| OCR Text |
Show Trial Engagements Among Remedies for the Present High Divorce Rate By DR BENJAMIN R. ANDREWS, Columbia University. Trial engagements, instead of trial marriages, democracy in dealing deal-ing with the financial affairs of the family, a more exact appraisal of the services rendered by the housewife and a scientific study of the causes of family disruption are among remedies for the high divorce rate. The American urban family is passing through a period of readjustment read-justment and the remarkable fact is that in so great a majority of cases it survives intact rather than it frequently is broken up in the divorce court. The months immediately preceding marriage are a crucial time, when the couple should examine carefully the cost of living and their assured income, at the same time laying out a financial program. If they find that they can come to a perfect agreement on this they can look ahead with more certainty to a successful arrangement of family affairs. Every prospective bride should put her future husband to a simple test which will afford her a picture of his character by saying unexpectedly : "I think I'll go on working after marriage." If he says enthusiastically, "Good for you," she can be sure she's got a prize. If he says "Woman's place is in the home'' or "Think what people will think about me," she has uncovered a weakness in bis character. |
