Custer County Republican. (Broken Bow, Neb.) 1882-1921, 1907-10-31
TAKE MATES ON TRIAL
MARRIAGE QUESTION SUCCESS
FULLY SOLVED BY ESKIMO.
Explorer on Return from Far North
Says Ttibeamen Are Welded Two
or Three Times and Family
Eiseord Is Unknown.

Washington. Trial marriage among
the Esklmos or Alaska and in the re-
glon Of the Mackenzie river is n com
pletc success and the life and morals
of these people excel those of any
civilized country, in the opinion of V.
Stefnrsson, ethnOlogist of the Letting
well.Mikkolsen polar expedition. wht
has just returned from the far north.
According to Mr.. Stefansson the on
tire problem of conjugal relations has
been solved by these people and di
vorce and family troubles are unknown
to them except in some localities
where missionaries have instilled
ideas of Christianity and civilization
into the Eskimos. Where Christianity
has invaded the country there is con-
siderable discord and family troubles.
In every instance, declares Mr.. Stef-
ansson, those farthest away from re-
lieion and civilization as exemplified
by the white man have ~ much higher
moral and physical standard than
those who have been Christianised
and civilized
This conviction, hee says, Is borne
out by the almost unanimous testi-
mony of the traders and the Canadian
mounted police, who penetrate this
country. Their eXemplification OF the
family. he asserts IS superb.
when boy reaches the age of Is
or 16 years he marries girl OF about
the same age, or n year younger"
says Mr.. Stefansson. There Is no
| ceremony in this union, and u Is sell
dom permanent one. Cases are rare
where couples first united have re-
NAMED together. II is sometimes the
second, and generally the third union,
which proves lasting.
This last marriage usually takes
place when the couple reach young
manhood and womanhood. and its ties
are rarely, If ever, broken. II couple,
upon first mating, for any reason
proved uncongenial, the one wishing
| to do 80 simply marries some one else.
There are no i'll feelings and there
Is no complaint, as 1t is considered
that neither party has cause for COM
plant.
|
Is the fact that young couples are, as
rule, not very affectionate, which Is
peculiar contrast as when perma-
nently settled and reaching the age OF
from 25 TO 50, they become affection
ate and loving in the extreme and
never unnecessarily leave one anoth'
er's side.
Naturally one asks what becomes
of the children springing from the
trial marriages, but this Is also easily
disposed of and in most satisfactory
way.
children are few in this region
from various physiological reasons. In
some instances they remain with the
mother, in others with the father, but
majority are adopted by other and
settled couples.
Their care is no burden or expense
as these people are communists III
every sense Of the word and even
should a mother be crippled or un
able to keep her own children, they
would never want, as food and cloth
ing of every need of life Is held IL
common by the community.
1.-THE Christianized Eskimos com
pare unfavorably with the so-callet
, savage brothers, for where civilization
has tanned them they are selfish and
unwilling to share.
"On the other hand, II family liv
; ing in the remote regions has foot
enough to keep 1t only one day, ant
starvation is staring it in the face, 4
would no more think of refusing tx
share it's food with anyone who came
along than Washingtonian woult
have to refusing a stranger drink o
water at the public pump. This com
munistic idea is absent only wher
, traders and missionaries, innocentl
enough, have taught them white men
methods and manners"