A SENSIBLE CRITIC.

Gisborne Standard and Cook County Gazette, Volume III, Issue 433, 25 March 1890, Page 2

A SENSIBLE CRITIC.

The London Spectator of a late issue has a very thoughtful article oh the new Australian divorce laws, and it is written in such a way as will commend it to the attention of all sensible people. It treats the legislation as misguided, but points out that a very excellent feeling underlies it. It arises (says the Spectator) partly from the curious and touching sympathy with women which has sprung up of late in the minds of men, with a sudden and general impulse, as if they had newly discovered the additional ills to which women are subject, and were wonderfully sorry all at once for sufferings which they never thought of before—such a feeling as sometimes overwhelms a young father when he suddenly finds at what an enormous cost to his young wife the crowning blessedness of the miraculous baby is attained. This feeling is naturally all the stronger where women are in the minority, and are, therefore, more thought of, more prized and precious ; so that something magnanimous mingles with the impatience of Colonial legislation, which, new and warm to its work, is inspired with the determination of creating happiness and quenching misery by Act of Parliament, a thing which, alas ! the wisest Parliament cannot do. When New South Wales is grown up and experienced, as America has become, as represented by Mr Phelps, it will learn that the art of putting up with our troubles is a fine art, and, on the whole, better for the human race than lightly shaking them off; and that to rush out and in of matrimony, and lessen the sanctity of that bond, is a much worse thing than individual vexation, or even, which is worse, individual misery. The old belief that to keep the house intact, the children safe, and the name from dishonour was of far more consequence than to fly from personal inconvenience or suffering, is a more honorable and worthy one than any false gospel of escape from pain.