New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1888-10-09
MARRIAGE As SIDE SHOT,.

Two more young people have been found, down
East, who willing for a consideration to
allow their marriage TO figure as one Of the side
shows of State fair The couple in question
entered upon the holy state of matrimony standing
in the car of inflated balloon in the presence of
49, 900 spectators. Admission to the entire show
so cents. children half price. After the
ceremony had been performed the twain that had
been made one continued to furnish amusement for
the $4,000 by ascending in the balloon, accom-
panied by the urbane aeronaut All this happened
of an afternoon. The balloon came down during
the evening. but was dragged two miles across
q swamp before its progress was stayed, and bride
and groom, it is stated were compelled to cling
to the ropes above the basket to keep out Of the
water.
This kind Of ATTRACTION for State and
county agricultural fairs apparently is growing
in popularity. A number of side-shOw marriages
have been olcmnized-sccularzed would be the
filter tcrm-during the season in various parts of
the country We are not sure that any Of the
other couples welded in the car of big balloon,
but one loving pair pledged their troth on the
cogne of vantage known as the judges stand.'
The understanding seems to be-in some OF our
neighborng States.-that such a spectacle is
great card that it draws well as a horse trot
or ploughing match Stimulated appar ntly by
the success attending it, not long ago an enter
prising merchant by way of inau guating'
new shoD induced two souls with but IA single
thought, for the sake OF little money and some
furniture. to be married in one of the great show
windows of the building. What next? Where
shall 0,he line be drawn? Possibly the day is
coming when we shall hear Of marriage taking
place ~ the feature Of circus, as the overture
of a rollcr-skating tournament, as the alterpicce
of baseball game, the intcrudc of dog
show.
If this sort of thing were simply an aifront to
taste il M ght be passed by without comment But
it is to be regarded as a blow at the wcll-being
of society. Whatever tends to impair the sanctity
of marriage IS an offence against good morals.
Just now the question Is marriage fallurc|
is being extensively discussed. The answer must
be an emphatic negative, unless prepared to
admit that the existing social order. that cviliza
ton itself is a failure But certainly these cX-
hbtions in which marriage figures, not as sacra-
ment, but as a sideshow, tend to give point TO
the question or at all events, tend TO degrade
the popular conception of divine institution, and
10 do that is TO pave the way for making it a
failure Our legislators" writes Burke, know
ing that marriage is the origin of all relations, and
consequently the first element of all duties, have
endeavorc by every art to make it sacred And
in the same paragraph he protests against those
who would render marriage " no better than
common civil contract" Marriage that Is made
an advertising annex TO talr, balloon ascel-
sion, a shop-opening may nevertheless be made
to appear sacred But the chances are that the
ookers-on will be oblivious to the sacredness and
receive the impression that il is decidedy common
civil contract