The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1907-08-01

character and self-restraint enough tc
wait until they reach their majority
while those marriages to which a post
ponemcnt would be fatal, would prob
ably be unhappy In any event rho
wisdom of parents, the circumstances
OF the parties lack OF opportunity and
public opinion, all serve Ii,
most cases to postpone marriage to q
proper age but 1t is worth consider
Ing whether the State should not fix
an age limit at somewhere near TWEEN
ty-one for both sexes.
Girl Can Marry ut Twelve.
The marriageable age at common law
was fourteen years for the male and
twelve years for the girl. 1t is not
generally known that this absurd con-
dition Is retained in Virginia by n
statute (section 1854 of the Code),
there having been no change in that
respect since the Code of 1870. Nearly
ali the States have advanced the mar
riageable age beyond what 9it was at
common law. Eight have fixed the
age at eighteen years for thejmale and
fifteen Years for the female, while d
dozen more prescribe eighteen years
for the male and sixteen years for the
female. OF all parts Of the United
States. Alaska is the only on q which
the female eighteen. Perhaps that Is
as high limit as public opinion will
now tolerate. s7fif 9.s.
1t seems anomalous that tfYc State
| Should prohibit its children from max
| ing binding contracts as TO most mat
I ters of small consequences, and should
allow them, without restriction, to en-.
| ter into the most solemn Of all obliga-
tons. In whose faithful fulfilment the
State is SO vitality Interested.
A girl may bind herself to II man
until death or divorce separates them.
but she may not bind herself to paw
for an automobile which she has pur-
chased boy may select wife at
an age when he Is not deemed com
i5petent to help elect a Justice OF the
peace. siS II X
1t may be said that the law at pres.
ent contemplates only the marriage Of
! adults except in those cases In which
1.-THE parentgor guardian may give con-
| sent to the issuing of the license. But
1t must be clear that this system may
work grave injustice both to the infant
/ party and to the State. The parent or
| guardian may have a selfish reason for
wishing the child married. The law
does not permit a parent or guardian
to consent to the execution by al
| lilIdllG VI q uCSuap IllOl l6 dHC VI ~ w
erty Of the slightest value. Why
should the5law allow such consent that
the child may mortgage his or hc
future? Moreover, this consent Is fire.
| quently given upon the impulse Of
| the moment, without due considera.
ton and under the fear Of an elope-
ment or Of some other tragedy.
4, Many New Arrivals.
A great many additional lawyer
have arrived during the day Amont
4 them is the Halifax contingent. EN-
bracing Hon. William r. Barksdale
Ling trial, and all three members OF th
4 firm Of Barksdale. Hill & Booker
Mayor JOSEPH Stebbins, Jr. of Soutl
Of the House members from Halifax
Is also here. and Is mixing freely witt
his friends. Hon. Frank T. Glasgow
of Lexington. one OF the most promi
this. morning. and former Congressma
r. II. Thorp, Of Norfolk, and Colone
e. Il. Holland, OF Suffolk, came In hbol
the same time. Hon. Pembroke Petit
who has eschcwcd Legislative life t
enter n contest for Commonwealth
attorney OF rluvanna, Is In attendance
: holds the office. Hon. A. A. Gray.
Tho Senate clcrkshlp is a matte
+ (which has been much discussed TO-DAY
owing to the presence. OIL ZION. Mai
shall B. Booker. OF Halifax. who !
looked upon as strong candidate 70
the place: The office Is now held .
Mr.. T, a. Lynch, OF TazeWell. M
clerk. and was designated by Governo
Swanson to hold the office, pending Tn
meeting Of the next senate. Forme
senator William r. Barksdale an
other strong men are backing Booker
and he and his frineds claim that the
WI land all right on the night