South Bend news-times. (South Bend, Ind.) 1913-1938, 1922-05-27


England - seething with discussion. not Of the
irish question nor the outcome of Genoa confer
ences or how long Lloyd George can hold his rule
of that country but over the question of divorce
The moves which started things moving in the
tight little isle Is being rerubrshed by The Century
company in this country but it IS not likely that in
America II will the intense interest which is
reported abroad.
The Love Affair OF AIette Brunton," by Gilbert
Irrankau. is the title of the book which raises the
problen Of changes in divorce laws in England.
It's philosophy Is dynamite for the old
fashioned theory OF the sanctty Of marriage or its
perrnanency under the law. II is an open and
avowed plea for a loosening of the conditions OF
divorce and a rather different ideal for marriages
than that which pertain in country where finan-
cal settlements are a part of'the marriage con-
tract
~ is an old story-the wife whose husband has
been somewhat promscuous his habits this clean
minded bachelor and the husband who is cruel at
heart and whose affection is of rather low order.
With this triangle as the main characters the
author boldly rerperates eiopement. an open de-
fance OF society and a rather homogeneous purpose
on the part of clippers to force the husband to
sue for q divorce that they may marry.
When he is cruel enough to permit them 70 go
upon their clipping way. refrain from act
which would permit successful wooer of his wife
TO become her husband the entire object Of the
novel IS 70 hold him up to scorn a brute and lift
the wife to the cross Of maryrdom.
seeping with its saccharine statements that love
IL the real basis Of matrimony sophistry Of
divorce and speedily shifting mates is expOunded to
its full limit.
one OF the first effects Of this novel. although
that was not its real intent may be the reform Of
divorce laws ia England by which there is equality
Of grounds for separation.
That marks the rising tide of equality Of rights
of women and s of the incidental effects of the
victory won by the suffragisJs who demanded the
ballot.
English women have long rebeIed over that
ancient saxon doctrine which recognizes double
T standard OF morals as a legal proposition
That theory was based upon the old doctrine that
women are property that their rights married or
single are subservient to that OF the male master
and that men may commit acts of baseness for
T which women will he Jailed ostracized or divorced
But the English wlfe-has no such right of choice
+ Of conduct and any moral lapses on the part Of
her husband II perpetrated without actual cruelty
= 20 the wife constitute no cause of action her
part.
! This novel is dgnamitins this ancient theory and
bringing that country little nearer to the theory
Of equality.
+ In the meantime and while this one force Of
equality is working the novel breaches the danger
GUS doctrine Of not only equal 4vorce but easy
4 divorce
II advocates a marriage status which IS based
only upon continuing decision It would create a
state where any husband or wife might remark
over the morning oofse that love flown TO some
other and that II 10 not matter OF too great
inconvenience would the other please be the
court house at 20 in order 10 get divorce.
Upon that question there Is real and serious
discussion in womens clubs and drawing rooms.
And now the novel comes 10 America. where If
may excite some attention literary merit
but in the part of the country that really counts
\ VIII probably only amazement as TO what it
- IS all about