El Paso herald. (El Paso, Tex.) 1901-1931, 1911-03-08
The Decaying Aristocracy
Shall It Buy More of Our Girls?
BY LA RENE HELEN BAKER.

] those who value their own citizenship
basely, and give such a fictitious
value TO a title which is as often as not
discredit 10 all who bear IT.
far moe important aspect of the
case is the point Of view which regards
daughters happiness as a mere pawn
IN the game Of dollars exchanged for
a titled connection It is a traffic in
flesh and blood It ignores the ele-
mentary necessity of love as the only
excuse for marriage 1t imposes a new
objection 20 the youth of native
worth" 1t misunderstaads matrimony.
1t is an obstacle TO Eugenic marri-
age-the hope Of the race.
L consider this question IN no mar
rowly patriotic spirit, although there
IS patriotic side to it. and the United
states may some day see with regret
how evil communications corrupt good
manners We shall fail to retain re-
publican institutions if we begin to
acknowledge the superior attractions
Of the worst phases OF monarchical life.
OF these, however, I do not need to
speak here. I picture rather the per-
soual phase. the position OF the pur-
chased bride Let me emphasize the
fact, that although half the discredft
is on the husbands side and the man
is being paid to marry just as II he
were dry goods clerk paid TO meas
sits lightly on these idle triflers. To
feel moral stigms there must be a
tender constituencies 1t is not the
guiltiest who suffers most; it is the
weakest Far from her home. stranger
in an unaccustOmed environment. the
bride enjoys what excitement her nov
Ell situation brings, then settles down
TO endure a thousand insults. injuries.
sights and troubles. She IS fortunats
If she is merely neglected Her func-
ton is ended when she has delivered
the dollars She is thereafter an en-
cUmbrance. Out OF harmony with all
her husbands inherited tastes, out
Of touch with the circle in which he
moves, kept from his intimates lest he
should be betrayed by her rivals. she
lives the life Of a dog. He has no
fear Of divorce. International diff
culties and the absurdities OF British
divorce law give the husband 8 free
hand The ante-nuptial settlements,
which he insists upon as the price OK
his degrading wedding ring. are drawn
UP by his lawyers in his interests Her
family have proved by their dfscredtt-
able bargain that they do not want her
to return TO them-a bad bargain. MI
nus bOth dollars and title.
1t may be urged that the girl is in
all cases a cOnsenting party-if she
IS generally victim of ignorance She
sells herself for a title without know
ing the nature OF her contract She
does not understand what marriage Is,
or she could rarely be brought to the
slaughter as mildly as is the rule. The
gilt Of the eOrOnet dazzles her eyes.
she is eager to please her parents, she
has heard romantic tales OF the privi-
legeS of peereSSeS. She has had little
If any intimation Of the true meaning
OF marriage. She has had no eugenIc
education. OF the fearful possibilities
of her future she has had no warn
ing. 1t may sound alluring to think
that this fair flower will replenish an
OutwOrn stock, but does she know that
the stock may be a diseased one? Does
she guess what II means when a poll
luted race seeks new blood to prevent
its own extinction? The revelations OF
a court physician in London recently
astonished the uninitiated by its aw-
full proclamation Of lunacy, paralysis
and disease in the families called no
BILE" Disease is a word which covers
unnameable horror; its nature should
at least be limited at by parents, who
recklessly embark on the pursuit OF
titled soninlaw
1t is the more important that pub
lie opinion should set its face against
these alien marriages in that law can
not help us here. I appeal to American
parents TO study their child's best in
terests of democracy and decency. and
slider the nations dignity and the IN
terests OF democracy and dencency. and
to the American girls to think OF the
health and happiness of themselves and
their future offspring. If between San
Francisco and New York city there Is
not to be found a youth. good. great
and noble enough for our girls to mate.
perhaps we may encourage a more per-
feet type. by our best women marrying
our own best men,