South Bend news-times. (South Bend, Ind.) 1913-1938, 1922-06-04

What Worlds Coming To


w AQO4e Wv OD1 1S4
By Leila Breci
IF. one one OF these bright June n
envelope OF the formal type. don't
whose wedding &C. announces. We
this: ''Mr. and Mrs. Thomas Hard
which took place at Reno, Nevada, IN
viii be at home after September 18th
deem has taken residence at the Hotel
a local Divorce. recently remarri
encountered some Of her South Ben
naturally was asked during the brief
here he comes now" Needless 20 sa
lowed wheH husband number two a
young woman is firmly advocating
graved announcements Of matrimon
custom or polite society. thus ssvinl
being addressed hy the name OF their
FIRST husband when they have ac-
qulred a second or perhaps a third.
Frivolous as the above assertion
may seem. the time has come when
not only I'm metropolitan society but
elsewhere. a new recognized code or
custom must be established for the
Divorce. When one considers that
only a small fraction Of the mar
rIaEes which occur survive the life
sentence imposed by state and
church. DO does not seem so strange.
To the student OF tendencies. there
is only regret that woman az the
summit of her freedom when every
problem might be brought 70 the
edge OF her newly acquired con-
sciousness. seems 10 be adrift IN the
mists Of lost illusions or fired with
the passion OF attaining tho impos-
s.ble.
Even If we women have nearly
al agreed that marriage as an in
sti.ution Is a failure. the conviction
does not need imply that we OF
sex who a century ago battied for
the right OF a single mate. are urg-
ing that marriage become a free
fancier's contract through loose di-
vorce laws.
IL takes g skiuful pen and d lis
ciplined mind to be able to present
more than one side Of the question
and in the same manner, arrange
the many different facts and sides
OF life which pass before oar gaze.
Many Of our modern ref0rmers pro-
claim easy divorce a safeguard to
American wOmanhOOd Personally,
7 have always thought that the great
mass Of women find in rigid divorce
laws their best protection To those
who would do away with marriage
because OF It's apparent failure, past
record has shown that it is the wo-
man who suffers almost invariably
/,
can the state successfully replace the
mother
Marriage at best is n chance. II
IS impossible for the principals
themselves to tell beforehand wheth-
er the love which prompts the union
VIII stand the strain. weII-mean-
ing man and woman viii hope so,
wish IL so, try 20 make IT, so but very
few could t-utnruiiy say as they
stand at the altar, that they never
felt before a similar emotion or pre-
dict thGt they would never feel so
again.
The Oft-repeated wcrds-''A pure
love Is the only true basis OF mar
riage. point unerrlugly to the
thesis that personal emotion is the
only sufficient reason for entering
into "a. lifelong contract. say what
the rOmanticists will whatever the
theory of twin souls may have done
for personal happiness, it certainly
has not enabled - 20 rise higher in
regard TO social and conjugal moral
ity than those who hold marriage a
thing quite apart from love.
The uuEuarded liberty Of the
American girl and woman makes the
dream of personal happiness more
and more dangerous therefore the
facilities for divorce should be eN-
tended for the protection Of women
but restricted for mere convenience
Too lax laws i'm this direction Will
attack the home and motherhood
which i'm this age of individualism Is
being JOS, In the upheaval of out
worn conventions.
Marriage was primarily made for
the protection of the child. Per
haps. therefore. the problem could
best be solved i'm going back 20 the
aucieu-s who based marriage solely
upon motherhood Property rights
and the transmission OF property
could be Incorporated into this re-
lationship in manner which
might solve this perpIexing question
Nor would the idea be as revoltine
as the moderuists questionable
theories Of supreme individualism
True. such recognized alliance,
would involve an element of inse-
curity and 90 a small section Of wo-
men. UNIT for motherhood. &c would
d.. q 81
Looking az the question from. a
zane and practical standpoint &c Il
the women who are physically abI,
and mentally dt and are perfectly
willing TO assume tine highest unc
ton Of humanity who should 10.
given the title Of wife. The esta-,
then would be raised % the honor
which is its due. Let the individual
ist proclaim what he VIII OF low,
beiug the divinity OF marriaEe-w,
have for years and years catered q
that ideal and the divinity OF mar
rage has never materaiized 20 an,
striking degree.
II our laws for divorce need bp
less viligant Jet &c be for the reason
that the courts OF this country recog
nize woman as the most valuable
factor OF society and therefore re
lease her from a marriage which ha
become a menace TO her womanhoo,
and possible motherhood. The worl,
forever waits FOR the child that shat
be born-for its great future mel
and women who shall right tn
wrong OF the time in which the,
live. We women who behold will
awe. wonder end sometimes horror