Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1908-01-28
international Marriages.

| yesterday tne WOrid STOOD Stlii Willie
the ceremony was performed By which
another American girl gave herself and
her millions in exchange for foreign
title. There was all the pomp and dis
play which usually accompanies such
| functions. The New York 400 heart
lessly trimmed down to $50 for the &C.
| casisn-were on hand, and the other
New Ycrkers got as near to the center
of attraction as the clubs of the
| policemen would allow. The rest of
| creation has to content themselves with
| the newspapers.
| 1t is all very we'll to say that it is
| Gladys Vanderbilt's own business
whom she marries and bestows her
| makes such an affair its own business,
and with more justification, too. than
in many cases in which it manifests an
| interest. Wealth and station pay the
penalty of the limelight, and the bar
ter of American fortunes for European
titles, girl being thrown in with the
fortune, is a matter Of national concern.
Too often, indeed, il becomes matter
of national and international scandal.
Of course everybody hopes that Gladys
and her little Austrian count with the
sneeze-like name will be happy, blu:
nobody expects them TO be. 1t would
be against precedent and experience in
such cases.
1t is not that international marriages
must of necessity prove failu!es-there
are many which are wholly happy. 1t
is not the mixture of races which spells
disaster-nany races are mingling il
successful marriages daily in our great
cities. 1t is this barter of American
life and gold for title and social
prestige abroad which makes all the
trouble. The husbands come from a
class which will not work under any
circumstances, leisure class, which
is invariably corrupt. They are the
worst members Of that class, because
they have sGuandered all the money
they possessed, and are looking out for
more to crafty their low habits. How
good husbands for young American
girls? They are spendthrifts with moth
ing to do but to crafty themselves, and
after they are married they have plenty
of money with which to do it. The re-
suit OF such an international marriage
can be predicted with certainty. In
speaking of such marriages the other |
day Rev. Or. Macarthur Of New York |
told the truth in blunt and Iorceful |
fashion. He said: Some American !
women have paid an enormously high |
price for their titles. There is d type OF
fOnder of titles than are
the people of the old world. Boast |
ing of their democratic ideas, they will !
do more to secure Il foreign title than |
would do. What is the price
these American women and their am
bilious fathers and mothers are willing
to pay for titles? Some time ago dur
ing famine in Russia we read thar
many poor peasants sold their daugh-
IGrs with which to buy bread. This
shocked the civilized
world. American parents have done
more and worse than did these starry
ing peasants. American girls have
sold their womanlioOd, their country,
their language, and their religion for
husbands who are peculiarly con-
temptibe cads and altogether worth
less, although having ancient titles.
THAT il is 4 matter of sale and pur
chase cannot be doubted. These
abomina BILE transactions bring the
blush to the cheek OF every honorable
man and woman. Recent
events il England and France are I, re-
prOach To noble manhood and true I
on both sides of the sea. |
Some of these titled foreigners deserve |
and receive the contempt OF all true
American rlen and women. How can |
these women so far forget worthy |
and religious American ancestry as u |
furSwear the religion of their fathers |
and the country of their own BIRTH"
->-o&-
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