The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1905-08-17
NEW MENACE TO MATRIMONY.

a magistrates court which should be
fought to the bitter end in the inter-
ests of public policy and the glorious
future of the country. For if the YER
dict of the Irish magistrate should
creep into the books and become
precedent, not even SO abundant
paterfamiliaS as President Roosevelt
would avail to make marriages popu-
lar and families of dozen badge
of honor. When the immigration stops,
as it must eventually, we would dry
up, wither away into a miserable job
lot of grabbed bachelors and acid old
maids and the queer conglomerate
which is called American would be
de-na tionalized and extinct!
AS may have been inferred wo-
man is at the bottom of all this, her
name-that is, her name that was-in-
dicating that she belonged to that de-
srable class of Germans with Mosaic
Icanfngs and morals whose progeny
SO often come to sit at the head of
the financial table, untouched by their
immigration except in the loss OF a
consonant or so from their foreign
names. 1t seems that kropkern
wanted wife and being friend OF
one Wassal, he discovered that the
latter had a sister who would like to
we'd Whereupon Kropkern, wanting
wife very badly indeed, put up forty
five dollars which was sent to the girl
and with which she sailed steerage
for America. She liked the country
and the men she met and all seemed
bright for Kropkern who failed, how
ever, to propose matrimony at once,
thinking that that detail had been ar
ranged by the brother when he sent
the money What was Mr.. Kropkern's
chagrin, therefore, when he learned
that Miss Wassal, knowing that it was
not we'll for man to be alone, had an
ncxed the tailor at the corner of \
street and First avenue! But the deed
was done and Mr.. Kropkern took to
the law and sued the husband. And
the Irish magistrate gave Judgment
from the kindness Of his lovers heart
and, if an appeal has not been taken,
the precedent is fixed.
While we have no doubt but that
Miss Wassal was well worth the money
she cost her husband, we are alarmed
at the prospective results. The prece-
dent, we contend, Is a bad one. Surely
is against public policy. There is
nothing so much needed as marriage
bells. Children are wanted-by the
double measure. On this rests the fu-
ture of the State-Roosevelt has said
so. But what if, with a bride, every
man should purchase a lawsuit? The
danger is a staring one. a man, at
great cost of time and at lavish eX-
pense, weds a prominent society belle.
She is gowned in chiffon and tulle
and orange buds and white veil and
the groom has on new shoes and an
unfamiliar long coat which threatens
momentarily to trip him up. There
is the sob of the organ, the twinkle
of many lights, the nervous crying of
bridesmaids, the solemn glare of
wire s-edge, and the ceremony is over.
Breathing deeply with relief the groom
steps from the door of the church
and is confronted by a sheriff with
summons: Peter Gotleft VS.. Charley
Winout, to American beauties given
wife in anticipation of matrimony,
$500; to carriages, presents, theatres,
suppers, railroad fares, books, ice
cream sodas, candy and sundries of
courtship, $1,547.62. Wherefore the
plaintiff prays judgment in the sum of
$1,947.62 and the costs of this action,
etc, etc."
How long would the holy institution
last under these conditions? Marriage
would be more of lottery than it is
by an almost certain lawsuit. And if
a man should win a bride who had
endured many affairs" the bill would
be one to insure bankruptcy. Mar
riage would be confined to the rich
and courtship would be relegated to
that class of parasites who are look
ing for wealth in the way of damages.
The courts would be clogged with
business and the wheels of justice
Calheu. NO poor HAL COulu HlotI1y.
No children would run about the
streets. The child-labor problem
would be settled-because everybody
would be grown-up. And presently,
over the marts of trade, there would
settle pail of silence and out in the
country amid the decay OF civilization,
the last very old bachelor would pop
the question to the remaining ancient
maid, there being none except himself
to sue and before the world faded
from the thoughts of men, there would
be in the winter of it's passing last
gleam of the love which had once
made it rich and populous-and the
long night would come and history
would wonder at the cause.
We trust that the Supreme court
will over-rule Magistrate Donohue. He
was playing with edged tools. What
ever law may be, it's aim is to con-
serve and not destroy.