Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1883-04-05


A bill to abolish actions for breach
ofpromise to marry has been introduced
in the English Parliament and will
probably Iass, the law to take effect
after the lst OF January next. In place
of an action for breach disappointed ap-
plicants for matrimony will still have
left open to them the old way of suing
for damages representing the actual
money expended or pecuniary losses
which can be shown to have been sus-
tained through the refusal of the party
OF the first or second part to carry out
his or her promise.
This is as il should be. There may
be enc case in thousand where actual
damage is done to the affections, but
not more. The world has rapidly pro-
crossed beyond that Phyllis-and-C Cory
don period when hearts were broken.
Marriage has come to be q matter Of
cool calculation, and the dot is cOnsid-
cred much more frequently than the
heart. There may be primitive Area
dias in the world, where affections are
blighted to such degree and hopes are
so finely crushed that the deceiger ought
to make some financial reparation, but
such Arcadias are not in this vicinity,
nor do they lie contiguous to the tray-
eled highways or railroad lines. Again,
il is to be remembered that there never
was q time in the worlds history when
the manageable generation needed
less advice or protection in the
matter of matrimony than now.
Hhe young ladies of the period are
amply able TO take care of himself
There was time when suitOrs had to
plead, and struggle, anc fight for the
prize, but as rule the prize now is
quite competent to go in search for the
winner, grapple with him intelligently
and boldly, demand his bank account
and an invoice of his expectations, and
accept or reject him as she sees lit.
Sometimes, after she accepts him, if he
doesn't suit, she can throw him away,
and get another in the manner pre-
scribed by most of the modern novelists.
She takes him like u dress-upOn ap-
prevail. If he proves to be of the wrong
color, or is not likely to light up well,
she can send him back and order an
other. When grief is no longer incon-
sOlable there does not seem to be any
good reason why that very eXtraordi-
nary Organ-the modern heart-should
figure in an action for damages, or why
any person should be called upon to
contribute dollars and cents to repair
! member that through moderH processes
of esthetics. culture, and mammon has
become elastic enough to meet all the
o,,,,~, 'rcies and strain that can be put
Us Since marriage, therefore, has largely
become a ar of add and carry one,
Sivisors and diyiGeAtHs, 1t seems emil
nently wise to settle it upon the finsn'
nisl basis in case of q rupture as veil az
in its consummation, and to ornit all
suoh eStraneOuS and Old-fashiOned con-
sideration> as the wear and tear of
bronx age of - heart, or damage caused
to the affections by the blighting in
fIuences of mans ALI rlng anu pernuious
tongue. TO marry Pc son now means
business. They why shoAuu IL not oe
settled in purely business Wy: III
the good old days no debt and credI. ac-
count was kept between engaged per-
sons, but why should it not be- now?
Prior to engagement no contracts can
be binding, for the sutton then Is simply
connecting with others to see who shall
put I'D the handSOmest bonus to
secure the contract, and the party OF
the second part is entitled to keep all she
can get. But when Strephon agrees to
marry Belinda, then, if Belinda is wise,
she will open a regular account OF
money expended to make herself at
tractiye, of unusual sums lavished upon
toilets, of items for the trOusSeau-which
may be entered in the expense account
even the first day after engagement,
for the contract presuppOses the trous'
seau-and of every dollar and cent
which she lays out that has bearing
upon the matrimonial venture. There
are also contingent damages which she
might claim in case the contract is
broken. For instance, if Brown, who
is worth SlOO,0 fails to keep the con-
tract, and it can be shown that
the engagement scared away Jones,
who was worth 500, 900, and who could
have been easily hooked, then GER
tainly the difference or 3 fair proper
ton of it, according to the length OF the
engagement, ought to be- awarded her.
ANY little gifts fans, rings, diamonds,
ar brio. s-brae made her during the en-
pagement should also be kept by her,
and their value should not be deducted
rom the regular expense account.
Business Is business. Some such strin-
gent regulations as these are necessary
in the evolution of marriage, for in this
yay the weak and worthless ones will
be compelled to 90 to the wall, and
only the fittest will survive and be
strong enough to face the problem of
martial business on financial basis
without any nonsense Ofblighted atfec'
tions or broken hearts.-Ch Chicago Fri
blLne.