The Montgomery advertiser., 1909-12-19
EARLY MARRIAGES.

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 Margaret B. Downing writes to The Philadelphia Record of an interesting Interview she had with Mrs. Victor Nurdock the wife of the Kansas Con- xresman who is the 1eaeder of the fn- eurgents" of the House of Represent attves, on the subject of early marri- ages. Special Correspondence Of The Record.
 Washington, D. C., Dec 4.--In the opening days of Congress there are numerous star roles. So many men have diverging interests that scores focus attention, which Is later with drawn in favor of the few. Victor Murdock will in all probability remain in the spotlight until the issue be- tween the regulars and the insurgents is defnikx settled. He possesses all the quah, cAtions to retain the inter rest of eve i*the careless observer and to the men of his party his person. elity is a problem of more or less an. iety. Mrs. Murdock Is none the less an interesting etudy because she Is Mrs. Victor Murdock and because she is c bright attractive woman and en- tirely absorbed in her husbands life work and ambitions.
 When one has what the public Is pleased to call a romance in the family chronicles," said Mrs. Murdock. T find that it awakens keen interest And this not only among women who are presumed to be sentimental and to have proper regard for the game of hearts, but also among men and to :. whom the antics of the little blind god are not usually appealing. MT Murdock and I fell in love so young that 1t looks now as if I must always have looked on him as the man fate had picked out. We went to school as children to the same academy and 1T I should say how young I was then I decided to marry him, I am afraid 1t must demoralize the rising genera ton and get all the parents incensed that mould acknowledge such Jud- yenile folly. My parents thought ex- actly as do now. and as suppose the majority of parents all over the world view the calf loves of their off- spring They frequently scolded me severely for even thinking about love. and suggested that 1t would be wise ! if received some education and know ? ledge of things domestic before con sidered the grave proposition Of be- coming young victors wife. l listen ed obediently and really tried to. do as was bidden. even consented to go away to boarding school and this was as much for my youthful lovers sake as mine own. You see 1t was pointed out that Victor should be given a chance to apply himself to his work minus the distraction of calling frequently on a sweetheart. We both finished our studies in the little academy in Wichita and from the school room my. husband went as once to his fathers paper, the Wichita Eagle. He was making good progress but of course he was young and had to climb slowly upward. acknow- iedred the injustice of distracting him from his work and I went away to. boarding school in Indiana and I made a brave effort to content my self with acquiring wisdom. But my effort was short lived. I found 1t impossible. and my parents with good sense and a real desire for my happi- ness, brought me home and in short time We married. Mir. Murdock was nineteen and was sixteen.
 q am often asked if approve Tof early marriages and what think Is the general prospect of young people being happy when they wed In what is regarded as an immature age. From my own standpoint believe In marry ing young and. of course. never oo so except from the strongest devotion and because you simply cannot live without the man you love. Then believe that one must be very young to love that, way. In later years come more selfish considerations Certain 1v my marriage has been happy, and ii I had waited until l was past thirty should not have accomplished more toward mutual happiness and success in the sense which married happiness means. But then really would not like my daughter to think about marrying at sixteen. I should shrink from her assuming such grave re- sponsibilities at the age when she is @ just budding into girlhood and when g her life should be carefree and ful of sunshine. In the present era marri' age seems a considerable risk. nc matter at what age 1t Is undertaken [ can realize many objections to sucf early unions as mine. That 1t has ter minated so happily is really won. der.
 "On the whole. incline to think that 1t is better to wait little time before rushing into matrimony. Lte is more complex now than 1t was IT Kansas about twenty years ago.Youne people as & rule do not wish to make small beginnings, and then competi- ton is so strenuous that to begin any sort of life without Q thorough training for it is to court disaster. believe in getting a good education and as much of 1t as one possibly can That, of course. does not mean all ways to go through college or to spend much time in school rooms. Many men can educate themselves. but the training in colleges and high schools helps a great deal. I look with appre- hension on the lessening influence oi the marriage bond view, the ease witt which divorce Is sought and grantel with a grave fear for the future. But 1ba age at which to marry is only one phase of the question. It |: disheartening to note that as many marriages contracted young and from ideal motives terminate by law as those in which the principals are actuated by less worthy considera- tions and who took on the vows IT maturer years.