The Indianapolis times. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1922-1965, 1930-03-13
Women of
TOdayLOSe
Old Ideals
BY MARTHA LEE

Women, many Of them, place a
highly exaggerated value upon
social and financial security. In
order to secure these two they viii
lose all the things that have real
value in life.
II used TO be that a woman who
divorced her husband was declasse.
She was looked upon by other men
and women as poor sport, a
gutter. She just wasn't quite &C
cepted in the best circles after the
mirch Of entering a court room and
parting company with the man she
lad promised to love, honor and
hey for all time, whatever the
~eaSon for the divorce might be.
And so women steered clear of
Ivorce. They tolerated a great deal
rom husbands, because the break
Il up Of their homes inevitably
leant a lowering of their own social
landing.
Demands Rights
The growth in wonan'S freedom
long all lines has reflected itself in
Ter matrimonial adventures. She
1aSs declared herself unwilling to
olerate infdelity, non-support.
rental and physical cruelty. She
aces not necessarily have the whip
and. but She has taken at least one
Elm in her hand, and her rights
must be recognized, as a conse-
quenCe.
The Divorce no longer is 4 social
outcast. It has absolutely no effect
upon her sphere in the social world.
and when she can get a sizeable
alimony settlement. it is very apt to
send her stock booming.
Changes in the past twenty-five
Years balance something like this:
The wife Of 1900 stood for all sorts
Of ignOminieS. no doubt, to preserve
her home. She used all her wiles,
all her charm, all her subterfuge
and surely a good share of her
patience in an effort to make her
marriage permanent and her home
inviOlable.
Gains a Point
She was. according to our stand
ards today, a sap" But she was
gaining a point. In cases where
divorce was justifiable, she refused
this means of placating her pride,
because the chaos into which her
social and financial life was apt to
injure her even deeper.
The 1880 models have in place of
patience, wiles, charm and subter-
fuge, independence and frankneSs,
Spelt with capital letters. When the
present husband behaves badly,
they have things fixed so that a
little trip to the divorce court will
settle him in short order, and they
don't lose an inch of social stand
ing by putting him in his so-called
place. And then, there's the ali
mony, and the chances of making
a brilliant second marriage, which
not only will boost the social pres
tige but the financial security as
well.
All Of which makes the modern
wife pretty much of sap, too. Her
independence and frankneSS have
turned out to be boomerangs in
her own hands, when it. comes to
the real things in life.
Made Good Fight
Social and financial security don't
mean a thing beside love and COM
panionship and the comfort of
knowing you've made a good fight.
How many women. who have drift
ed in and out of marriage. honestly
can say they have been good sports?
All the money. all the invitations,
all the parties and fanfare in the
world will not quiet the small voice
that tells you, when you're all alone
thinking things over. that no one.
including yourself, can say Of you
We'll done
II We modern women are all we're
supposed to he. intelligent above
women of other ages, broadminded,
sincere, good sports and other COM
plimentary adjectives, isn't it about
time we bring some OF those good
qualities into the most important
game We play. the game of mar