Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1921-07-11

tionships.
Now, there is nothing very new under
the sun, although conditions change
little. and things dress up in various
DISCUSSES. each century.
As q matter of fact. virtually every
marriage contracted Is n trial marriage
When you are an eXpectant and radi-
ant bride, YOU do not say cod blood
edly, II think that John is an angel
but, of course. II he turns out to be a
disappointment, III go home 70
mother" No. but you subconsciously
think just that.
Everything that you do in life is
trial. The experiment is made while
you are pretty sure it is the best thing
10 do, but you make a mental reserva-
ton that II 1t turns out a failure, you
will give it up. OF course. you will do
your best TO keep to your side OF the
contract, and you will be patient, and
endure a certain amount OF disappoint-
ment and disillusionment, but there is a
definite point beyond which you will not
endure any more. Make the best OF a
bad bargain" counsels your mother,
''unless the bargain is too bad; but
then give it up.
'Stick to it to the bitter end, il it
kills you," say just few people.
buppObe you 70 lHtO u pueiherS puiN-
nsrship. There are dozens Of compiled
tions and legal papers to sign, and
o6dcss to rent for long terms. Alto
sether, you think the matter over pretty
Carefully, weighing all the pros and
cons, before you decide on the momen-
tous step, and even then it may turn
out badly.
In deciding on life partner, you
certainly ought to weigh the pros and
cons quite as carefully, but ten times
to one you don't. You are influenced
by transient emotions, by music or
moonlight. You are lonesome and dis
couraged, or you lose your head. At
this psychological moment, almost any
attractive wooer would get you. 1t is
easy to fall for n handsome man who
makes love TO you, and marriage seems
n brilliant gamble, q solution to all
your present problems.
You make the trial. Maybe it chances
to turn out well. II so, it may be
lust fools luck" for you really did
not exercise any ability in selecting, ol
common sense or judgment. Perhaps II
turns out a ghastly mistake. You try
TO compromise. Having failed TO attain
the ideal, you try to be satisfied with
n cheap imitation. Generally speaking
TO be an "opportunist' is rather sensi
BILE. You cannot expect perfection ant
a paradise, and often, there are many
points in favor Of enduring what yor
have, rather than ''flying to evils thai
you know not of. ="
Still, the more liberal laws of modern
years make possible thousands more o.
divorces, and so. out of the millions o.
crials, thousands admit they have failed
What ia meant by the ultra -moderr
term trial marriage however, is {
deliberate understanding by the con
tracting parties, and by society at large
that, In forming the tie, the man ant
woman frankly intend to break it, II /
proye unsatisfactory. IL is this frank
ness that causes the furious denuncia
tions of ultra orthodox persons.
II really is somewhat a matter of ex
uression. III all unions can be dissOlvet
II In case of serious misbehavior, the
every marriage IL a trial. Even tn
most rigorous religions permit separa
tica when one party has committe
certain crimes. Therefore, It is a ques
tion largely of just what sins are I
Justify the innocent party's goin
through some form Of breaking the q
asunder--of giving up, after trying
George Meredith. the English novel
inf. declared that ten years was a fai
trlal. that husband and wife by tina
time had weataered all kinds Of domes
IS ~ storms together, and could decid
,shetber or not the bond was stron
4 snouah to Justify . contipuation Of th
\ r1fl rchi5 ~ ~ rsst y iifs-