The Mankato free press. [volume] (Mankato, Blue Earth County, Minn.) 1879-1924, 1906-11-30

to the suggestion of trial marriages
made in the book just issued by Mrs.
Elsie Clews Parsons of New York, wife
OF Herbert Parsons, chairman of the
New York county republican committee.
Mrs. Parsons book has created a
Juror all over the country on account
OF the radical theories concerning the
marriage vows which she advocates.
One paragraph reads:
at would, therefore, seem well from
this point of view, to encourage early
trial marriage, the relation to be en-
tered into with view to permanency,
but with the privilege of breaking it if
proved unsuccessful, and in the absence
Of offspring, without suffering any great
degree of public condemnation"
Concerning the society of the home
she says:
eff individuals and altruism are to
b, reconcied in the view that child
bearing and rearing is the. most impor-
tant of all social services, the desirable
ity of change in many social relations
in and out of the family will have to
be frankly faced, and if necessary, new
adaptions must be welcomed
"Might it not be well to embody in
marriage licenses data about the per-
sonal health and character of the bride
and groom, likewise certificate of the
brides previous training in childcare?
'Such a record would be partial
proof of the matrimonial eligibility or
non eligibility of the license holder.
"a favorable record would entitle the
holder to place upon the matrimonial
white list.
''The prostitute class is on the in
,crease i'll all civilization. Increasing
tendencies to late marriage and celbacy
are among the chief causes of this in
grease.
"There is tendency for the seereea-
ton of this class to become less and
less marked.
"In all civilization divorce is increas-
ing. A large majority of the divorces
are obtained by women. Legal causes
for divorce tend to multiply.
Public opinion should tend to con-
denim prostitution or adultry in men,
as in women
The author is doctor of philosophy
and was for six years lecturer in So
GEOLOGY in Barnard college.
| One Mankato lady expressed herself
as follows:
mo, | decidedly do not approve of
early trial marriages or trial marriages
at any time The marriage bond is
too sacred in my opinion, to be entered
into lightly. Too many young people
marry because of physical attraction,
| without considering their real mental or
moral adaptability, and this accounts
for the dissatisfaction which comes
with more mature judgment.
''The suggestion as to health GER
tlfcate being requisite for securing
a marriage license is good one
| ! believe that good health and clean
moral record is very important as a
foundation for a happy home. / do not
believe in one code of morals for man
and another for woman. Both should be
pure else they have no right to assume
the responsibilities of marriage and par
entage. There are so many things to
be considered in forming marital union,
the physical plane too often taking
precedence, while of far greater impor-
lance are the intellectual and spiritual
| planes.
| 81 am firm believer in the old fash
Toned idea of love as the corner stone
where a home is to be built. When
the man and woman have known each
other long enough for mutual admira-
ton and respect to grow from friend
ship to love-the real love that only
comes once in a life time, that love
which causes the man and woman to
choose each other from all the world,
| there will be no need for trial mar
riages or divorces, and home will be a
haven of peace and harmony where lit
tie children will be welcomed, and rear
ed i'll an atmosphere of love into the
right kind of men and women"
| Another one said:
Mrs. Herbert Parsons somewhat re-
markabe and wholly amazing volume,
The Family, has already set the whole
brotherhood of clergy, from Maine to
California, by the ears, and in the near
future we shall, no doubt, be edited by
series of discourses. the unaminity of
which must ye unquestioned. Nor can
the interest be less widespread among
those of the general thinking and read
ing public.
| "Mrs. Parsons attacks the sanctity of
the marriage relation win lusty vigor
and breezy determination which subtly
suggest the fact that in her own exper-
fence eongual bliss has been an nm