The Logan County banner. [volume] (Logan, W. Va.) 1889-1903, 1892-02-25

A. Bnforre6 = EarpDt xAey Lead q May
Grave coa1<QueAces-
4 careful study o. the subject d
i1legitimste births IN Europe, which 3
made few years ago. showed that
Austria then led al the countries Of
Europe. having ~ % per cent Of al
her births reported as illegitimate.
But when il was found that all the
soldiers below the rank Of lieutenant
If remember correctly, were forbid
den BY law to marry, the cause Of a
considerable part Of the illegitimate
births became apparent In other
countries similar social If not a legal
restriction sweils the reported illegiti-
mates Industrial and long-inherited
social causes are also responsible
When compiling the marriage and di-
vorce laws Of Europe, found very lit
tie Ia the statutes themselves to pre-
vent people Of insufficient means from
legal marriage. But as you say. the
local authorities do, in many cases,
without doubt withhold their consent
for this reason. It is also true that the
extremely careful regulations of mar
riage operate, in some countries. to
produce Illicit and temporary unions
aud illegitimate births But it should
DC said that often the Illicit relation
recults later in marriage. In some
countries the illegitimate births have
beer greatly increased by the condi-
tions of the military system. Amer
leans residing abroad have sometimes
had their own children, who were
born in foreign countries, reported as
illegitimate, simply because Of their
inability to produce their marriage
certificates! Protestants, and Others
who could not class themselves either
as Catholics or Protestants, formerly
we're compelled. in some countries, to
forego legal marriage. though this was
sometimes due to- unwillingness to pay
the large fee demanded by the ecclesi
astical authorities But generally, or
late years. nearly all European coun-
tries make very just provision, both in
marriage and divorce laws, for their
subjects of different religions The
obligatory civil marriage, with the
optional religious celebration, has be
come the leading form in Europe. The
admirable imperial law of Germany is
worthy Of the attention Of
all interested in the problem of uni-
formity and reform in this country. OF
course it would be impracticable TO
adopt all its details here.
One provision of the German mar
riage law, which is also incorporated
into the laws Of one or two other connA
tries, is worth notice. Whenever
marriage is dissolved, either by death
or decree of the court in divorce, the
fact and the cause must be entered
upon the margin of the official mar
riage record Should second mar
riage take place, statement of the
fact aud Its ground must, if my mem
DRY is not in fault, be certified on the
new marriage license. This makes
bigamous marriage very rare. Were
such an arrangement practiced in our
own country, it would reduce TO small
what is now a grave evil.
Those interested in the work which
six states have already begun through
on uniform legislation,
will find that part of the report of the
United States commissioner of labor on
marriage and divorce which relates to
laws and statistics of Europe and those
Of the United States The differences
are still more striking when we pass
beyond statutes to administrations.
Samuel w. Dixie, in N. Y. Post.