The Washington times., 1922-10-01
DO You Really Want That Divorce?
= BY KATHLEEN NORRIS =

bn6 WOulu any OthctH hh0a'
This attitude on Peggy's part 10
the one invincible argument she
can offer the world as to her
rights, and wrongs, as Bob's wife.
The minute she leaves him she
robs herself Of her, best defense,
the world Is against Peggy then.
But while she stays with him.
quietly and with self-possession
working out, from the very ma
terial of failure, her own life work.
her own happiness, her family, her
friends, her whole acquaintance,
have nothing but praise for Peggy.
THE RECOMPENsEs
The more fragrant Bob's miscon-
duct, the more admirable Is
Peggy; her poise and dignity lift
her above his human blundering
and stumbling. and the vepy thing
that has seemed to her her great
est trial and humiliation becomes
a sort of halo about her head.
She has become independent OF
Bob; she may be sor-v for him,
she may even be distressed and
annoyed by him, but he touches
her own soul no longer. Bob can
affect Peggy now no more than
the car conductor who is rude or
the hotel clerk who speaks to her
slangily.
And what is accomplished by
this sacrifice Of Peggy's independ.
ence?
Well, in any case. something.
and in some cases a great deal.
II there is a child. that child still
has a home, and a father and
mother He is not dragged about
the world, a forlorn little derelict
regaled upon the bitter tale Of his
mothers wrongs.
Then there is one home the more
in the world. and a home with
busy. interested and developed-if
somewhat saddened and somewhat
wiser-woman in II. And sooner
or later that woman gains the only
true happiness in the world. the
happiness that is based on the
wonderful old phrase. He. that
loseth his life shall find IT,"
A GAME WORTH WHILE.
To Peggy. patience, sweetness.
philosophy will become a sort OF
game, and the playing OF that
game will become the interest ot
her life. And her friends will very
quickly come to realize her posi-
ton.
To Peggy divorced. their attitude
will always be expressed by
skeptical, unconCerned How do
you-like-it?" and "What-on-earth-
can-you. u.do-now?" followed by
wifely. "I have to go, Peg; George
and are dining out tonight
But about the dignified. strong,
self-sufficient, faithful wife there
will presently be an atmosphere OF
"I think you're wonderful. George
says he thinks you are simply
marvel with Bob Bob owes every
thing in the world to you, Peggy.
and hope he realizes It"
And then there is other gain.
For we live in a world Of miracles.
all worked by the one divine ele-
ment-Love. And which Of US
doesn't know of marriages that
have mysteriously worked out
from utter failure to a generous
measure of success? Which Of us
doesn't know Of Bobs who have
really improved. really developed
under the skillful hands Of the
right sort of wife?
I have known Of divorces that
were apparently justifiable. and or
second marriages that were unusu-
ally successful. But for each one
of these know Of a score OF lone.
some, solitary. impecunious d.
vorced women drifting about the
fringes Of society. and Of a score
Of second marriages infinitely more
tragic than the first.
LIFE WORK.
know two cases Of women who
desperately grasped at second
chances-after the disillusioning
interval between marriages-but
who are still jealously In love with
their first husbands, anxiously IN
terested in all that concerns them
and resentful of any new interests
especially of a romantic nature
on those husbands parts.
And I know an enormously rich
woman in the early forties who is
now trying her fifth marital e1-
perience. don't have to describe
her to you-you can imagine the
harsh eyes, the high voice. the
noisy self-defense at the first hint
Of even indirect criticism. You
know without my saying SO that
clothes and bridge are the two real