The Ideal State 247 



greater opportunity should be allowed for its dis- 

 solution. No doubt society will gradually devise a 

 better way than exists at the present time, when every 

 incentive impels towards the formation of an irregular 

 alliance, which, once admitted, opens the way to a ready 

 means of securing the desired separation. Every safe- 

 guard must be taken against divorce becoming too easy 

 of accomplishment. The altruism of Christianity, as it 

 continues to influence humanity progressively, will 

 undoubtedly create a caste of thought and mutual 

 consideration which, as time goes on, will make part- 

 ners in the marriage contract more tolerant towards 

 each other and cause them to vie in seeking each the 

 other's good physically, intellectually, and ethically. 

 In the present transition period, however, the law 

 requires some amendment, which must be made to 

 apply equally over the United Kingdom. 



The extension of the suffrage to women could only 

 result in chaos as far as the marriage bond is concerned, 

 for two reasons. In the first place, the diversity of 

 opinion, which would arise in a large number of cases 

 in regard to public affairs, could only result in anger, 

 animosity, and hatred. One may have a private friend 

 with whom one differs politically, but this is somewhat 

 uncommon, and certainly implies a spirit of mutual 

 forbearance not at all usual ; political agreement to- 

 day is almost a necessity of private friendship in the 

 vast majority of instances. In any case, one is not 

 forced to live in constant companionship with this 

 private friend, but this is a sine qua non of the marriage 

 contract. Secondly, the exciting and disturbing effect 

 of the political arena upon the emotional nervous 

 temperament of the woman would either upset her 

 mental balance or disturb her physically and psychic- 

 ally in such a manner as to unfit her totally for the 

 function of maternity, so necessary to the race, to the 



