The Washington times., 1922-02-12

w ERE Is q new way out for
the modern girl and the
youth who are unable to
stand the strain, Of celibacy, who
are repeiled by free love. and look
on marriage as q bore. The world
is full of such people. says Mrs.
C. Gasquoine Hartley. the pro-
ponent of the new social remedy,
q London author ana educator.
They are the victims of wild
love-" Of childless marriages. OF
tllegitimats parentsge. and all
other kindred evils.
'rFriendship-contracts" is the title
she gives the plan in her book.
"women's wild Oats" which Is at
tracing the thoughtful attention
Of sociologists and psychologists in
this country. And this Is the way
Mrs. Hartley defines the proposed
panacea:
IAN open recognition Of unions
outside Of marriage would prevent
the present easy escape on the
part Of SO many men and women
from responsible conduct in these
upregulated relationships. 1t is
because I believe this that I am
advocating this course. which will
not make immortality easier, but
will rather impose definite obliga-
tons where now none exist.
TEMPORARY UNIONS"
This proposal is not made light
ly. / am not advocating such a
course as being in itself desirable
or undesirable. I am attempting
merely to estimate the drift and
tendency Of the times. considering
those forces which for long have
been In action and. as / think.
must continue to act with ever
greater urgency in the difficult
years that are before US.
I would let those who do not
desire marriage be permitted open
ly to live together in honorable
temporary unions. Surely this is
the wisest arrangement for the
nan and woman worker who do
not want children. and who, not
wishing for the bondage Of con-
tinuous companionship. desire to
pass their lives In liberty.
1T IL possible that in some cases
such Observation-Disclosures might
servo as preliminary to marriage,
while under our present disas-
trous conditions they might also
be made by those who are I'M
suitably mated and yet are I'M
able or do not wish to sever the
bond with some other partner.
Such contracts would open up pos
sibilities Of honorable relations to
many who are now driven into
shameful and secret unions.
A CURB ON WILD LOVE
"The whole question Of any such
relationship Of marriage IN the
past has been left in the cutters,
% to speak. made disreputable by
the shames Of concealment. There
will always be. for q very long
time at least, men and women
who will be attracted by wild love.
This we have to recognize. No
one, however. need be driven into
the dark paths Of irresponsible
love-"
Girls of today, thousands and
thousands Of them. are headed to-
ward moral destruction, Mrs. Hart
ley argues. Tho economic indie
pendence they gained during the
war has unbalanced them, the au-
thor contends. and something
must bs done about II before all
society 10 adversely affected by the
condition.
Just now in England, she asserts,
there 10 Q feminine social rebellion
IN force, tho. outward signs Of
which are tho apparel and de-
meanor Of the young women. their
free-spoken opinions on morals and
marriage and their Unsuitable de-
mands for luxury. This is the
way Mrs. Hartley describes the
situation:
"A confusion Of values has led
women astray. Being q woman is
. handicap.
1T tall you women everywhere
among US are being starved Of
sacrifice and service"
MARRIAGE A DRAWBACK"
Marriage is spoken of as ono
Il women's industrial drawbacks.
and It Is said that It makes her
,sss ambitious and enterprising.'
"The war Is over and with 1t the
pressing need for women's and
girls work. but the consequences
Of the war period are far indeed