The Washington times., 1927-10-01
FRIENDSHIP MARRIAGES
Your Dearest Pal
May Not Make
Best Husband
By Beatrice Fairfax
An Authority on the Problems Of
Love and Marriage

1870 N--AN 1850
OWHAT a beautiful wedding"
w "A wonderful match
"A safe marriakew
Surely there never was a
couple so well suited to each
other!'
These and similar comments
were heard on all sides at a GER
tain lovely June wedding, when
two good pals, who had been
school and college friends, were
united in marriage.
Jack and Edna were leaders in
their crowd" Both were much
admired and loved.
When they started on their
honeymoon amid showers of rice
and laughing good wishes, every
one felt that the occasion was the
beginning of a happy forever
after for the newlyweds. IN
Five years have passed since
that summer afternoon. Today's
paper announces a Paris divorce
granted Edna and Jack. The
Item is not news to friends of the
couple. For the past year or
two they have suspected all was
not we'll with the marriage from
which so much was expected.
The fact, is, Edna was never in
love with Jack. She loved him as
an old friend--but that was all.
Jack was devoted to Edna even
as q schoolday chum. The two
were always together. Their fam
lilies wished and expected the mar
rage. 1t was taken for granted
they were engaged long before a
betrothal actually existed.
Jack could give Edna every lux
ury. Her family were poor. How
natural, under all the circum-
stances, that she should drift into
this marriage of convenience and
friendship.
Jack adored his wife. And for
several years she was placidly
happy. Then she learned what
love at its most intense, can
mean. She fell in love with
another. man.
Her love was fully returned.
Jack, too unselfish to stand in the
way of what Edna was convinced
meant her only chance of happi.
ness, permitted the divorce. He
is tragically hrokenhearted. Edna
Is still fond Of the man she d.
Vorced. But she could not resist
the call of aIl-compeI love and
she Is planning to marry again
within q few months.
Love is natural, inevitable to
youth. Do not enter into q love-
less marriage, assuming love will
pass you by. For whether you
crush an emotion that leads you
away from loyalty and duty, or
yield, wrecking your marriage and
another's happiness, disillusion-
ment and tragedy are sure 10
follow. when love finds you out,
as it must some day.
In other times when marriages
were arranged by parents. re-
CARELESS Of the wishes OF those
most concerned. 1oveless marriage
may have been inevitable. In
parts OF Europe even today love
is not considered part of marriage
and marriages of convenience are
the rule. But in America. young
folks choose their own life part
ners and marry with the hope Of
forming a union which SHAH
prove lastingly happy and sue
cesEtul. For that reason, it il
unnecessary and disastrous for
young people to enter int q mar
riage where there is not love az
well az friendship.
Two dear friends Of mine are
contemplating q marriage Of
friendship. Both have married
before. Both were berefit by
death of loved life partner.
They have turned in middle-age-
the harvest years of Iife-to each
other for the companionship and
affectionate friendship both crave.
How much better this Is than
growing old alone, with only sad
memories to live for.
Loves intense young dream Is
. thing of the past for these two.
Neither will expect the impossible
Of their friendship marriage. But
Il will mean unselfish service and
cheerful compaionship and will
brighten life for both. Under
these circumstances the friend.
ship marriage should prove hap.
by and wise.
When a young man and girl
love each other with ali the
mighty. creative force of younr
love, 1t Is not to be expected that
this love can last in all its IN.
tensity throughout the years 81
marriage. But IL more or less
fleeing, creative love il com.
bined with unselfish, understand.
ing friendship, the two qualities
should gradually merge into 4
wonderful, loyal affection. a mu.
tual trust and service, which en-.
riches life with grace and tender.
ness and is all satisfying.
Give friendship the chance to
establish itself before you think
seriously about marriage, no mat.
ter how wildly you are in love,
Friendship gains the approval OF
the head as well as heart. Once
established 1t is calra, unchanR,
4~ass AL