Decorah public opinion. (Decorah, Winneshiek County [Iowa]) 1895-1928, 1921-06-29
Something to
Think AbOnt
MEMS WEDDING RINGS.
B, z. Il. W1LKER


II HE Brooklyn Eagle, which reports
i most things accurately and well
published the news that in its city
the use of wedding rings for men is
gaining rapidly in popularity.
This is interesting and important If
il means that men are coming 10 take
the marriage ceremony and IT'S vows
more seriously and that the divorce
rate is as a consequence TO cease in
its upward trend.
The wedding ring is q relic Of saw
agery. II is probably descendant Of
the metal bracelet and chain by which
the earlier tribes Of men assured them
selves that their spouses would not
wander away from the house domicile
while the master Of the house was
away hunting.
Some more engaging wife, having
convinced her husband of unques1ion-
able fidelity, was rewarded by having
the bracelet reIsaced by the ring and
the chain done away with altogether
The ring by itself showed that she
was married. The absence Of the
chain said, Here is an exceptionally
fine wife" That fiartered and pleased
both parties.
But if the modern woman is ex-
pected 10 wear a wedding ring and
advertise her married position. what
good reason is there why the husband
should not be marked in an equally
prominent manner and his limitations
Of freedom equally advertised?
An old custom OF the marriage cere-
mony consisted of putting the wedding
ring first on the thumb, then on the
ing the names Of the Trinity as the
ceremony proceeded, and. finally. when
II rested on the third finger, 1t was
supposed 10 signify that next 10 her
duties TO God the wife recognized her
duties to her husband.
OF course, il ought not to require a
ring or any other form of emblem 10
make a man or a woman hold sacred
the vows of the altar. If thin band
of gold or platinum is all that re-
strains either one of them from wan
dering. then the divorce court is not
very far away.
To most women the wedding ring
is very sacred thing. II is the last
thing that goes to the pawnshop when
adversely demands its toll. Just how
much il means 10 the men. who in
accordance with the new custom will
wear it, is question that only test
will settle.
The question of divorce in this coun.
try is fast getting TO be of such dimen-
sions as TO demand serious corrective
attention.
In twenty years the number of d.
vorces granted annually has increased
from about 10000 to $4,000 with a
total in the twenty years Of nearly
two millions.
In Nevada there are almost as many
u.
since Nevada has been the resort Of
many citizens from other states seek
ing freedom from marital ties, IL may
be fairer to point 10 Oregon which
has only two and half times as many
marriages as divorces.
In six counties In four states the
record shows 80 per cent more d.
vorces than marriages.
The innocent parties TO these dis
the past 20 years more than 100000
sons and daughters of disagreeing
parents have been involved in the
court proceedings which followed the
desire for separation.
In many states il has come to be
easier 10 get divorced than it is to get
married. Scarcely two states have d.
vOrce laws alike, and what is Illegal
in one state becomes perfectly all
right so far as the statutes go the
minute the imaginary line between Il
and another commonwealth is crossed.
Perhaps the custom of wedding
rings for men will have a good effect
on the bad record recited above.
Perhaps, on the other hand, the men
VIII wear their badges Of matrimony
in their vest pockets whenever they
think more conspicuous display will
Interfere with an evening a little gay
er than they would have at home.
But whatever means is necessary for
the correction Of present conditions
should be determined and put into
force.
Marriage should be made less of a
farce and divorce less of joke than
present records show both TO be.
The marriage relation is an impor.
tant part of our civilization. II mer-
its more attention and more perfec.
to