Washington telegraph., 1922-01-13
Something to
Think bOut
MEMS WEDDING RINGS.
By F. Il. WALKER

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 popnlapitT
This is interesting Snd Important II
IL means that men are coming to take
the marriage ceremony and its VOWS
more seriously and that the divorce
rate is as a consequence to cease in
It's upward trend.
The wedding ring is a relic of saw
agery. 1t is probably a 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 or the house was
away hunting.
Some more engaging wife, having
convinced her husband OF unquestion-
able fidelity, was rewarded by having
the bracelet replaced 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 fiattered and pleased
both parties.
But IL the modern woman is ex.
pected to 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
first finger, then on the second, speak
ing the names Of the Trinity as the
ceremony proceeded, and, finally, when
It rested on the third finger, it was
supposed TO signify that next to her
duties to God the wife recognized her
duties to her husband.
OF course, it ought not to REQUIRE a
ring or any other form of emblem to
make man or wcnan 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 a very sacred thing. 1t is the last
thing that goes to the pawnshop when
adversely demands its, toll. Just how
much It means to the men, who in
accordance with the new custom will
wear it, is a question that only test
will settle.
The question Of divorce in this coun.
try is fast getting TO be of such dimen-
mons as to demand serious corrective
attention.
In twenty years the number of dI-
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
divorces as there are marriages, but,
since Nevada has been the resort of
many citizens from other states seek.
ing freedom from marital ties, It may
be fairer to point to 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 di
vorces than marriages.
The innocent parties to these dis.
agreements are the children and In
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 1t has come TO be
easier to get divorced than It Is to gel
married. Scarcely two states have di
yorce laws alike, and what is ilIega
in one state becomes perfectly al
right so far as the statutes go the
minute the imaginary line between i
and another commonwealth is crossed
Perhaps the custom of wedding
rings for men will have good effec
on lle Dhu ItNOlu ltNllth huoN's
Perhaps, on the other hand, the mer
will wear their badges Of matrimon!
in their vest pockets whenever the!
think more conspicuous display vii
interfere with an evening little gay
er than they would have at home.
But whatever means is necessary 70
the correction of present conditions
should be determined and put int,
force.
Marriage should be made less Of ,
farce and divorce less Of joke thai
present records show both to be.
The marriage relation is an impor
tant part Of our civilization. 1t mer
its more attention and more perfec
tlon than It is at present receiving.
(CopyriRhtl