There were just as many unhappy marriages formerly in proportion to the population as there are to-day; but the wife was held effectually from application for a divorce not only by rigid laws but by the sentiment of society, which ostracised a divorced woman, and furthermore by her lack of means and of opportunity for earning an independent livelihood.  To-day women are not inclined to tolerate a husband who is brutal or debauched.  Alarmists make a mistake when they place too much emphasis on the seeming triviality of the reasons, justifying their course, which wives advance when applying for a separation.  For example, the phrase “incompatibility of temperament” is in a great number of cases merely a euphemism for something much worse.  The clergy will counsel a woman to bear with what they call Christian resignation a husband addicted to drink or scarred by the diseases that are a consequence of sin.  Abstractly considered, this may conceivably be good advice.  But viewed in a common-sense way it is the duty of a woman to reflect on the consequences of conceiving children from such a man; and the researches of physicians will furnish her with incontrovertible facts regarding the impaired health of the offspring of such a union.  A law which would permit of no divorce under such conditions, instead of benefiting the state, would injure it in its most vital asset—­healthy children, the coming citizens.  Doubtless the divorce laws in many States are too lax.  But sweeping generalities based on theory will not remedy matters.  Divorce may simply be a symptom, not a disease; a revolt against unjust conditions; and the way to do away with divorce or reduce the frequency of it is to remedy the evil social conditions which, in a great many instances, are responsible.

The fact is, the institution of marriage is going through a crisis.  The old view that marriage is a complete merging of the wife in the husband and that the latter is absolute monarch of his home is being questioned.  When a man with this idea and a woman with a far different one marry, there is likely to be a clash.  Marriage as a real partnership based on equality of goods and of interests finds an increasing number of advocates.  There is great reason to believe that the issue will be only for the good and that from doubt and revolt a more enduring ideal will arise, based on a sure foundation of perfect understanding.

NOTES: 

[415] See an excellent article on “The American Woman” by Miss Ida M. Tarbell, in the American Magazine for April, 1910.

[416] In 1893.  “Be it resolved by the Second Legislature of the State of Wyoming: 

“That the possession and exercise of suffrage by the women of Wyoming for the past quarter of a century has wrought no harm and has done great good in many ways; that it has largely aided in banishing crime, pauperism, and vice from this State, and that without any violent and oppressive legislation,” etc.