The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1904-11-04
MEDICS SAY WHEN
GIRLS MAY WE'D
Salt Lake Physicians Discuss
the Problem.
SEVERAL IDEAS ADVANCED
HEALTH REQUIREMENTS AND
HIGH AGE LIMIT SUGGESTED.

The when Should Girls Marry
question has been submitted to a mum
Der of prominent Salt Lake physicians,
eight of whom give below their opin-
ions. based on physiological and social
grounds. as to the proper age for young
women to wed. IN Wednesdays Her
add thirteen, Salt Lake women gave
their views On the subject. while i'm
yesterdays columns appeared the Opin
ions of Judge W G. Hail, Mayor r. p
Morris, Assistant County Attorney
James Ingebretsen. and "A number of
well known ministers of this city. All
the men and women agreed that IA
years. the age at which marriage is
legalized in this state. is much too low
limit 10 place on matrimony.
TodaV's discussion from a medical
standpoint develops several new ideas
along the line of thought suggested by
the subject Or. A. G.. Ewing advo-
Gates the adoption of a law requiring
candidates for matrimonial blessings
TO show "clear bill of health"
statute providing for the. rigid -exclu-
sion from marriage OF those afflicted
with tuberculosis or other serious he
reditarv diseases.
Dr. l. V Silver advises women 20
demand of their future better halves
that they insure their lives for Al least
ST. zoe. DR.. Silver would also favor the
passage Of a bill making the legal linn
it Tor marriage p for women and %
for men.
For and Against Early Marriage.
DR.. :. II. Allen believes that "A wait
ing game often pays" and says that
women who observe the requirements
OF tine age, which declare for a thor
ough preparation for home duties. are
often rewarded by making better
matches thar had they done otherwise.
DR.. c. NJ. Benedict advises young men
and women 20 get married while young
and declares that-"a man doesn't know
what living is until he's married
Three of the medicos submitted that
the proper time for women TO marry
was between the ages Of 20 and %. and
for men between the ages Of p and 80
years. one declared for 20 for women,
one for over Is. one for Is and one for
20 or % Two thought that men might
wed at % and be happy. one placed
the limit between 30 and %, while
one thought that if a man were earn
ing good wages at 19. he should choose
good girl and marry.
The results of the interviews with
the men Of medicine follow
Favors Ill Health Barrier.
DR.. 4. {. EWING believe that mar
riage should not be contemplated un-
til the age of discretion has been
reached i'm both sexes. in the woman.
the age of 20 TO y years il the man.
about the age OF %. Marriage is Of
course a divine ordinance and should
no ant frnrr Rr- nh nd
mentally well. I wish TO place special
emphasis on this point. for it is my
experience that d great deal Of matri-
mOnial misery comes from physical all
ents.
As to the question whether or not
the offspring OF youthful marriages are
as intellectual, or viii prove as intel
lectual as those Of later unions. my
opinion is that they viii. II has been
my experience that they are in every
way the equals of the children born of
older parents. a young man often urges
that ne is deferring marriage until he
can secure a competence. Well. most.
people find that marriage is a success,
and young business or professional men
win find il likewise. They viii be able
TO lay more aside with the help of a
good wife than they possible could as
bachelors.
Better Match by Waiting.
Or. 5. H. Allen: i believe that wo-
men should not marry under the age of
is for several reasons. There are the
physical effects upon wife and child to
be considered. and there are social rea-
sons for advising against early mar
r.age. In the first place women seldom
mature, especially ia this country. be-
fore they are IS. Therefore attempting
the duties which belong properly TO
maturity means injury for the girl who
weds under Is.
The Offspring of TOO youthful mar
riages cannot but share in the injurious
effects. a child should moi come into
the training Of a young woman, a mere
girl. ] might say a child should not
come into the training of another
child. person not capable of directing
a home. Women OF this age need 10
spend more time preparing themselves
for the duties OF life. n has been my
observation that where this require