AFFINITIES.

Auckland Star, Volume XXXIX, Issue 129, 30 May 1908, Page 15

AFFINITIES.

A NEW AMERICAN CRAZE. The "affinity" craze in imerifa has been revived by the return home of Mr Ferdinand Earle. the weaJthy Socialist poet-artist, and his bride, formerly Miss Julia Kuttner, and by an "affinity parade." which took place in their honour at Monroe, in the State of New York. Mr Earle attained worldwide notoriety by his views regarding marriage and divorce, and particularly by installing Miss Knttner in his domestic household aa his "soulmate"—the words are Mr Earle's— with the express wish and consent of his wife. Since those days and the discussions which stirred not only Monroe, but the entire country. Mr Earle has been to Prance, divorced his wife, and now appears legally wedded to his "soulmate." Owing to the publicity given to Mr Earle's matrimonial views and words, "affinity" and ""soulmate" have now been vulgarised throughout America. We have affinity furniture, affinity blouses, even affinity cocktails. One hears the expression "soulmate" as equivalent to sweetheart scores of times every day. In the theatres and music-halls affinities and souimates are the tritest allusions. Mr Earle left Monroe in tears and tribulations, and likewise amid a shower of overripe eggs. He returns in joy and jubilation. Monroe recognised that the poet-ar-tist, by his divorce of his former wife and his marriage to his sonimate in Italy, had saved the American reputation. Mr Earle, himself recognised the change, and his attitude was one of conciliation and sweetness. Monroe paraded in his honour. There was a brass band and plenty of followers. It is an old local custom in rural Monroe to parade on the marriage of a citizen, and Mr Karle yielded willingly to the reqnest to receive a deputation. Previous to this the band played "A Hot Time in the Old Town" and other national airs. "Boys. I'm glad to see you," Mr Earie said to the band. "This is an old English custom: a fellow doesn't get married every day, so I am glad to hear the music." "Good luck to you and much joy." said the band, and the cornetist swelled with pride. The artist took out a pocket-book, and gare to each of the musicians a fivedollar gold piece. To the newspaper reporters who had accompanied the cavalcade and" remained at a distance to pick up the wounded, the artist said, "Well, boys, I'm glad to meet you. Come in." Afterwards in a serious vein Mr Earle suggested that his family affairs and private views had already occupied too much of the national attention, and expressed the hope that henceforth Mrs Earle and himself would be left in peace. The poet artist added that he had seen the former Mrs Earle in Paris. She was perfectly happy, and still shared his views about matrimony, divorce and souimates.