Show Your Marriage If Mates wades Cant Can't Afford Divorce I I They Usually Try Desertion By Samuel G. G and Esther B. B Klin Kling I Q Is desertion the poor mans man's divorce I A. A Yes The truth is that those who can afford it obtain annulments annulments annulments annul- annul ments or divorces those who who I cant can't simply desert their wives and youngsters leaving them to the mercy of relatives or charity I i 1 Altogether more th than a million million million mil mil- i lion women and children are are tod today the victims of family desertion A recent survey suney of some cases by the national desertion bureau casts light on the nature of this called so-called poor mans man's divorce The critical age for family desertion desertion de it appear is 35 years or younger Of the cases studied 56 of the husbands were in inthis inthis inthis this age group The commonest age for wife deserters is 35 years jears While most male desertions desertions deser deser- took place when the men were about 35 the dangerous age included husbands up to 45 Fourteen per cent of the husbands husbands husbands hus hus- bands and wives were of the same age In 58 of the cases the husband was older in 18 the wife was Where the husband was older it was generally by five years or orless orless orless less in 64 of the cases Where he hc was five fl to 10 years ears older such desertions represented 27 of the cases and where he exceeded exceeded exceeded ex ex- his wife by 11 or more years the percentage of desertions desertions desertions deser deser- was 9 Where the thc wife was older there was an age difference of five fi years ears in 75 15 of the cases How long after marriage do desertions take place Sixty- Sixty eight per cent took look place within the first 10 years cars of the marriage 11 in marriages which had lasted more than 20 years Actually Actually Ac Ac- 20 of all desertions were between the and year of marriage indicating that the and early are indeed critical ages for many husbands Some husbands and wives fled after only a week of wedded life others didn't walk out until after more than 25 years In three cases the c couple uple had been married for more than 50 years ears before the husband left What compelled these husbands husbands husbands hus hus- bands and wives to leave The chief reason was infidelity Many left because of their mates mate's excess excessive ex- ex cess cesse e drinking Other factors leading to the break included gambling cruelty irresponsibility ty lack of interest in the home emotional immaturity lack of or orI j I preparation for the marriage and a complete unawareness of I the responsibilities that go with I married life |