South Bend news-times. (South Bend, Ind.) 1913-1938, 1922-07-09
Begin to Doubt
By Leila B. Rostise1.

coming 20 cynical that they sheer al
love and when their best bachelor
pa becomes engaged have been
heard % remark chat another good
man has gone wrong"
Il isn't very difficult to discern
the reason for this universal ten
dency OF men 20 dodge marriage. for
men. unlike women, are stereotyped
IN their ideas regarding the grand
passion. Men OF this day have ac-
quired. for good reason. no doubt. a
horror OF being loved for a mercen-
ary motive. So great is this horror
that II amounts 20 morbid expect
ancy. Il not the idea revolving that
many rich men speak OF a wife as a
possession only 20 be purchased ?
Yet 20 so remarkable a degree has
this been carried that no surprise
was expressed when Col Aston left
a vast fortune 20 his wi1e provided
she ala not remarry. Apparently
money - the one thing that can con
troll the modern wife even after the
death OF a husband
The idea that all women have sunk
20 low state OF emotional condition
has been fostered by the scores OF
women who make it plain that they
are willing 70 enter the most init
mate OF human relationships with
any eligible man who has money or
an income which will provide certain
Injuries. Men have come TO believe
that women are incapable OF love In
its highest sense and rightly they
may think 30 when you come 20 list
the marriages Of convenience which
take place every season Has he
any money!" seems 20 be the cues
ton asked about every newcomer
who enters the social arena IN search
Of a wife. Considering this. the
young man OF good education. fairly
presentable, even II he does not pos
sess the charm Of a Rudolph Valen-
tho, IS IN immediate danger OF ex-
changing his liberty and the pursuit
OF happiness TO become the husband
OF a woman who endures him for
what he can give her.
on the other hand. let US be fair
20 the modern woman II she Is
mercenary as men say she Is, why
has she become 50? Take a girl
fresh from college or one sheltered
in her fathers home-let US even
admit that she has followed a career
for a year or more. Presently a
passable young man who is cOnsid-
cred eligible because he has money
or it's equivalent, comes along. Her
family and friends think him her ma
trrGi mate for no other reason than
because he IS able 10 support her IN
the manner, or better still in a more
luxurious style than that which she
IS accustomed. The girl whose ex-
perience with men has been limited
10 friendly superficial relations with
a half dozen young men naturally
bases her choice on material ad-
vantages alone. I ask you. what
else has she TO base them on7 II
the modern girl is accused Of being
mercsnary. do not censure her too
greatly. for not being able 10 dis
Germ whether the man viii repel her
in the state Of marriage. She bases
her judgment on those things which
she can iudge-lOoks. breeding, pro-
fession. money. The marriage IS
contaminated. Her latent passions
may or may not respond 10 the as
plrant but because she has acquired
those things upon which she places
high vaNe she may be content in
those possessions alone IL depends
entirely upon her nature The wo-
man who has within herself the ele-
ments Of a passionate love suffers
keenIy through such an alliance and
she usually escapes at a great cost.
But the great multitude OF women
who make these marriages have
labeled their sex mercenary because
OF their ability 90 live in a negative
sense with the men they fortuitous-
~ ally For the reason their pas
stons never wakeu they are forever
satisfied with the petty triumphs
that many women seem 20 live for,
or because they have gratihed their
ideas OF a successful marriage. Some
women Of this class make decent
wives and good mothers but they be
long 20 a how emotional type which
men have come 20 learn 10 deSpise
Probably the great mass Of men who
prove unfaithful 20 their marriage
Vows are the husbands OF such
women. They realize even II the
women do not the lack Of the es-
sentlals which make marriage
marriage They learn quickly
enough that they have had thrus
upon them a mockery OF love and
every man Graves 20 inspire love FOR
what ne is himself and not for the
size or his cheCkbook. the splendor
~ MS home or The height Of his SO
cial position.
Out OF this reluctance OF men 20
marry. may awaken women and
check this Shiny trail that dragS
across the path OF even successful
unions Then the haunting doubt
VII be eliminated from the minds
OF men that they are tools 20 crafty
some womans vanity and they viii
cease 90 ask themselves whether
they are being accepted as husbands
for themselves or merely because OF
what they possess
Too. women viii come 10 learn IN
the course OF her new freedom that
no woman ls wise who surrenders
herself other than for love. Her
right 10 choose upon this ground
alone viii summon new era OF TO
rnAnce-romange that viii be far
sweeter than that Of The oid-fash
toned girl who accepted her mate In.
bnssful ignorance.
There Isl mo- doubt that the future
viii hold alliances OF every kind but
the time IS nearing when women
VIII value love as a thing above
purchase Ny shadow-ricture OF her
a that she shall be gloriously free.
married or single free 20 follow
career or motherhood or both. Every
educational socia, and public OBJ
portunity VIII be hers. Intellectual