Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1894-08-11
MARRIAGE IN MANY LANDS,
curious Facts Collected From the
British House Of Commons.


Brftfsh House Of Commons.
Last September the British house of com,
mons expressed, by means of an address,
It's desire to be furnished with return
giving details of the marriage and divorce
laws prevailing In the most important
colonies and foreign countries. Circulars
asking for Information were sent by Lord
Rosebery TO the queens representatives
abroad, while the colonial Office made SINH
lar requests. the result OF which has been
already embodied in a return presented 20
parliament. The reports from foreign coun-
tries are now being issued In a blue book,
"hich contains some curious and novel
facts relating TO this subject
one OF the questions especially asked,
says an article in the London Daily Tele-
graph. was as to the age at which mar
rage can be contracted. II seems that In
Austria the ability TO marry commences
with the fourteenth year. but up TO the age
OF twenty-four the consent Of father or
guardian has to be obtained. In Russia
the bridegroom may not be younger than
eighteen, nor the bride younger than six.
teen. Persons over eighty are prohibited
from marrying at ALL while no person is
permitted TO contract a fourth marriage.
The further north We go the later becomes
the marrlageable age, till, In Sweden and
Norway, the law is that a man cannot
wed till he is twenty-one nor n woman
till she is eighteen. In America very curl
Gus differences ist IN different states.
1t is extremely difficult to give even an
Outline OF the marriage laws prevailing In
this country" remarks our representative.
as there are forty seven sovereign states.
each Claiming exclusive control over the
matter or the marriage OF Its citizens.
Hence IL comes that In Montana and Wash
ington twenty-one is the earliest marrying
age for a man and eighteen for a woman,
while In New Jersey and Connecticut the
All that schoolboy In Washington. there
fore, has TO do I'm order to wed a school
girl friend is TO induce her TO lay her
skipping rope aside for a time and fly with
him over the border into a more complais-
ant state.
As to the Marriage Fec.
In the matter Of charges ana fees there
is delightful lack OF unanimity among
civilized nations In Sweden and Norway,
for example. time and place are quite op-
tioHal, weddings in church being excep-
tional. and you are not bound to give the
officiating clergyman any fee whatever.
In Switzerland the only Zee Is one to cove,
| expense OF the publication OF notice Of mar
! riase in a local newspaper and registration
and you can be married at any hour you
| please. In Greece bishops license cost.
drachmas, or half crown. and the regis
tration drachmas. In Belgium they make
| little charge for a marriage pamphlet
presented to The parties, and for stamps,
but even these are dispensed with II the
parties make de .laration Of poverty
on the subject OF the grounds of divorce
very great diverge1ces occur between the
Laos OF different nations. in France 10 -can
vile "canaille" before her children justl-
| fes decree Of divorce. as also docs
| wtfe's refusal to obey her husband when
/ IL as a question OF a theatrical engage
ment." husband can also be divorced for
! ill-treating his mother-in-law or his sep
| children. In spite OF the proverb about the
] commencing MIL
little aversion, Il is the law OF Germany
| that masquerade aversion" may become
a ground OF divorce II both parties consent
AMI there are no children. ROumania dis
| tinguishes itself by enactment that q
| divorce can be pronounced IL the tribunals
are satisfied that existence IN Common Is
| impossible" In assschusetts and Missis-
4 sippl the habitual use of opium or like
/ drug" is held sufficient excuse for UNITY
| ing the marriage knot: and in some states,
/ as West Virginia, marriage Will be annull-
| e9 II one OF the parties is a negro and the
other white perscn. As 10 the cost OF d.
vorce, the cheapest ana simplest kind IN tho
states costs about 500; In Germany IL
varies from "a los. up to f45. In Russia
cons.storial courts pronounce In divorce
cases and the expense is great SaNony's
| modest figure is from e los. up TO 70.
| Some Curious Regulations.
There are other remarkable regulations
| disclosed In the reports furnished TO our
| government Thus. in Portugal, lit is the
| duty Of married woman TO accompany
her husband everywhere. except to a for
eign country" and in France the civil code
has the same law without the exception.
| 4 Portuguese married woman also may
| not publish her literary works without her
husbands consent" Parties divorced may
not remarry IN Roumania. In Italy there
/ is no divorce at all. marriage being am
nulled only by the death OF one OF thu
parties; while in America the only STATE
that has similar law is South Carolina