Atlanta tri-weekly journal. [volume] (Atlanta, Ga.) 1920-19??, 1921-03-31
DOROTHY. Dix TALKS
- THEY ALSO PAY
BY DOROTHY DIX
Copyright, 1920. by the Wheeler Syndi-
cate, Inc.

Dand for some pretty little flapper,
young enough to be his daughter, our SYM
pathy all goes to the deserted wife.
We shed tears of pity as we think of the
poor woman with her house of life in ruins
about her. We think with compassion OF the
long years of service she has given to a man
who rewards her labor with black ingrati-
tude; of the love that she lavished on him.
and that he scorned; Of all her dreams that
are broken through. We think very often
about how poor and homeless she will be,
because the man who has no sense OF his
moral obligations to the woman to whom he
is married, generally has no sense OF finan-
clal obligations to her, either, and we have
all seen old wives turned out like old horses
to starve, while men indulge their new wives
in all sorts of luXuries
! We have pictured the husbands OF these
forlorn old women happy, and gay, md
carefree. We have thought of them as
cling in the beauty of their young wives, and
dancing and frolicking around with Them,
and basking in second springtime of youth
and romance, with never backward thought
toward the old life, and the old wife, except
to be glad that they were left behind.
1t has not seemed fair that The woman
who had given the best of her life to a man,
and whose only fault was that she had grown
old and homely, should have to suffer so
while he went scot free. 1t shook our faith
in the eternal justice that rules the world,
and that, in the end, makes the dancer pay
the piper.
1t appears however, that trading OLD wives
for new is as disastrous bargain for the
man as it is for the woman, and general
thing brings him as little happiness. A man
who has done this thing said to ME the other
day:
81 have never known a man VINO deserted
a faithful old wife for young woman who
ever got any happiness out of it. | have
never known one who did not regret it, and
who would not have given everything he had
on earth to blot out his wrong-dOing. and be
back once more in his old home, and with
his old wife, and his old associations. I
know of what I speak, because I committed
this crime, and / am punished for 1t every
day of my life, and I want to tell you my
story because perhaps it may be a warning to
"When I was young chap, | married the
girl wanted. and she proved to be splendid
wife; a good, helpful companion III every
way. We worked together and prospered.
and the fact that I am rich man today is
largely owing to her. We raised family or
which we were entitled to be proud, and
were respected and liked in our community.
"Of course, the years, and hard work, and
care told on my wife, just as it does on other
women. She got to be mddle-aged and
faded, and gray-haired, and a little stout;
but no more SO than Just the average woman.
She had probably got no more unattractiys
physically than had, but | never thought
| of that 4 ~s
envy position placed me where came in
contact with many young women. They fas-
cnated me with their good looks, their fresh.
ness, their high spirits. They flattered me
they vamped me-for l was the boss, and
had money to spend on them, and was fool
enough not to be able to see through thelr
Establishments and cajolrles. s.,all e~7-z e -N-
ct began to think was young again; thai
had right to romance; that was tied down
by my old wife; and / commenced running
around with these girls, and spending my
money on them. | came to hate home, TO be
cross, fault-finding and dissatisfied wnen
was there, and when looked at my wfes
| faded face and compared it with the fresh
young beauty of the girls in my office, it be-
came unbearable.
ssFinally I imagined myself in love with
one of these young women, and L literary
| forced my wife into getting divorce SO that
| could marry her.
! SCI expected to be perfectly happy but am
the most miserable man on earth, and my
very soul is torn with remorse. After my
tnfatuation had ended, and 1t didn't last SIX
months, / found that / had nothing In COM
| mon with this young creature to whom am
married She wants to be dancing and CAD"
ding around all the time, and to have tho
amusements she Graves. l want to lead
quiet, life We think alike on no subject on
earth because she has the viewpoint OF ner
day. and | of mine and she considers me
| 49,
grasping and greedy, and feels that the only
way she can be paid for having married an
old man, as she thinks me, is by having the
| run of his pocketbook.
81 can but compare her with my OLD vile,
the one who fought by my side for so many
years whose loyalty proved million t:mes,
who never had a selfish thought where was
! concerned and whose pride was in my achleVe-
ments; and when I do, hate the nara youhs
beauty across, the table from me. ana won
der how could ever have been fool enoush
| to prefer it to the gentle old face that love
! for me beautifed $500,
81 am literally crazed with grief and envy
whenever I see an old couple who nave walk
I'D since youth together, going down the long
trail hand in hand. Theirs is the only true
happiness, for they are bound together ny me
| ties of a lifetime, and there is that netweeh
them that can never be between al mldole-
| aged man and young girl. Believe me, tnete
! is no happiness for the man who }orsakes MS
| old wife for a new one. Nothing but remoise'
There is particular devil set apart 10 'or-
! ture him" - 49,,
! Which is even true. AS we sow, we reap.
No real happiness was ever built on aho'hei
PERSONS misery. :,
| Copyright, 1921, by the Wheeier oyn'i-
cate, Inc.)