The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1902-08-11
THE KAISER AND MATRlMoNY.

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THE KAISER AND MATRIMoNY.
From Harper's Weekly.
When should a man mazry2 The ambi-
tious young person with an income of IS
a week has been propounding this in
qulry TO the puzzle editors of our lead
ing dailies for years. He is enjoined not
TO be deceived with that fatuous mental
arithmetic which teaches that what is
enough for one is sufficient for two. He
receives the in preston from newspaper
advisers that he should have more than
SO a week and MT quite so much as
SIS. He writes that the young woman of
his choice thinks so is too conservative,
and he is advised that she cannot be
worthy of such unsel1sh devotion as his,
and If she were truly womanly she would
maEe the amount buy as many automo-
bile coats as possible.
In view of the perplexed state of the
public mind on this all-important theme,
the recent edict of the German Kaiser
comes with authoritative force. 1t sets
marks and boundaries, establishes in
comes, social station. and even limits pre-
vious conditions OF alimony. The Emperor
has promulgated an order to the effect
that no officer may marry unless he re-
ceives a salary of S1125 a year, and is in
the enjoyment Of an income of 1915 more.
That is to say, II he and bis wife can
muster $500. the wadding march may be
sounded. Tho hopes of the s15 young
man are cruelty daehed, for officers who
get no more tnan s7E0 year are for
hidden to even consider the matrimonial
contract.
Carplng critics may say that the whole
matter might be simplifed by giving
every officer in his majesty's service at
least $500. This would give the business
of marrying off the German army to that
irresponsible little deity VINO goes about
with gauze wings and SHOOTS amorous
sha fits with reckless profusion.
Cupid is not trusted in Germany, and
there is a growing lack of confidence in
him h ere. TIE United States las an I'M
writer code with regard to the finance
of matrin,ony. A young lieutenant in her
army or navy spends his salary for uni
forms and extra allowances for the mess
When he marrles he must of necessity
have a private income, or ne must find
the daughter of a magnate or something
or other who is willing to share his lot
ard his glory until kind government
increases his rank. Sometimes the larger
pay does not come until he is beyond the
pale of forty
None suffers so keenly the restrictions
which finance has imposed upon the mar
ried state as the your millionaire I'm
der present conditions even the junior
members of wealthy families must have
a house in town, country place In West
chester, and a villa at Newport. To ac-
complish all this the would-be benedict
is obliged to resort TO the most desper-
ate expedients. His great-grandfather is
compelled on his account to invest in real
estate and to work from morning until
night In dingy offices. His grandfather
must also toll, and his father, by keep
ing pretty steadily at the treadmill, may
fulfil all the conditions necessary to the
successful launching of the matrimonial
craft of the descendant.
National legislation on this subject
peror has gone so far as to say that the
specifications must tell whether the bride
to oe is spinster, widow or Divorce, and
that the social and moral status of her
father must be succinctly stated. Some
of these provisions if applied to American
society would lead to bewildering and
perhaps unnecessary complications. The
bride, too, according to the wisdom of the
head of the reutons, must file an inven-
tory of her origin, education, and repu-
tation.
These details are hardly in consonance
with our institutions, yet there are GER
tain classifications of aspiring fiancees
which could be made to advantage. They
might be established on something like
this basis:
Bachelors who think the income Of one
is enough for two, $4,000.
Bachelors who knew the young women
are in love with them and who them
selves are willing to go without clubs,
cigars and Wallets, what ever they may
happen to have.
Bank cashiers whose fiancees have ex-
travagant tastes, $4,000 u year
Millionaires. 100000 a year and unlim-
tied credit.
ideas propounded by Wilhelm H. salu-
tary refoi ms may be instituted here in
the taking of matrimonial obligations.