The Hawaiian star. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu]) 1893-1912, 1895-10-28
CHILD BRIDES IN BOSTON.
An Astonishing Condition ofa Great State
Aiarrlans


An Astonishing Condition ofs Great States
Marriage Laws.
How many people know that 1t is lawfnl
In Massachusetts for a little girl of IL to be
come bridep Who could believe at first
thought that many little girls in short
dresses have been legally married here in
Boston, several during the past year, and
that the law, even in the hands of thought
full and responsible officials. was powerless
to prevent itl According to decision,
which has never been reversed, "a marriage
between two infants above the age OF IL in
females and IA in males Is valid without
the consent of their parents or guardians
notwithstanding the statutes which pro
hibit magistrates or ministers, undera pen
atty, from solemnizing the marriage OF a
female under the age of lS or male under
| the age of 81 without the consent Of parents
| or guardians" The theory OF protection
which makes the consent Of parents OF
guardians necessary is really very himsy
protection for the young and ignorant for
| eign girls who are frequently sold into
marriage at tender age here In Boston BY
parents who are not sufficiently responsible
ior the state to permit them this privilege
of disposing of their daughters before their
eighteenth birthday, when girl of Massa-
chusetts Is of age.
Italians, Hebrews, Poles, Syrians, Arabs
of the most ignorant classes, men unable t6
sign their names in their own language and
not understanding question asked o.
them, appear in the city registrars oiic'
seeking licenses to marry girls who are to b'
mothers of the next generation OF ou
American citizens During the past weel
three men have come to the registrars OF
flee for marriage licenses who have given II
wears or less as the age of the bride. In eaci
case they have been told to bring the girl
and in one OF the cases the fact that tn
girl was 10 and had her guardians consen
To her marriage was established through
trusted interpreter. This often happen
when inquiry is instituted More than
score Of cases have been refused outright
but in the mass Of business iu the regi'
, trar's Office 1t is not easy to keep up ph
lanthropic investigating bureau and ais
fulfill the laws Of Massachusetts, whic
makes the marriage Of children easy IN u
extreme.
'sTalk about Gretna Greeni' says the cit
registrar, Mr.. William ii. Whitmore. =
was difficult to get married In Gretna Gree
compared with this city. Gretna Green vi
hedged about and hard In comparison wit
Boston. The laws as they stand now he
would do very well for a country tow
e where everybody knew everybody else, b.
for city with foreign population Ill
ours-well thoughtful people simply ha
IS NO idea of what Is going on in this matt'
Any girl of 12 or over and any boy Of
may be married with consent, and the mi
= riage is legal without consent II any clerp
man or Justice of the peace can be prevail
q upon TO perform the ceremony, whetf
|e they have license or not"
The records of this year show 81 m
70 riages of girls Of II or less; three OF thu
q. were 10 and one was a child OF IA. :
was in the grammar school and wore sh
10 dresses. When her teacher sen: to see W
she did not come to school 1t seemed TO
impossible TO believe that she was MARI
IS Her parents had consentedl The state
Massachusetts, as represented by its
cials was helpless to look after the Welt
of its citizens. OF course a change In
law raising the age when a girl mil
marry to IS years would also raise the
of her possible husband to 81 years.
as q matter of fact boys seldom apply
the responsibilities Of the head OF no,
hold before that age. The bridegrooms
the little married girls Of Massachus'
are usually men double that age. Bos
women have spent good deal Of thou
and time and money for the child wid'
Of India. There Is room for good dea
endeavor In behalf Of the child bride
Massachusetts,. Boston TRANSCRIPT.