AT THE FRONT

NZ Truth, Issue 1147, 24 November 1927, Page 5

AT THE FRONT

"FREEZING SILENCE"

Officer's Letter To His Wife

(From "N.Z. Truth's" Special Auckland

Rep.)

A romance which possibly began aboard a New Zealand-bound ship In 1911 was finally terminated by Judge Herdman at the Auckland Supreme Court last week, when Margaret Lousia Robertson was granted a decree nisi. TT appears that Charles Gillett Lennox ■*■ Robertson, of Wantage, at the age of 26 married Margaret Louisa Brown, then aged 21, and of London, at the office of the registrar m Auckland on January 10, 1912. The bridegroom gave his occupation as that of fireman. Did he work his passage out? In Auckland he worked as a tally clerk, and m the course of time a family arrived m their establishment. According to Lawyer Singer, who acted for the petitioner, Charles expressed a wish to return home, but it was not until the war broke out m 1914. that he attained his wish. With him went his little girl; the boy remained with his mother. It was understood that his wife should follow, but — stated counsel — he never sent for her. Charles went to the war, being granted a commission, and. petitioner related that during the thirteen years he had been. away he had sent her only £60. - In handing up a letter from Charles, counsel remarked to his honor: "It hardly breathes the true vicarage spirit." The letter itself is a human-docu-ment. Headed St. Barnabas' Vicarage, Beckenham, and dated 28/7/20, it begins: "My Dear Louie. — My letter delivered to you on January 4, 1919, m answer to yours of August 29, 1918, still remains unanswered, likewise one I wrote a few mpnths later; and also mother's written some time about April of this year "Still, mother m her kindness of heart thought that she would be doing a kindly action to all concerned by trying to pour oil on ' troubled waters, but, I suppose, as she is getting on m years, you m all the freshness of your youth and cleverness choose to ignore her. "However, for your information, I would tell you that the day I get divorced the doors of my home are closed to me for ever, because father — being a conscientious upholder of his religion as he sees it— sa"ys and. believes: "Whom god hath joined together let no man put asunder," and acts up to it.

"And as. I intend, divorce or no divorce, to live with someone else, your action will not m any way affect my future life or career." The writer goes on to speak of his little girl. "Yet you and your mother are going to help ruin her sweet young life ... "Do not run away with the idea that I am threatening you m any way. I would not bemean myself by doing so, but I only want to point out to you the far-reaching effects of your mulelike obstinacy. and freezing silence . "Result — stale mate; yes, mate; very Btale mate indeed; the oldest of old problems and as usual all the faults on the man's side. "If, as I said before, I had not admitted 'things' I could have obtained a divorce on the grounds of your letter, but how the name of my children's mother would have been dragged m the mud! "Your letter la highly amusing after nearly two yearß. I suppose mine m answer must appear just as amusing now, but I should say yours was dictated by a fifth -rate lawyer's clerk. "I do. not expect you to be courteous enough, well-bred enough, or even decent enough, to answer this, because you cannot; it is too insulting and everything that's bad, but I'm registering it so that you will be sure to get it ... ' "Ah! well, the Vrar has changed many things and people and I am one thing 'or person, but I can hug myself you made the first move and you can make the last; I do not care. "It is much worse and easier for , a woman to sink and sink lower ' than a man, but I am not one, I am only Charles Gillett Lennox Robertson. Other evidence was given m support of the application for divorce and Mrs. Robertson was given the custody of the boy, respondent being ordered to pay costs.