Evening Republican, Volume 21, Number 312, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 8 January 1918 — War Marriages, Contracted in Haste, Often Bring Regrets [ARTICLE]

War Marriages, Contracted in Haste, Often Bring Regrets

By MRS. EDNA B. FUNSTON.

,Widow of Gen. Frederick B. Ftnutao

Moving is the hardest duty of an army man’s wife. She has to be ready to shift her household from one place to another in perhaps a few days’ time. This means that furniture must be sold, some stored away, some shipped to the new home, other kinds Selected, trunks packed, the children outfitted, different kinds of clothing bought, and what not When I was living in San Antonio, Tex., I had the double problem of keeping one home ready in California and another open on the border. And the income of an army man is not. so big that this is a simple matter. But I wouldn’t have changed a single day of my life for anything. I do not think that as a general rule war marriages are good things, although circumstances often arise which alter the case. My husband waa the kind of a man who was easy to know, so that I felt after my two weeks Engagement to him that I had known him always. On the other hand, 1 knew a woman who was engaged to a man for ten years before she married him. She knew him too well, whs actually tired of him when they married, so of course they did not have a happy life. So yon see it isn’t the length of time you know your husband—it’s in the indiriduals. I think most young girls tfho marry during the war in haste often regret their hastiness. They do not think of the responsibilities of marriage. It is hhrd for a young girl to be left alone when her husbands goes to war. It is harder still for her to go on with her life should she be widowed, because no matter how young she is there is a big difference between girlhood and widowhood. In the majority of instances the waij bride does sot realize what she is doing.