San Antonio light. [volume] (San Antonio, Tex.) 1911-1993, 1925-10-11

Mrs. Mildred Traitel, Who
Left Her Husband Because n
He Rubbed the Rouge Off
Her Lips Before He Kissed
Her, and the Court Said
She Was Quite Right. (And
Above) Judge Selah B.
Strong, of Brooklyn, N. Y.
r VERY husband must kiss his
r. wife whether he likes it or
not She is legally entitled
to at least one kiss per day and
it must be a good one.
This is an obligation implied
in the marriage contract and part
of her conjual rights and if he
does not deliver, it constitutes :,
cruelty and she is entitled to ~
damages and can collect them in -
the form Of separation and ali
mony.
Judge Seah B. Strong, of the
Supreme Court of Brooklyn,
N. Y, has just made clear that WXZ
this is principle Of law, at least
in that state, by most interest
ing decision handed down in ~
favor of Mrs. Clara Schlachman,
whose husband grew tired of
kissing her.
Il is a far reaching decision and sug
gests many legal problems which may well
puzzle future judges and Juries. For
instance if a wealthy wife refuses to KISS
her poor husband is he entitled to separa-
ton and alimony. Is sauce for the goose
legally sauce for the gander? The law
does not offer him any such hope. Ac-
cording to the common law he may take
what is coming to him by force. But this
presupposes that every husband is the
muscular superior of his wife and the
exceptions to such piece of legal fiction
are becoming more numerous every day.
Of course lots of wives suing for di-
vorce or separation have plentioned IN
their complaints that the husband neglects
to kiss. but heretofore this has been
minor item tossed in for good measure.
The main counts have been fur coats for
chorus girls, unnecessary business trips
with stenographers, desertion, failure to
provide ETC., ETC.
Nothing like this appeared in Mrs.
find with her husband except one-he
refused to kiss her. She testified freely
that he was a good provider, showered on
her all manner of Injuries that generous
means could buy, but he would not kiss
her. The Schlachman home was spacious
beautiful, furnished with everything she
asked, but she did not want to live in it
any more with a husband who would not
bother to kiss her.
Some wives will overlook certain short
conirgs in husband if he is good to the
children. Sure enough Mrs. Schlachman
admits that Mr.. Schlachman is a home
loving, affectionate devoted father glad
to kiss his children on all occasions but
that does not square things for not kiss
ing her. So she wants to get out, and
the Judge says that she is right.
In every way Mr.. Schlachman, is fine,
moral, high-minded man, a perfect angel
of a husband, but the angel has not kissed
her for three years now, and she told the
court that she could not stand 1t any
longer She prayed the court for separa-
ton that at least she might no longer be
aggravated by seeing this laggard at love
and, of course, alimony.
This was a new one and tough one.
Was there any law in New York state to
compel a man to kiss his wife. Judge
Strong deliberated long before rendering
his decision.
"This is the first case of its kind which
has ever come before the court" he said
"There are many instances where hus-
band has begged for relief at law, because
his wife would not kiss him. But do not
recall one where the wife asked for relief
for the same reason.
as a wife entitled to a separation be-
cause her husband does not kiss her, does
not show her affection, does not treat hel
with demonstrations of his regard? This
is the day of equal rights for women, ant
women are citizens under the law quite
as much as men. This wife says the
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