New Ulm weekly review. [volume] (New Ulm, Minn.) 1878-1892, 1885-11-18
Disgraceful hatch-Maklng.

Mrs. Grundy and her circle Of socie-
ty gossips look askance upon any one
who presumes to criticise marriage as
it is, and these people cannot think of
any word more appropriate than horri-
BILE by which to describe the ideas of
social reform. Neither can we, who
see the need of social reform, find any
more fitting word than horrible to ap-
ply to some Of the customs vet in
vogue in '.our best society,"" The
London correspondence of the New York
Daily Sun in discussing social topics
has made very just review of the pro-
ceedings by which Lord Durham en-
deaWOred TO get devorce from his
wife. It appears that this gentleman
met the young woman whom he mar
ried but little previous to marriage.
He was attracted by her physique and
beauty. but did not discover her men
tai faIlings. A match was practically
fixed up by the lady's friends, and
soon after the marriage the lord dis
covered that the lady was fit subject
for a lunatic asylum. Thereupon, he
naturally sought Il divorce and en-
deavored to prove that she was mem
tally unsound before marriage. He
was now not successful in this nor in
obtaining a disyorce. The London
correspondent says: 1.-The greatest
proof Of the sad tragic character of
this suit is that 1t has evoked less
acrimony and more sympathy with
with both parties than any of a similar
nature; that the enormous expense of
the trial siuks into insignticance before
the magnitude of the moral interests
involved, and that all contumely will
be reserved for those who were agents
and tools in the execution of this cruel,
unholy contract. We stand face to
face with one of those transactions
which in business would be called
sharp practice, and in society pass
under the name of splendid match.
Such transactions, so numerous and
SO common that unless their pitiful
results come glaringly before us IN
the scathing lights of the divorce
court, we hoodwink ourselves and at
tempt to hoodwink others into the
belief that in England marriages are
never of CONVEYANCE never arranged,
but that in our national and noble dis
interestedness we follow only the die
tate of our hearts. To all appearances,
Judging from the list of fashionable
weddings, our feelings in variably walk
hand in hand with grosser considera-
tions, and hardly ever allow them
selves to stray into impecunious and
untitled grooves. Nothing apparently
can be gained by not dissolving the
marriage, while the maintaining of it
would bind the husband eternally to a
crazy wife and debar him from ever
forming happier ties.''
Some English families are so anxious
to make a good match for daughter
that for the sake of it they will sacri-
fee all moral considerations and bet
ter feelings. One of the most brilliant
and lovable of English women who
has recently become favorite with
the American public. was married at
the early age Of fifteen to man old
enough to be her grandfather, simply
because he had wealth and good posi-
ton in society. The result could not
be other than unfortunate, and in less
than year the young wife left pre-
cipitately the ''happy home'' which
had been provided for her. Such
matchmaking in Christian COM
munity is as degrading, unholy and
immoral as the worst things which
are charged against Mormonism, and
in such a community which assumes
to De Christian and is credited with
being in an advanced stag0 of civiliza-
ton such matchmaking is vastly
more reprehensible and wicked than
is the similar custom among barbarian
tribes OF selling daughters for live
stock or other commodities to the best
advanJage.-Dr Foote'S Health Month
1y.