The Washington times., 1922-11-26

the doctor insisted upon my removal to
a larger and more airy "oom, and without
exchanging conversation, it was arranged
that | should return to the one we had
occupied jointly, and my husband the
room had left. Eventually | recovered
and we relapsed into the silent atmos-
phere once more.
My next step was to take proceedings
for a judicial separation. Even with my
strong will and iron nerve the position had
become intoIerable, and felt that for my
health's sake it would be better if we
were out of each others sight.
In these proceedings, however, failed,
the magistrate holding there had been no
desertiOn, and that therefore there could
be no order for separation. So once more
1 returned as mistress of the silent home.
| saw nothing of my husband that day
for he was in bed when l got home.
Next morning found the usual pile of
coins for household requirements, and as
he went to his business the street door
was slammed and once more was left
to continue the struggle against being
ignored and treated as complete
nonentity in the house of which | was
supposed to be mistress. | determined to
seek some little relaxation by social inter-
course among my friends, but as regards
my husband silence was still maintained.
We had reverted to the arrangement of
separateb bedrooms, but every morning |
carried out my wifely duties by making
his bed and tidying his room. So things
continued until | got another offer from
his solicitor for a weekly allowance, .
portion of the furniture and payment Of
$50, which was a sum in dispute between
US. This again l refused, and so the
monotonous period of silence dragged on.
The recent publicity which was given to
my case when | took proceedings against
my husband brought me shoals of COM
munications from all parts of the country
and places abroad. am counSelled to
keep heart, to be Of good cheer, and there
are not a few of the writers who would
give me a home, but under circumstances
which | would not for a moment enter
tain.
Let it not be thought for a moment that
| am man-hater. do not even hate my
husband. After what has happened dur
ing the last few years, l merely regard
him as a man with whom could not pos
sibly spend the rest of my life.
Even before that fateful period of sill
ence commenced noticed his Indifference.
He had promised to meet my daughter
and myself to take US to a theatre and
supper, but he never appeared. His ex-
planation was that he was too busy to ac-
company us, and after that he was always
too busy. Instead Of coming home early
he commenced to stay late, and l sat and
knitted and crocheted, awaiting his re-
turn.
Fortunately our daughter who is now
over twenty years of age, has bright pros
poets before her, as she is being trained
for the musical profession. But it has
been tragedy for both of US, which was
as unexpected as 1t had been poignant. {
And what has the "Silent Husband to
say about il all?
Mr.. Hill contents himself with a very
brief reply. He is not desirous of enter
ing afresh into the domestic differences
which led to the continued silence be-
tween himself and his wife. "There was
a third person to blame" he says, "and il
was . man. not a woman"