The anti-monopolist. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1874-1878, 1877-04-26
The Anti-Alonopo1ist

no mere child is welded. In Greece
males cannot marry before fourteen
or females before twelve years Of age.
In the Ionian islands, now part OF
Greece, the age is sixteen for the male
and fourteen for the female. In Hum
gary, the Catholic Tor sacramental)
marriages are regulated by canon law,
other marriages by civil law. Under
canon law the ages are fourteen and
twelve, and minors cannot marry with
out the fathers consent. The civil
law also fixes twelve as the earliest
age at which girl may marry. Men
cease to be minors at twenty-four and
women at sixteen. A minors mar
rage, without paternal consent. is null
and void. In Italy, the legal marriage
is above the usual standard being six
teen for females and eighteen for
males. In Lapland the age is seven
teen for males. In Norway no limit
of age is required. In Sweden it is
twenty -one for males and fifteen for
females. In the Netherlands, eigh-
teen in the case of males and twelve
for females. In Portugal, fourteen
for males and twelve for females.
In Prussia, eighteen for males and
fourteen for females, and late law has
made marriage merely civil contract,
like the leasing of a house. In ROu-
mania, the ages are eighteen for males
and fifteen for females. In SaxOny,
the limits of age are eighteen for males
and sixteen for females in Spain, four.
teen for males and twelve for females.
In Switzerland, the limits vary from
fourteen to twenty for males and
twelve to eighteen for females, &C.
cording to the CantOnal and other laws.
In Turkey there is no age limitation.
In Wurtemburg, the limit is fixed at
twenty-one for males and fourteen for
females. In Russia, the legal mar
riage ages are eighteen and sixteen.
There are exceptions, however, for
the natives Of Caucasus may marry,
| the males at fifteen and the females at
thirteen and ia some special cases
the Russian Bishop of the diocese can
authorize marrige six months before
the period allowed by law, either for
the male or female.
| In the Grand Duchy of Finland,
which is part of the Russian Territory
no marriage is allowed to be contracted
without supreme authority, before the
age of twenty one for males and if
teen for females, except for peasants
engaged in service by the year, or
those having any fixed trade or Occu-
patton, who are allowed to marry at
the age of eighteen for males and thir-
teen for females. In the principal
Oriental countries, TurKey-in-Asia
Arabia, Persia, British India, Siam,
Burmah, Ava, and in fact all over the
East, where maturity is sooner at.
tanned, the nuptial period is at what,
with us, is an infantile age. Girls of
eight or nine are frequently married to
youths of twelve. The result is that
there often may be seen grandmother
at twenty-five, who look as old at that
age as European and well-cared-fol
American women do at fifty.fve
Usually with the ancient inhabitants
Of the East, the bride was obtained by
presents made or services rendered te
her parents-a practice which still
prevails in some parts of that region.
In the Old Testament history we find
intermlxed marriages of the worship
ers of God with the heather nations
around them strictly forbidden by Di
vine authority.
Plurality of wives was allowed BY
Moses, and has been admitted by thu
Talmudists and Jewish harems, o.
their Princes particularly, were some
times extremely extensive. Accord
ing to the modern Rabbits, though
strictly legal, polygamy is not practi
cally convenient under 1.-THE chOSel
peoples altered circumstances. II
the tenth century, A. D., at grea
council, it was formally declared abOl
ished.
The Koran gives four wives to TIT
believer on earth. besides the less sub
stantial hOuris OF the future paradise
Hesiod advises thirty as the loves
at which man should take a wife
fifteen as the feminine nuptial period
i An old adage thus lays down thu
proper days for wedlock ION Mon
day, for wealth Tuesday, for health
ednesday the best day of all Thurs
day, for crosses Friday, for losses
Saturday, no luck at all.
Other marriage superstitiOns may b
mentioned. It is believed that the lad.
who reads the marriage servic'
through, or she who completesa patch
work quilt without assistance. vii
never be married; also, that it is I'm
,, lucky for bride about to 60 to churcl
J to look in the glass after she is com
pletely dressed. Therefore, the Gus
tom is that she shall put on glove, o
some other article. after the last loo
: in the mirror has been taken; also tina
it is lucky if the initials Of wedde
couple spell word.
i Marriage among the Burmese is
: most peculiar institution, and tn
marriage knot is very easily VI
!. done. If two persons are tired Of eac
others society, they dissolve partner
ship in the following simple an
touching, but conclusive manner
{ They respectively light two candles
!, and shutting up their hut, sit dow
: and wait quietly until they are burne
: up. The one whose candle bnrns OF
! first gets up at once and leaves th
house land forever), taking nofhin
but what he or she may have on
the time all else then becomes q
L u n 49,