Opinion by
Relatrix and Bartolette H. Wallace were married in 1935. They separated in 1948 and were divorced two years later. They have two sons, Bart H. Wallaсe, III and Gordon Bruce Wallace, the subjects of this habeas corpus proceeding, who were 13 and 12 years of age at the time of heаring. In March 1950 relatrix went to Caracas, Venezuela. She wanted to take her two children with her but their father would not consent to it. Although her intention was tо marry her present husband there, she returned unmarried for the reason that she “missed the boys too much.” She went back to Caracas however in the following December and married Mr. Skurat in January 1951.
Relatrix had cared for the children in the home of their father in New York for two years after the separation up to the time of the divorce and for periods thereafter until her remarriage. In August 1951 Wallace determined that it would be in the children’s interеst if they lived with his mother and her husband in Upper Darby in Delaware County and, except when the relatrix had .the children by agreement for limited periods, Florеnce Gearhart the respondent,. has had custody of them. - Their father-pays her for their support. The Gearhart home is adequate and the bоys are well cared for there. They are enrolled in- the local public schools-and regularly attend a Presbyterian Sunday School. Bartolеtte Wallace, the father, is a professional musician. It is necessary for him to maintain an apartment in New York because his engage *248 ménts in television, particularly, are- performed there. He spends at least one day each week however at the home of his mother in Upper Darby. He and his mother have-bought a- summer camp in New "York State where they take the boys during their summer- vacations. In October 1951 the relatrix and her husband returned to the‘United States and remained here'for a period of almost two months during which the children were with their mother almost every week-end. In the summеr of 1952 the boys, by agreement, went, to Caracas and lived with the Skurats for about seven weeks. ' Their mother paid their round trip airflight fare of something over $700. Their father concedes that the children were very happy during their stay in Caracas. Relatrix again returned to the States in May 1953 and Skurat later jоined his Wife in Philadelphia-; the boys were with them during the whole -of the summer of that year, on trips into Canada and elsewhere. The relatrix did not return to Carаcas With her husband but remained here and has brought this habeas corpus proceeding to test her right to the custody of her- children. The court’ after hearing awarded their custody to her for the period from September 1, 1954, until the end of the school year in 1955, she to pay the costs of their transportation to and from respondent’s home. This appeal and the delay occasioned by an order for reargument in this case has resulted in máintаining the status quo and the children are still with the respondent. . ’ ’’
" This proceeding is exceptional in at least one respect.' All Of’ the interested: pаrties' aré -estimable peb:‘ pie'and at the’ hearing in' this case they all approached the question: ’ of the best interests of ’ the-' children,' Objeсtively. "Judge van Roden, who heard the case specially presiding, was impressed by their genuine spirit Of cooperation’and it is conceded-that “the. boys love *249 their father, their mother and their grandmother. There is no rancor or bitterness shown.” That the Skurats are suitable and proper persоns to bé entrusted with the custody of the children is not questioned. They are both American citizens. Mr. Skurat is profitably employed as chief engineer for a сonstruction company engaged' in the building of power plants in Venezuela. There is testimony that their father has said that if the Skurats should return to the States and. establish á home here he would have no objection to their taking the children. Relator’s husband will provide.an adequate modern single dwelling housе iii a desirable suburban residential section in Caracas. The children are fond of him and he of them. He is in his middle thirties and has interests which should appeal to these normal boys. He has a softball team and is the presir dent of the Y.M.C.A. baseball league. He also plays “a'-lot-of tennis.”
Although a mother’s right tо custody of her young children is not absolute courts have always recognized the propriety of committing them to the mother.
Com. ex rel. Lucchetti v. Lucchetti,
Since the divorce of the parents was at the suit of the wife, we may assume that her husband, the real appellant in this case, is chargeable with the failuré
*250
of the marriage. He therefore is not in pоsition to complain that his wife has remarried, nor that her custody entails maintaining the children beyond the jurisdiction of the Pennsylvania Courts. It was her duty to join her husband in Caracas. Under the circumstances the order allowing her to take her children with her will not unduly limit the relationship between the children and their fаther. Cf.
Commonwealth ex rel. Balla v. Wreski,
The single questiоn is whether the City of Caracas is a proper place for the rearing of the children, in their best interests. Caracas is a progressive cosmopolitan city with a population of over 800,000. There are more than 30,000 Americans living in the city and about the same number of British citizens who have bеen attracted for the most part by the opportunities incident to the rapid development of the vast natural resources of the cоuntry.. Venezuela is a Republic, in form at least, and freedom of religion is guaranteed by its Constitution,.-. . Caracas is "located on a flat plateau, surroun-de,d- by the Andes,- at an elevation of about 3,000 feet, with a-mean-temperature of 70 degrees. - The. climate is-healthful. -Any-one-of-three English, speaking private schools, two American and one British* will- be available and relatrix’s husband will- pay the-tuition fees of about $40 -per month for each child.
Under the circumstances the majority of us are of the opinion that relatrix’s obligation to her husband *251 is sufficient reason for placing the children in hеr care in the City of Caracas. The experience well may be of great value to them.
. The order is affirmed in principle. On September 1, 1955 the father and grandmother shall surrender the custody of said children to their mother, Dorothy Skurat. She shall have the right to transport them to her home in Caraсas, Venezuela and to maintain them there until the end of the school year in June, 1956, when they shall be returned to the respondent. The expense of transporting the children to and from Caracas shall be borne by the relatrix.