The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1894-08-22
Marriage In MnnY Lands.

Last September the British house or
commons expressed. by means OF au adj
dress. It's desire to be furnished with a
return giving details oil the marriage
and divorce laws prevailing IN the most
important colonies and foreign countries.
Circui.rs asking for Information were
sent hy Lcr! Zoe. berry 90 the queens
representatives. abroad, while tine colon
suit of which has been already cmbod-
lea ia a return presented to parliament
The IcIClts from iOrci-n Countries are
now beins issued IN q blue book,which
contains some curious ana novel facts
rehtng TO this subject.
one of the questlns especially asked,
says an article In the London Daily Tele-
graph, was as 10 the age az which mar
rage can be contracted. Il seems that
in Austria the ability q marry COM
mences with the fourteenth yeer, but ND
TO the age or tWenty-fOHr The consent OF
father or guardian has 10 be obtained.
In Russia the bridegroom may not Dee
SEuneer than sixteen. Persons over
eighty ale prohibited from marrying at
all while no person is permitted 70 COM
tract fourth marriage. The further
north we go the later becomes the mar
riagelble age, I'll. I'm Sweden and Nor
way the laW is that a man cannot Wc4
till be- IS tWonty-One, nor woman ili
she is eighteen. In America very curious
differences cNist in different States.
1T is extremely difficult to give even an
outline OF the marriage laws prevailing in
this country" remarks our rcprtsc hld-
tive. as there are forty seven sovereign
states. each claiming exclusive confroi
over the matter Of the DO trri1ge o.! JUS
citizens Hence ifcomcs that in Mou-
tana and Washington twcnty-one is INC
earliest margins ag. Tor man ah"
eighteen for q woman. while in NeW Jer-
ety and Connecticut The ages are p. spec
lively fourteen and twelve. All tat
schoolhOv I'm Washington therefore mas
20 do en- order 90 we'd school Elr! IIlrAp
* TO induce her to lag her skipping rope
aside for 4 time ana hy WIFI aim over
the border into more comp'ais3nt state
In the matter OF charges and fees thcfe
IS a deli.htful lack OF unaniWity among
civilized nations In sweden and Nor
way. for example. time and place are
quite optional weddings ih chHrca htll5
exceptional. and YOU are not boNnd 20
rive the officiating clergyman any Tee
,rhatever. In Switzerland the only zee
is an. 10 cover expense II the puhcatlon
Of notice Of marriage In local ne" Be-
paucr and registration. ana you can
married at any hour you please. ~"
Greece a bishops license costs drdch-
mas. or half crown. and the reeistfa-
ton 3 lracnmas. I'M B"ir1nm tnc} i'hh"
, little charge for a marriage pdmpLl
i,r.sauted 10 the parties, and for stamps,
i,,t evan these are dispensed with n tae
parties make declaration OF poverty.
ON the subject ~ the grounds oi olNoiee
very great divergence occur between me
laws Of liGrcnt nations. in france 90
III a ,yif. "canaille" before her chill
dren iustines a decree OF divorce, as also
10 "a vyif.'s refusal o. obey her hus-
hand when II IS a question Of a theatrl-
III ,,.,...,..r,,art " 1 husband can also
cai cnsdE sor I'M fronting his nother-in-
ia,r or his stepchildr~n. In spite Of the
rro.,-erb about the advantages OF COM
,,,...fcing mntrlmonv with little aver
SION. IL IS the Jaw Of Germany that IN
e,,nsrabla aversion" may become a
rii',,1 Of divorce n both parties consent
an. there are 10 children. Eoumanid
Jfetirr1liehDs itself 10y an enactment that
a divorce can be- pronounced II me ri
I,nals are satisfied that existence IN
corwon Is Impossible. In Nassachu-
-, n, like drug Is held sufficient
oxrrse for untying the marriage knot
80 in some states. as NtSt virginia
r,o,rfa.s. viii b. annulltd u one OF iur
,'artins is "A negro and the other "a Whiic
pai u,' fn the cost Of divorce, the
Ps.laoI,nst and simplest Kind In the states
.I'e,,i al,or 500: in Germany II varies
fro'n II los up TO 10. ln kiissia con
lio.inn,iai courts pronounca in divorce
7iHloi '' mi Tie exuense IT. great SaNonNs
.ariSs,t dgure is from T. los. up 10 a..
Hi ,2S,,.r. are other remarkable regulations
H. - In tn. reports furnished 70 our
go,rrr ment. Tins, "a tortusdl Il.,,l,97
.DN INV az a married woman 10 accom-
tir Nor husband everywhere, except
'di's foreign country" and In France tne
- code has the same law without the
o,.anfion. \ POrtuG e married WOillll
tN'- .stnav not publish her literary works
aii,Lout her husbands consent. Iartts
E.lll'U.,..,'l may not remarry In ROumania.
r,ol,, there is no divorce a. an ma
III - tsaing annulled only by the death
Ii"@ one 81 the parties, while IN America
The only state lhAl HAS '''''''''' -" "
south Carolina
certain forest plant in Japan grows
90 he about SIX feet hish in three weeks.