The Birmingham age-herald., 1924-01-11
WOMAN WHO TELLS
By SOPHIE IRENE LOEB

The papers have been filled with the pathetic story of the husband and wife who have been found guilty of murder-a murder committed on man who was a sweetheart Of the wife before she was married.
 Upon the rendering of the verdict by the jury the wife broke out in blame of herself for the tragedy. In this terrible story jealousy paid it's big part and vengeanceAboth ele-
 ments that are close to the border hour in which consequences are usually thrown to the winds. Yet there is ono lesson to De learned from this case that might prove of great value to people who want to marry, or people who are al- ready married. Wise people make the suggestion that if wives want to tell their hus- bands about their past. they should do it before they marry or forever hold their peace. The reason women don't do this Is obvious.
 They fear the loss of the love one. but in this connection . woman for gets one fact. If the man is not biz enough to stand anything she might tell him about herself. and it would interfere with their marriage; she would lose such man in some other way. She had better have an end of 1t before than to take . chance of the misery after her marriage.
 The trouble with such . woman is that she gets so close to her husband after marriage that she hasn't the nerve to carry her secret. And some time in a weak or trustful moment out 1t comes. But the right or wrong as to whether she does or does not tell is a matter for the individual in each case.
 The greatest wrong. however, 10 for any man to hold anything against his wife after he had married her and she has proved a loyal wife to him, no matter what has gone before.
 isn't satisfied to start his life with her just as he found her and learned to love her-then he had better ask her and ascertain all thu. facts in con- nection with her before he swears to take her for better or for worse.
 It is cowardiy and unmanly indeed for him to question his. wife after they are married. and act differently toward her because of the Knowledge he has gleahed in this way.
 He has not only betrayed every confidence that she has imposed in him, but such a man is incapable of a fine noble love, in which tolerance and understanding are the prime re- quisites.
 And who Is the man who thinks himself so much above any woman that he can sit in judgment on her and punish her for any of her actions before he came into her life?
 Let every man who would 90 act review his own past in the years of young manhood and see if he hasn't committed. times over, the self same sins of which he would accuse the woman.
 venture to say that there are few men in the world who have lived a life so blameless and so spotless that they can set themselves up in judg- ment of any woman, be she ever so sinful.
 I am glad to say that fin this day and age the ultra-pure man who never makes allownces for his wife is despised by men with real blood in their veins. There is no excuse for the small man who sets up a standard for a woman that he himself has been unable to follow.
 The fine type of man will forgive and forget and make some compari. sons with himself: or he will let the woman go out of his life.