Atlanta tri-weekly journal. [volume] (Atlanta, Ga.) 1920-19??, 1923-01-11

long green, are not those who have
been really hurt. They are those
with faxed wounds whom any love
specialist would turn down. Those
with mortal hurts suffer in silence.
Those who sue for breach Of
promise. contend that an engage
ment to marry is just as binding
as any other contract. This is alb.
surd. You cannot deal with hearts
as if they were SO many bricks
that you could deliver on demand.
You cannot guarantee that you can
furnish a given amount of affec-
ton, up to specified tons, on "a
certain date, as you could a tank
of gasoline. Therefore, an engage
ment is nothing but a sentimental
option from which either party
should be able to withdraw at pleas
ure.
When all is said, the game OF
hearts is the biggest gamble in the
world, and every one who takes 4
hand at it does so ct his or her own
peril. If one wins out, well and
good. Let him or her sing small.
and return thanks to Lady Luck. II
one loses, one should, at least, be
good sport enough not to howl over
ones lii luck, and try to recover
ones gambling loss in the courts
The theory that the man or woia-
an, who fails to get an unwilling
life partner, has sustained a loss, Is
one that will not bear investigation
Instead of being the victims of mus
fortune, they are the darlings OF
the gods who are thus providential-
ly saved from the misery of mar
riage that would be foredoomed to
disaster.
For there can be no happiness IL
a marriage which is not entered into
with love, with enthusiasm, with
high hopes, and great expectations
by both parties. Even When mar
riage begins under the most auspI.
cious circumstances, there is 50
much that is illusioning in dcmCs:
ITCHY; family life calls for such con-
tinual personal sacrifices; the clash
of personalities of those living IL
such proximity as husband anG
wife, is so wearing on the nerves
that not many couples reach thei:
fsilver wedding day with a shred OF
the romance of their bridal hour leh
to them.
What chance. then, of happiness
has the marriage in which either the
man or woman is goaled to the altar
| by a sense of duty, or the fear of 4
breach of promise suit? Love is ar
ready dead in his or her heart. He
| or she is already a-wearied of the
other. The illusion is dispelled the
magic gone, and he or she sees tlla
new life ahead as nothing but long
and dreary journey, instead of 4 gay
adventure.
Better a thousand times that j
man should be faithless before mar
riage, than unfaithful afterwards
Better a million times that wcmau
should change her mind before ma.
riage than afterwards, for a btokell
enga cement may be disappoilA
ment, but broken up home blghts
the lives of all who lived in il.
T. No penalty should be imposed Ct
those who are honest enough to
break an engagement instead OF TAX.
! ing lying marriage vows on them
| lips. A man should be commended
| rather than blamed if he tells d
woman he has ceased tc love ner.
and no longer wishes to marry het.
A woman should be honored rather
than criticized for having the sour
age to break an engagement tha
she knows will bring misery on both
herself and the man if she fulfilled
| it.
Love is not a matter of volltion
nor can men and women keep trCr.
| changing, Absence, environment
association, a thousand thirgs alte:
ones viewpoint, ana make the mar
riage that once seemed to promlse
a heaven on earth a fate worse than
death.
Happy the man and woman who
| find this out before it is too late.
and have the grit to break off an ui'
suitable engagement rather t'lan
risk ending an uncongenial mar
rage ia the divorce courts.
J oh \