Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1894-01-06
CHILD BRIDES IN BOSTON,
The Law Permits Girls to Marry ut IL
and Boys at II.

How many people know that 1t is lawful
In Massachusetts for little girl of twelve
to become bride? Who could believe at
nrst thought that many little girls in short
dresses have been legally married in Bos-
ton, several during the past year, and that
the law, even In the hands of thoughtful
and responsible officials. was powerless to
prevent 1t? According to a decision, which
mas never been reversed, marriage be-
tween two infants above the age Of twelve
In females and fourteen in males Is valid
without the consent OF their parents or
guardians. notwithstanding the statutes
which prohibit magistrates or ministers
under penalty. from solemnizng the mar
rage OF a female Under the age Of eighteen
or male under the age of twenry-one with
out the consent of parents or guardians -
The theory of protection which makes the
consent or parents or guardians necessary
IS really a very fiimsy protection for the
Young and ignorant foreign girls who are
frequently sold into marriage ut a ter der
age in Boston by parents Who are no. suffi-
GENTLY responsible for the state to permit
them this privilege of disposing OF their
daughters before their eighteenth birthday
when girl Of Massachusetts, is OF age
Italians. Hebrews. Poles Syrians, Arabs
Of the most Ignorant classes, men unable TO
sign their names In rhe.r own language and
not understanding a question asked of them.
licenses to marry girls who are % be mot h
ers of the next generation of American c:ti-
zens During one asek recently three men
came to the registrars Office for marriage
licenses and gave sixteen years or less as
the age of the bride. in each case they " ere
told to bring the girl, and in one of the
cases the fact that the girl was sixteen and
had her guardians consent to her maria ge
was established through a trusted inter
prefer. This often happens when inquiry is
instituted.
Talk about Grerna Green.' said the city
registrar to a writer TO. the TRANSCRIPT
1t was difficult to get married in Gretna
Green compared with this city t;retna
Green was hedged about and hard IN COM
parison to Boston. The laws as they stand
now here would do very well for a country
town where everybody knew everybody else
but for a city with 4 foreign population
like ours-well, thoughtful people simply
have no idea of what is going on in this
matter. Any girl of twelve or over and any
boy OF fourteen may be married with con-
sent and the marriage is legal without
consent II any clergyman or justice of the
peace can be prevailed upon to perform the
ceremony, whether they have a license OF
not"
The records Of 1893 show fifty-seven mar
riages of girls of seventeen or less three OF
these were fifteen and one was a child OF
fourteen. She was in the grammar school
and wore short dresses. When her teacher
sent to see why she did not come to school
1t seemed to her impossible to believe that
she was married. Her parents had con.
sented! The bridegrooms Of the little mar.
ried girls of Massa chusetts are usually mer
double that age. Boston women have spent
a good deal Of thought and time and money
for the child widows of India There Is
room for a good deal of endeavor In behalf
of the child brides of Massa chusetts