New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1868-03-27
MARRIAGE MADE EASY.

"A lady. who would be a wife if there was
"a way" writes us to urge that we endeavor
| to effect reform whch-to use her own words
| shall
"egaze marriage by forms more simple less trouble
some, and less expensive than now and make it prac-
cable and easy for those who are rightly and honestly
disposed, to place themselves within the usual legal
boundaries OF marriage, by some easy means which are
inexpensive and within the reach Of ALL any time, and
under any circumstances"
The lady evidently labors under grave
misapprehension. She supposes that the law of
our State exacts some imposing ceremonial-that
marriage is not valid unless it be celebrated by
q priest, according to a prescribed, elaborate
ritual-that gold rings, rich dresses, embossed
cards, bride cake, bridesmaids, and other ex-
pensive paraphernalia, are indispensable. But
none of these, and nothing like them, are re-
CURED A man and woman-nay, q boy and
girl, if they be not so young respectively as to
render theI proceeding manfestly improper
have simply TO declare before witnesses that
they take each other for man and wife, and
they are so to all legal intents and purposes
They need not even stand up and take each
other by the right hand, though it is usual and
seemly to do so. This is all the ceremonial
employed by the excellent and honored people
known as Quakers OF Christian Friends and it
has been found to answer every purpose We
venture the assurance, founded on considerable
knowledge, that the persons thus married, at
the aggregate cost of one minutes time and
not one red cent of cash. have been as legally
and as thoroughly married as those who have
paid ArchbishOps 500 per job for uniting
them according to the imposing formalitles OF
the Roman Catholic OF the Protestant Episcopal
ritual-have, in the average. proved as faithful,
as constant, as loving, and have in every way
rs emphatically honored the marriage relation.
We say this because it is true; and yet we
dixie most others) prefer being married by reli-
gious rather than n civil functiOnary or no
functionary at all, and to pay him who ties the
insoluble knot But in the eye of the law,
marriage way is Just as valid, just as bind
ing, just as honorable, if contracted in one
way as in any other, and the form Cor lack
of form il purely optional with the parties.
L" You pays Tor don't payl your money, and you
takes your choice"
What the law seeks 10 guard against are
deception and levity. There are villains who
would like to marry a new wife every month;
and that the State most righteously objects to.
It insists only that a marriage, once contracted,
shall endure so long the parties shall both
survive; and this for the excellent reason that
marriage tends TO parentage, and that children
need tie care and guidance, the nurture and
support, which father and mother living to-
gcther are needed to insure them. III the State
were not tenacious on this point our streets
would soon swarm with deserted or outcast
Young ones, growing up untaught, uncared for,
half clad, and but hfully fed. to war upon
property and social order, and to crowd our
alms-houses, houses oe refuge. penitentaries.
hospitals, and prisons, until they could with
difficulty be sheltered, governed, and subsisted.
This would never do.
"A LADY, has only to fad some man whom she
loves and trusts, who is willing to take her for
his wife $50 long as you both shall live" and
who is not already the husband. of some other
woman, and she can be abundant4y married at
net cost of ten cents greenback. We do not
know that size need incur even this moderate
outlay; but we should advise her, rs a measure
of prudence and reasonable caution, to invest
five cents Ia blank certificate of marriage,
pay five more for a L. S. stamp, and fill it up
with the names of the parties, date of the
transaction, and the signatures of at least two
subscribing witnesses. She may never need 10
exhibit this document but it is a handy thing
to have in the house. and we deem it an UNI
wise economy to undertake 10 do without it.
If she gets good husband-and we would not
advise her to accept any other-we could not
deem the outlay aforesaid by any means ex
cessve.