home and of
the marriage relation. Apropos of the horrible account of a man's
tearing out the eyes of his wife at Far Rockaway last week, Colonel
Ingersoll was asked what recourse a woman had under such
circumstances?

_Answer_. I read the account, and I don't remember of ever having
read anything more perfectly horrible and cruel. It is impossible
for me to imagine such a monster, or to account for such an inhuman
human being. How a man could deprive a human being of sight, except
where some religious question is involved, is beyond my comprehension.
We know that for many centuries frightful punishments were inflicted,
and inflicted by the pious, by the theologians, by the spiritual
minded, and by those who "loved their neighbors as themselves."
We read the accounts of how the lids of men's eyes were cut off
and then the poor victims tied where the sum would shine upon their
lifeless orbs; of others who were buried alive; of others staked
out on the sands of the sea, to be drowned by the rising tide; of
others put in sacks filled with snakes. Yet these things appeared
far away, and we flattered ourselves that, to a great degree, the
world had outgrown these atrocities; and now, here, near the close
of the nineteenth century, we find a man--a husband--cruel enough
to put out the eyes of the woman he swore to love, protect and
cherish. This man has probably been taught that there is forgiveness
for every crime, and now imagines that when he repents there will
be more joy in heaven over him than over ninety and nine good and
loving husbands who have treated their wives in the best possible
manner, and who, instead of tearing out their eyes, have filled
their lives with content and covered their faces with kisses.

_Question_. You told me, last week, in a general way, what society
should do with the husband in such a case as that. I would like
to ask you to-day, what you think society ought to do with the wife
in such a case, or what ought the wife to be permitted to do for
herself?

_Answer_. When we take into consideration the crime of the man
who blinded his wife, it is impossible not to think of the right
of divorce. Many people insist that marriage is an indissoluble
tie; that nothing can break it, and that nothing can release either
party from the bond. Now, take this case at Far Rockaway. One
year ago the husband tore out one of his wife's eyes. Had she then
good cause for divorce? Is it possible