Forest City press. (Forest City, Potter County, D.T. [S.D.]) 1883-19??, 1912-09-19

one-half the males of voting age were
llliterates. Out of the total population
of 2.O4S. $50. 21.420 We're carpenters, one
out of every seven being i%lliterate. OF
cigar factory operatives there were
24.161. the proportion of i%lliteracy being
slightly higher. But these constituted
the better type of workers. OF farm
ers. planters and farm laborers there
We're S64.S21 males n BIO females.
OF the males, 23o,027. or nearly two
thirds, We're illiterate. The illiteracy
among the females was in about tho
same proportion.
But this is not to be wondered at when
one considers the customs which exist
ed for so many years previous to the
Intervention of the United States. The
price of a marriage cost $50
in advance. The citizens We're kept in
perpetual poverty by those in power.
so that it was impossible for any of
the poorer class to enjoy the luxury OF
IL marriage CEREMONY Considerable
red tape is necessary in Cuba for legal
marriage.
The Marriage Problem.
"A man may live illegally with a
woman and the law will not modest
him" reports II longtime resident
American missionary: But should a
man desire to live like a Christian in
regard to matrimony, it is necessary
for him first to make out Il 'Solicitul
de Matrimonial which he presents to
the minister. The minister then makes
out an 'Edicto.' which he posts on the
church door for two weeks, sends a
copy to the secretary, to the judge.
and if either of the two contracting
persons have lived within two years
past outside OF the place where the
the ceremony is to be performed. a
copy must be sent to each place. After
two weeks all of the 'Edictos' must be
returned by the minister. signed by the
secretary and certified that there has
been no objection filed: the minister
then makes a visit to the home OF the
parents of the bride and room it
either is under age, to witness the
signature of the parents to Il 'Consen-
tlmlentO para memories (consent by
minors). But If it happens that the
father or mother of either minor has
died. 1t is necessary to get a written
document certifying to the death. The
minister next proceeds to make out
the 'Acto Matrimonial.' and the Ger
tIficadO de Matrimonial which must be
I signed by him, the bride. the room.
and two witnesses who make a sworn
statement that an contained in the
papers is true. The marriage service
may now be performed. The minister
must take all of the papers together
with N.50 to the secretary to the
Judge. who smiles as he tells you that
II there are any errors he will send
w HOu. \ C0Sc IIleTC are errors In0
minister is liable to a $500 ine and n
Year in Jail. Thus far 1 nave kept out
of Jail. The minister. If he is careful,
can get enough money from the groom
to pay the 81. so. The missionaries
make no charge. neither receive money
for performing a marriage service"
Canal and immigration.
The digging of the Panama canal will
open the gateway to America for vast
numbers from the states of Central
America and the South American con-
tinent. These will give the southwest
an immigration problem such as it has
never had before. Those who will
come TO us may be either a blessing or
a curse. Much will depend upon how
we ourselves welcome them. The
United States has already conquered
by force OF the arms the brown
skinned people of the south. But these
now Challenge our nation to nou
their hearts as well.'
But here they distinct
obligation which America must meet.
They need schools that will not ONLY
teach their children to become efficient
workmen but which will teach them
the dignity and the beauty of labor.
In the schools that we furnish we must
therefore provide u curriculum which
VIII combine manual training and art
ana music. besides the other cultural
teachings. but principally we must
teach those things which make for a
! better manllmood and womanhood.