DIVORCE.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXVI, Issue 20384, 12 October 1929, Page 6 (Supplement)

DIVORCE.

BV EDNA GRAHAM MACKY.-

Tho greatest tragedy of our modern lifo is divorco, and it seems that tho moro inodorn wo aro and tho more luxurious our environment, the more numerous divorces become. Indeed, we aro very casual about them thoso days, and even suggest that divorco should bo merely a private matter and not ono for tho State. Commissions havo been set up in tho United States, where divorco has becomo *0 prevalent, to ascertain tho causes, economic, social, and psychological, that nnderlio this growing evil. Tho wholesalo breaking down of tho conventions has been blamed to a great extent. Ohaperones have been dispensed with and engagements aro lightly regarded, thus cheapening the privileges of courtship. 'Anything that detracts from tho beauty nncl sanctity of courtship is serious, for it. is upon courtship that marriago is founded. Familiarities lead to tho lowering of ideals, and it is often upon shifting sands of desire and baser emotions instead of the rock of honour and unselfish devotion that many young people attempt to build their house of love. It is no wonder that such a building does not stand the storms of adversity which aro bound to como into every life sooner or later. Our passion for tho good things of life, money, ease, and position, and tho development of a materialistic outlook, lead to marriages of convenience. Wo are ail so anxious that our children should " marry well!" That means, of course, money "and position: other things, such as health, morals, and disposition, being of minor importance. But wo all find out later, that iu living the evcry-day round, year in and year out, health and morals and disposition do count, tremendously. ' One of the saddest features of modern divorco is that it often takes place after many years of marriage. In tho majority c/f cases it happens where tho man has achieved success, and is thrown into gayer and moro prosperous society on account cf his business position. His wife, who may havo saved and scrimped for years to bring up a family, may not have been nblo to keep abreast of his social rise. Tho man begins to feel rather ashamed of his less adaptable mate and falls into tho habit of leaving her out of his arrangements. If ho is wealthy and attractive in appearnnco ho runs a'grave danger of being made a fuss over by other women. Unfortunately, it i 3 true that there are .many women to-day, beautifully groomed and with charming manners, who havo no conscience whatever where a good time ds concerned. If anybody mentions a neglected wife, they only shrug their ' shoulders and say " Serves her right. I've no patience with back numbers!" The next step, of course, is that the jwifo at home begins to complain or indulges in recriminations. Tho husband retaliates, welcoming tho occasion to f break," knowing where he can betake himself afterwards for sympathy. Women get tho worst of divorce, .whether they are to blame or not. Men, it is contended, aro more or less polygamous by nature, and are therefore aisle to live down previous domestic experiences more easily. Women, by their impressionable nature, tend to becomo " emotionally involved," even if there are no children. If there are children well divorco is, a life-long tragedy which can never he' lived down, as far as a woman is concerned.