New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1883-12-16
THE LONG ISLAND PROBLEM.

II is natural to mOralize over the recent dis
closure of the manners of a class of people on
Long Island, whose idea of a genteel enter
tainment seems to consist principally of an
evening of promiscuOus kissing; but as n pict-
IRE of society the case is not worth the at
tcntion which has been devoted to it. When we
read the descriptions of the beautiful young
ladies and elegant young men whom some OF the
reporters present to us as the participants Ill the
New Utrecht festivities, we must make an
allowance for the pOetical fancy with which it's
the ambition of aspiring Journalists to emDelIlsh
the dull records OF a court of justice. 1t is not
often that they get such chance to apply the
lead-pencil to the art of decoration. In reality
the young women who put up their lips to every
beau of an hour, who offer a waist to every
tI1lant arm, and consider hammock big enough
for two, belong to avery common type with which
society" has nothing to do. The type may be
studied any Sunday night on the Third Avenue
Railroad along with the male variety OF the
same species To the gentle and ingenious
maiden of this style, keeping company with a
fellow means q sort of semi-publc hugging and
whether the demonstrations shall be confined
to sociabes and church tea-parties, or extended
>, II
nity than of taste. The male Is generally not
quite so bold as his partner, but he derives i'm
mcnsc and obvious satisfaction from the indul-
gence; to him green satin cravat is precious
partly'as an evidence of fashion, but chiefly as a
cushion for girls head the tOneyn way of
going with young lady is to hold her hand in
quiet but conspicuous corner. This sort of
Young man is embodied in the New Utrecht
witness who remarked to a reporter, 4" If there's
any kissing going on, you bet amt the one to
get left"
These young barbarians we have always had
with us. 1t is only accident which has brought
manners have long been familiar to all who walk
the streets with their eyes open; and that they
are not oftcncr a topic of general discussion
shows that less evil follows their unconscious
vulgarity than the cynical observer would be
apt to predict. They have SO little sense of the
prophecies that they attach no special signih-
canoe to an embrace. They will go their respec-
tive ways when the entertainment is over, with
no thought of harm and having made respecta-
bic middle-clasS marriages, they will rear sons
and daughters upon the same system of neglect
and independence which allowed them so much
fun in their own youth 1t is idle to lament the
loss of virgin dclicacy; such people are born
without any.
But if the social customs Of the kissing
cotcries need not trouble us, what are WE to
think of the condition of our laws which makes
il possible to perpex a court of justice with the
question whether the bOisterous sport of half
grown girls and boys was a romp or marriage
&
paving and kissing swinging in hammocks,
undiscrminating embraces, and horse atten-
TONS and as "a result of it a court is asked to de-
eide whether boy who says that he was in fun
performed valid marriage ceremony between
another boy who says that he was in fun, and
girl who says that she was in fun too, but was
afterwards advised to be in earnest Whatever
view we take of the suit, the scandalous state of
the law is equally striking If the entertain
ment at which the play minister oficiated
without intention, and the spectators were wit
nesses without knowing it, was a marriage, then
the law, by leaving open plain opportunity to
repudiate it, became an accomplice in aban-
dOnment or seduction. If il was not marriage,
then the law offers every inducement and fac
ility for blackmail. Whether joke can be
turned into marriage, or marriage into a
joke, the laxity of our statutes respecting the
most solemn and important of all contracts is
equally a disgrace to New York civilization. A
man can take a wife with less fOrmality than he
can take a house. An adventures can establish
a perpetual claim upon mans name, home and
fortune, link herself TO him for life, make him
the father of her children, with less trouble
than she can prove a debt of hundred dollars:
We dare say there arc scores of people in the