to his wife.
This brings up the extremely inter
esting question; "May man be in
1--we with two women at the same
timel"
There was a remarkable, and never
Understood case of Dean Swift, the bril-
liant English satirist and a man of let
ters and his love for the two women
who figured in his life as Stella" and
"Vanessa."
Roth women. were devotedly in love
with the eccentric author of "Gul-
Hver's Travels and when Venessa
could no longer stand the strain of the
uncertainty, and wrote to her rival for
an explanation, Swift, into whose hands
Stella placed the letter, rode to the other
girl and flinging the letter at her feet,
never spoke to her again. She died
shortly after, one of the few rare vic
tins of broken heart.
No one ever succeeded in solving the
mystery of Swift IS relations with these
two victims of his love. Did he finally
make Stella his wife in name only, as
some of his biographers contend, and
was his impending madness-Of which
of one of the great puzzles of English
hterature9
For the glory of being associated with
one of the great lights of English liter
ature, perhaps neither of these women
would have ordered her life differently,
if she had had the choosing.
But brilliant Dan Swifts are few in
deed, and when the average young man
makes a suggestion about concealing
the wedding it is usually from an utterly
unworthy and selfish motive.
If he is not willing to stand up and
acknowledge his wife before all the
world he does not deserve to have one.
The trial of the young dentist recalls
long list of calamities, related in the
daily papers, and following in the wake
Of clandestine marriages.
One is tempted to inquire if, for any
reason, it is ever wise for a girl to con
ceal her marriage. Granted there may
be difficulties in the way of the young
couple marrying openly and above
board, it is more sensible for them to
defer the ceremony until it can be per-
formed candidly and with dignity.
Some of the excuses, such as we could
not afford big wedding, are too alb
urd to discuss. A girl is not marrying
the world, nor her friends, nor a white
satin gown, nor "a point lace veil, nor
hye bridesmaids, dressed in shades of
the rainbow, or anything else but the
man of her choice.
There is no occasion at all for we'd
ing finery. 1t is perfectly dignified
Tor girl to be married in church or at
nome with no one but couple of wit
lesses present. And with equal dignity
me may wear what used to be known in {
Ter mother 5 day as one IS chest dress.'
II 1t is question of money, and the
'lrl has a feeling that she cannot give
iP her position to marry, modern com
non sense recognizes the wisdom of her !
'eepmg on with her "job' if it is I
ecessary. $
Particularly during these busy war
"nes necessity has made many married 7
'Olnen 90 to work, and where there are s
u eAatlng duties at home it is all the L
'Ore to their credit. 4
"A short-sighted policy once required i
"onlan to resign a position as a school ?
'acner or a government clerk when she
@rfled, but now, in the case of a t
'"0oi teacher, at least, a more liberal |,
VI view sanctions her wedding II n
lie announces If /;
'iSpiay is never necessary in the case p
wedding, though dignified an il
in the long run, will be f
''''' Tor all parties concerned. p
"or'nai circumstances, young man A
o'e Is only too anxious to proclaim d
y pefIeetions of his lady fair from the Ii
' -, to the boredom of friends
- zoe alike, and when this delightful OIL
suing INTO words is absent, there must e
'O"ne reason not wholly to the young b.
ans credit. RI
ware when young man begins to m
-, 10" Tor elandestine marriage is
u 'or the girl to be equally positive IL
REFUSAL If he is ashamed to ad- 50
us marriage, his attitude toward bl
-. Irrespective bride is, at least un- di
'ttering