The Minneapolis journal. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn.) 1888-1939, 1906-05-06
lpeeial Correspondence Of The Journal.

Special Correspondence OF The journal.
w ARTS, April 21.-If success does
r. not, attend the movement that IS
Il now on foot to reform the French
marriage law, it will not, at any rate,
be because men. and women of position
and influence have failed to identify,
themselves with it,, The idea, OF
course, is to get rid of all the restric-
tions and red-tapism that now MAKE
the business Of getting MARRIED IN
France a matter of such unconsclonaple
time and. trouble, as we'll as to put potI
parties in the transaction on an equal
Footing ia the eyes of the law, and with
The object of bringing the whole mat
ter definitely before the chamber OF
IDENTITIES. committee has recently been
formed in Paris that is eminently repre-
sentative of both the intellect and the
culture of France. ..:
Chief of the members OF this com
mittee is, perhaps, President Sere De
Revieres, who is supreme Judge OF the
French correctional court. and one or
the leading legal authorities In the re-
public.
The moving spirit of the reform
movement is, however. Maitre Henri
Coulon,. the distinguished advocate and
jllrist who for the last twenty tive years
has been directing practically all his
efforts toward etfecting drastic changes
in the laws which at present regulate
the marriage contract'' in the repub-
lie. Quite a number of authors and
feminists of real distinction are also
members of the committee.
1t is the committee s intention to
bring -bill-drafted by Maitre. Coulon
before the French chamber of depu-
ties Immediately after the coming cleo
ticns-or early in June next.
Queer Law in Force Now. =
This bill will aim first. at enabling
young men and women who have at
tanned the age Of q and Is respective.
ly to marry without the consent of
their parents, and at abolishing the ex:
asperating and undigniied system OF
offcialdom which at present makes
marriage so severe a trial.
According to the present law, OF
course. men under 25 and girls under
81 cannot marry without the paterna
consent--with the result, as everyone
married for her dot that the details
of the courtship' are bossed by tn
relatives of both, and love general,
put out of the question altogether
Moreover; in France, declarations an
have to be drawn up and signed AM
even an elderly fance Of 80 has to gail
tne CONSENT Oh Ine neaQ OF MS. FANNY
be- ore he is able to appear at tn
marie of Il his neigh borhooa' with Iii
bride I1s'*..s.s. s.
Here, for example, is a list of tn
documents which two young people mus
produce before they marry: sFhe youn
man: =. -, ...,s<.@
First-IIs birth certificate -.
Second THE consent of his father.
Third-The consent Of his mother.ss
Fourth--His military Certificate IN
Fifthz-A Certificate Of the banliss 3sssyit
the name, of the place Of publicat iofIfsS
Sixth--The: names of the plaeesSMhsr
his and her parents live. z4fSs**ssaz ssRass I
The girl must bring fsup posing sh
is an ofnhau III. a., T. sSs. -
Ftfst4IIe tS htr;th &c tIaeaf ss& + ~
sShond+-4s "a ssth cerffneataH Of he
T5hird--A death certificate of hi
mother. :- ~"'~,-~:1> FL
Fourth-A certificate of residence 7,
Paris. 49,. =
Fifth--The consent of her grandmothe
Law Causes immortality. :; =.
Is it anv&wonder that; as the, ma
riage reform committee points out, t
law, causes immortality, in Franc
There is growing tendency of m
and women, who have no. families,
live together without the formality