LONDON’S “SHADOW” WIVES

Otago Daily Times, Issue 22985, 14 September 1936, Page 16

LONDON’S “SHADOW” WIVES

There is in London an army of “shadow” wives, 8000 strong, to whom love has brought marriage—and then broken romances. They are wives in name only. Theirs are stories of the ageless triangle, of incompatible temperaments, of poverty, of lost affection. Through orders of the 14 police courts in the metropolitan area, they are separated from their husbands. Their maintenance allowances are paid through the courts. Listen to the words of a man who has spent 43 years in a London police court. “ It seems that women have changed their general outlook. For years after I came to this court it was a common thing to see wives stretching out their arms from the witness stand to their husbands begging or offering forgiveness. The heavy drama of children tearfully begging their parents to love each other again really did go on in court. But those days are gone. The wife now is self-possessed, competent, and knows what she wants. She gets her separation order and joins the army of “ shadow ” wives.