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Letter to Editor
August 27, 1912
The Evening World
New York, New York County, New York
What is this article about?
A letter to the editor criticizes a prior suggestion that a handsome but unintelligent man should marry a wealthy or working woman for support, deeming it unfair to women, likely to lead to unhappy marriages, and overburdening courts with divorce petitions.
Clipping
OCR Quality
95%
Excellent
Full Text
Matrimony and Stupidity
To the Editor of The Evening World:
I read recently a letter in which the writer suggests matrimony as a remedy for a man "handsome but devoid of thinking qualities."
The man is admittedly unable to retain a position because of the absence of gray matter from his cranium. The writer states he might marry a wealthy woman who will be able and probably willing to support him if necessary; or a poor woman who will work for him.
This attitude is unfair. Who is justified in asking a woman to toil for such a person of mere tinsel?
I wonder why this writer would foist such a despicable specimen of humanity on any woman. Because plenty are ready to take him? If so, womankind is in need of a warning to beware; not advice to be a party to such a scandalous union.
Our equity courts are already overburdened. Many are the petitions sent out in an attempt to have undone such pieces of infamy, perpetrated at the altar. No man becomes a bore to a woman so quickly and surely as the "handsome man devoid of brains."
What great grudge can the writer of the letter have against her own noble sex that she suggests such a reprehensible "antidote" for the shortcomings of an incompetent? Does she not know that in the great waters of human attributes no inlet is so shallow as that of mere and unamplified handsomeness? Matrimony was never designed as a toy for brainless men and foolish women.
H. BERNARD.
To the Editor of The Evening World:
I read recently a letter in which the writer suggests matrimony as a remedy for a man "handsome but devoid of thinking qualities."
The man is admittedly unable to retain a position because of the absence of gray matter from his cranium. The writer states he might marry a wealthy woman who will be able and probably willing to support him if necessary; or a poor woman who will work for him.
This attitude is unfair. Who is justified in asking a woman to toil for such a person of mere tinsel?
I wonder why this writer would foist such a despicable specimen of humanity on any woman. Because plenty are ready to take him? If so, womankind is in need of a warning to beware; not advice to be a party to such a scandalous union.
Our equity courts are already overburdened. Many are the petitions sent out in an attempt to have undone such pieces of infamy, perpetrated at the altar. No man becomes a bore to a woman so quickly and surely as the "handsome man devoid of brains."
What great grudge can the writer of the letter have against her own noble sex that she suggests such a reprehensible "antidote" for the shortcomings of an incompetent? Does she not know that in the great waters of human attributes no inlet is so shallow as that of mere and unamplified handsomeness? Matrimony was never designed as a toy for brainless men and foolish women.
H. BERNARD.
What sub-type of article is it?
Persuasive
Social Critique
Provocative
What themes does it cover?
Social Issues
Morality
Feminism
What keywords are associated?
Matrimony
Stupidity
Marriage Remedy
Women's Exploitation
Divorce Petitions
Brainless Men
What entities or persons were involved?
H. Bernard.
To The Editor Of The Evening World
Letter to Editor Details
Author
H. Bernard.
Recipient
To The Editor Of The Evening World
Main Argument
the suggestion to marry off a handsome but brainless man to a woman for support is unfair and reprehensible, as it exploits women, leads to scandalous unions, and burdens courts with divorce petitions; women deserve a warning against such matches.
Notable Details
References Previous Letter Suggesting Matrimony As Remedy For Stupidity
Critiques Overburdened Equity Courts
Metaphor Of Shallow Inlet For Handsomeness