The Indianapolis times. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1922-1965, 1932-09-09

DeI0re Jane JORDAN, VINO Will nelp you
to solve them by her answers in this
column.
TINE majority of the problems
Il brought to this column are
caused by unhappy marriages. The
majority of the unhappy marriages
are caused by unfaithful husbands.
Scores of distressed wives ask why
the men who pursued them with
such tempestuous eagerness before
marriage desert them so soon after
ward for cheap adventures with
other women.
What is wrong with me? What
is wrong with marriage?" These are
the burning questions to which be-
wildered wives crave answer.
Samuel Schmalhausen has given
an interesting version of the situa-
ton and suggestions for it's remedy
in his book, why We Misbehave."
A few of his views are briefly set
forth here for the benefit of women
in search of understanding.
According to DR.. Schmalhausen,
marriage has kil1-joy quality
which results partly from its heavy
responsibilities and partly from its
oppressive responsibility.
Maternity is an enormous fulfill
ment for the woman, but it is very
minor fulf1llment for the man. The
apparent insignificance of mans
contribution to reproduction causes
him to feel out of the picture in the
presence of the more fruitful
woman
To compensate for his feeling Of
inadequacy, his thwarted ego finds
solace in repeated femme conquests.
XXTOMAN, burdened with ma
w ternity, seeks to even the
score of her bodily hardShipS by
loading man down with obligations
and responsibilities. Marriage is the
device which she utilities to tie him
down and force him to do his duty.
The viewpoint is startling, to say
the least. Man, seeking to get even
with woman for her greater impor-
lance in reproduction, by making as
many conquests as possible. Woman,
seeking to make mans burden equal
to her own by heaping as many re-
sponsibilities as possible on his head.
If marriage is the battle-ground for
such below-surface emotions, it is
small wonder that it seldom sue
ceedS.
Another marital evil ripped into
Shreds by DR.. Schmalhausen is its
oppressive responsibility. The Greek
conception of marriage represents
woman as drudge and an inferior,
used for natural purposes by her
husband without the slightest
thought of JOY or delight.
Husbands escaped it's monotonous
routine by turning from dull wives
to fascinating courtesans for diver
sion.
This concept of marriage persists
to large extent. A man keeps his
wife pure, sexless, and respectable,
Tor fear that exuberant passion
would unfit her for motherhood.
But for abandonment to pleasure he
turns to the equivalent of the Greek
courtesans.
Thus, the mothers of men and the
daughters of joy are age-old rivals
for the attention Of man.
q
MAN by nature is play boy. He
4v1 is eager to be a daring lover
instead of a respectable husband,
but he finds no outlet for his playful
energies in the monotony of the
marital routine.
The woman, fatigued by children.
has little desire left for pure fun.
The pair are beset by small but per-
SiStent problems which rob love of
its joy, leaving their life together
stale and f1avorless.
The solution depends on a change
OF attitude toward married love by
both men and women. The man
who divides his time between the
wife who is too reputable and the
laoy who is too disreputable. must
choose compromise between the
two.
The woman must learn a more
pagan concept of the art of love. a
greater abandonment to the joy of
hVing. Married happiness calls for
a more profane department between
the welded pair: for more natural
canoor and innocent self-displav.
less bodily shame and more physical
affection; less carping about duty
and more delight in lighthearted
play, these, in DR.. Schalhausen's
opinion, are some OF the reforms
needed to relieve the frequent TRACE
dies Of marriage.
q =
Dear Jane Jordan have been mar
rled for eighteen YEARS and have mot had