The Yale expositor. (Yale, St. Clair County, Mich.) 1894-current, 1907-10-25
TAKE MATES ON TRIAL
MARRIAGE QUESTION SUCCESS
FULLY SOLVED BY ESKIMO.
Explorer on Return from Far North
Says Tribesmen Are Welded Two
or Three Times and Family
Discord Is Unknown.

Washington.-Tria marriage among
the Eskimos of Alaska and in the re-
gion of the Mackenzie river is COM
plete success and the life and morals
of these people excel those of any
civilized country, in the opinion OF V.
Stefansson, ethnologist of the Leffing-
we'll Mikkelsen polar expedition, who
has just returned from the far north.
According TO Mr.. Stefansson the en-
tire problem of conjugal relations has
been solved by these people and d.
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-
ligion and civilization as exemplif1ed
by the white man have a much higher
moral and physical standard than
those who have been Christianized
and civilized.
This conviction, he 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 10
or 16 years he marries a girl of about
the same age, or year younger,
says Mr. Stefansson. There is no
ceremony in this union, and it is sell
dom a permanent one. Cases are rare
where couples first united have re-
manned together. 1t 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. If couple,
upon first mating, for any reason
proved uncongenial, the one wishing
! to do so simply marries some one else
There are no i'll feelings and there
is no complaint. as it is considered
that neither party has cause for com
plant.
"A peculiar feature of these matches
is the fact that young couples are, as
a rule. not very affectionate, which is
a peculiar contrast, as when perma
nently settled and reaching the age o.
from % to 35, they become affection
ate and loving in the extreme ant
never unnecessarily leave one anoth
er's side.
Naturally one asks what becomes
of the children springing from thu
trial marriages, but this is also easil!
disposed of and in most satisfactor!
way.
Children are few in this region
from various physiological reasons. II
some instances they remain with TIL
mother, in others with the father, bu
a majority are adopted by other an
settled couples.
Their care is no burden or expense
as these people are communists Il
every sense of the word and eve
should mother be crippled or III
able to keep her own children, the
would never want, as food and clotf
ing of every need of life is held 1
common by the community.
THE Christianized Eskimos con
pare unfavorably with the so-calle
savage brothers, for where civilizatio
has tanned them they are selfish an
unwilling to share. u
ION the other hand If family III
; ing in the remote regions has foo
enough to keep it only one day, an
starvation is staring it in the face,
would no more think of refusing
share its food with anyone who cam
along than a Washingtonian woul
have to refusing a stranger drink
water at the public pump. This cor
munistic idea is absent only whei
traders and missionaries, Innocent
enough, have taught them white men
methods and manners"