The Washington times., 1923-02-11

black list would be the smaller
and the white list much the
larger.
GOOD KEEP QUIET.
But as this cannot occur when
mobiles crowd the divorce lists. II
makes very pathetic reading. un-
balanced by the much larger
number Of those that are still
shining lights to follow and Of
whom nothing Is ever heard.
Easy divorce is bound to have
one good result. It will make
the man and woman, II they care,
take more pains to go on pleas
ing each other, knowing that
whichever fails win be left la
menting.
The really attractive partners
need not fear It, because they
can always remate, but there are
numbers Of plain women who
would know that they would not
get another chance.
These are sure to Join the fac
ton against making divorce too
simple.
Where the inequality In num-
bers Of the two sexes ID great,
az in England, the general trend
of the women's view about di-
vorce Is bound to be "anti." The
case is quite different for men,
and in the abstract all men are
naturally vain enough to imagine
that they could always secure
any amount Of the Ioveliest
women In creation for. brides. So
easy divorce won't bother them
50 deeply.
EVERYDAY AFFAIR.
In some parts Of America d.
vorce is an everyday affair.
There are cases Of three and four
changes Of partners before either
are forty and hundreds Of cases
OF one or even two divorces In q
family.
It does not seem to work badly,
perhaps because the woman rules
in every home. How It would be
In England, where the men are
In the minority and still are mas
tiers of their own houses, il is
difficult to decide.
It Is obvious that something
which you desire to keep, and can
only do 50 by using your own
intelligence, becomes Of more I'm
portance and draws from you
more thought than something
which is your secure possession
and which you need take no pains
to hold.
Very easy divorce would lead
to a riot Of irregularfty. IN
doubtedly, for o period. and then
there would be a reaction. The
civilized world is going through
a renaissance rebfrth after
the war.
There are many things, regarded
as perfect and essential when we
held strictly conservative ideas
ten years ago, which now appear
imperfect and superfluous.
The sensible thing to do Is to
go with the spirit Of the time
keeping always the trinity of
truth, justice and commonsense
as the fundamental structure.
II we never tarnish these, OF
what matter the new dress with
which they are clothed?
All older people can do 10 to use
their longer training to aid them
to clear views and not remain
blindly faithful to ideas and man
ners and customs which they
learned in their youth. and which
the march Of events and the change
Of thought have rendered obsolete.
MARRIAGE vows.
But there Is Just one aspect Of
divorce which always bothers me.
The present marriage ceremony as
performed in a church enforces
vows-vows Of fidelity, vows to be
together until death do US part"
The two people swear before God
certain things (most OF them not
under the control OF their own
wills. but stiu they swear them)
so that when divorce comes up.
however good It may seem, and
really may be. It will be handl-
capped by emerging through the
medium Of a broken vow.
would be superstitious about
vow. It is the breaking of a vow
which is the worst aspect OF di-
vorces, easy or difficult.
So, If the great brains OF a coun-
try decide that justice and eVolu-
ton requires easier divorce, surely
1t would be wise to alter the word
ing of the marriage vow and make
1t a promise to do your very best
to love and protect and be faithful,
and ask God to give strength to
enable yeu to be SO, rather than to
VOW that you will do what you may
not be able to do long, no matter
how hard you try.
AS~- daRio6 tho JiOhfnin0--hnNf