The Hawaiian star. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu]) 1893-1912, 1896-08-19
CHILD BRIDES IN BOSTON.
An Astonishing Condition ola Great Stste's
Marriage Laws.


Marriage Laws.
How many people know that it is lawful
in Massachusetts for little girl of IL to be
come bride? 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 it? According to decision,
which has never been reversed, "a marriage
between two infants above the age of II 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
female under the age of Is or male under
the age of 81 without the consent of parent.
or guardians" The theory of protection
which makes the consent of parents o,
guardians necessary is really a very fiimsy
protection for the young and ignorant for
eign girls who are frequently sold into
marriage at a tender age here in Boston b,
parents who are not sufficiently responsible
Tor the state to permit them this privilege
of disposiug of their daughters before their
chusetts is of age
Italians, Hebrews, Poles, Syrians, Arabs
of the most ignorant classes, men unable to
sign their names in their own language and
not understanding question asked Of
them, appear in the city registrars Office
seeking licenses to marry girls who are to be
mothers of the next generation of our
American citizens. During the past week
how tft l,.n OF, q
flee for marriage licenses who have given 10
years or less as the age of the bride In each
case they have been told to bring the girl,
and in one of the cases the fact that the
girl was 16 and had her guardians consent
to her marriage was established through
trusted interpreter. This often happens
when inquiry is instituted. More than
score of cases have been refused outright,
but in the mass of business in the regis
trar's Office it is not easy to keep up phi.
lanthropic investigating bureau and also
fulfill the laws of Massachusetts,, which
makes the marriage of children easy in the
extreme.
Talk about Gretna Green' says the city
registrar, Mr.. William H. Whitmore 1T
was difficult to get married in Gretna Green
compared with this city. Gretna Green was
hedged about and hard in comparison with
Boston. The laws as they stand now here
would do very well for country town
where erybody knew everybody else, but
for city with foreign population like
ours-well, thoughtful people simply have
no idea Of what is going on in this matter.
Any girl of IL or over and any boy of IA
may be married with consent, and the mar
riage is legal without consent if any clergy.
man or justice of the peace can be prevailed
upon to perform the ceremony, whether
they have license or not"
The records of this year show 81 mar
riages of girls of II or less; three of these
were 10 and one was a child of a. She
was in the grammar school and wore short
dresses. When her teacher sent to see why
she did not come to school it seemed TO heI
impossible to believe that she was married
Her parents had consentedl The state OF
Massachusetts as represented by its Off
ciais was helpless to look after the welfare
of it's citizens. OF course "a change in the
law raising the age when a girl might
marry to Is years would also raise the age
of her possible husband to 81 years. But
as matter of fact boys seldom apply foI
the responsibilities of the head of house
hold before that age. The bridegrooms OF
the little married girls of Massachusetts
are usually men double that age. Boston
women have spent 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
| Observation-Disclosures TRANSCRIPT