A VICTIM OF THE LAW.
[To the Editor of the SPECTATOR.] Sin,—As a subscriber and an appreciative reader of your splendid paper, I trust you will pardon me when I express my dismay in reading the article " A Victim of the Law," in which you defend alteration in our Marriage Laws. Coming from you such advice demands attention. I would that you- had reached a different conclusion ! There is no doubt that there are many sad cases and many greater hardships than those endured by Mrs. Rutherford. But, to release these " victims," are we prepared to pull down the whole structure of home and family life by introducing fresh legislation— humane from the world's standpoint, but which totally ignores definite commands from the Highest Source ? Hays we reached a period in the world's history when patience and self-denial are no longer to be conspicuous and every burden must be removed as soon as it becomes irksome ? Is there no selfish motive behind the desire to be free to contract another marriage and in creating a position which may be unfavourable to the children ? A husband in confinement can no longer cause actual suffering. Why should not a mother with six children find permanent happiness in the up- bringing of her family ; also solace and full scope for her energies ?
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Those who would mend these evils should rather bend their energies to devise restrictions whereby marriage becomes a more serious affair and not lightly undertaken as at present. This would be for the good of the State and the safety of the parties concerned. The sacredness of the marriage vow, with the acceptance of what it entails, and the consciousness that it is only dissolved by , death, has made the greatness of English family life. Do we surrender our standard without bringing untold future misery upon our children ?—I am, The Cedars, East Grinstead, Sussex.
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