The Washington herald. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1906-1939, 1911-03-20
SUFFRAGE LEADER
GIVES CUPID TIPS
Rev. DIR. Anna H. Shaw Has
Rules for Marriage.
PROPER HEALTH NECESSARY
President of National woman's suf-
frage Association Declares Certifi-
cate of Physical Fitness, Mutual
Respect, and Income of at Least 80
Week Should Be Compulsory.

Rev DR.. Anna H. Shaw, president OF
the National Woman's Suffrage Associa-
ton, firmly believes in the plan recently
discussed in The Washington Herald as
regards the issuance of a health certi-
ficate to parties contemplating matri-
mony
Assistant District Attorney Ralph
Given ON Friday at the hearing of case
of nOnsupport expressed the fervent
nope that such a law be framed and
adopted by Congress.
The leader of the suffrage cause in this
country has four rules. which she would
have emphasized in the course In matri-
mony which she believes should be com
pulsory to every young man and young
woman in the United States.
Four Rules of Marriage.
These are DR.. Shaw's rules:
Marriage should imply mutual respect
as well as mutual love
Each of the contracting parties should
be able to offer a health certificate
The family income should be at least
S25 u week.
! No marriage should take place until
at least a year after the first meeting
! thought boys and girls needed to be
! taught how. when. and whom to marry
There is nothing in the world in
which they need instruction so badly"
! she said. Girls especially are brought
up to consider marriage the end and
aim of existence. and in the great ma
jority of cases they are thrust into it
| totally unprepared.
marriage is the contamination Of a wo-
mans life more than it is of a mans. IS
absolutely baSeless and foolish. As
matter of fact man needs marriage
and home more than does woman A
woman can make a home for herself
whether she marries or not. and she
also can keep her character. a man
can do neither. He needs to be mar
ried in order to be either comfortable
or civilized. He needs the restraints of
| home life with his family to keep him
straight.
Illusions for Bachelors
Il don't mean DIR. Shaw added with
engaging frankness. that naturally
ter or purer than man. In fact. they
probably were created with stronger
passions. because otherwise they would
But for many centuries men have
insisted on restraint and control IN wo-
man. otherwise refusing to give them
support. so that women have been
forced to a higher plane by a comb
nation of heredities and environment.
Now they are there they can get along
without the refining. controlling in
fluences of home and children than
can the men,
But as for the unmarried men-why.
| I'm told that furnishers of high-class
apartments make a point OF putting
pair of wOmens slippers on the hearth
stone and that they sprinkle around other
! little feminine touches. just to give the
! illusion of a happy home to the poor.
| lone bachelors"
But why don't these men marry. since
! you say they need to so badly? was
| asked.
Poor things. they don't know what
| they need" answered DIR. Shaw. with a
! compassionate smile They have be-
come so selfish they think they may have
to give up some of their luNuries If they
have a wife and family.
Il would have courses in the public
! schools on the subject of matrimony.
! Even now the schools are beginning to
| introduce courses in social hygiene Only
such lessons. intelligently accepted by
I
| future welfare of the race.
Should Have Good Health
Il firmly believe that in the present
state of society it would be advisable
to pass a law forbidding clergymen and
! justices of the peace to marry a young
couple unless each is able to produce
certificate of health.
Then there should be courses which
! would teach young men and women the
practical side of married life. Every
woman should know how to cook and
keep house and sew, whether or not she
has to do any of these things herself
! after her marriage
But not only women should know
about housekeeping. Men should he
| taught not to he absolutely helpless.
| They should learn how to cook simple
things and to sweep and do plain.
! ordinary domestic duties.
Furthermore, both boys and girls
should be taught the care of children
the simple, elementary principles Of nurs-