Atlanta Georgian. [volume] (Atlanta, Ga.) 1912-1939, 1913-04-13
17-YEAR-OLD
GIRL,D|VORCED,
WARNS OTHERS
Mrs. Ruth Clay Says Girl of 20.
Is Too Young to Marry.
"Don'tI DON'T" .-...

IF a girl under 20 years old came
to me and told me she was going to
get married, would say to her. For
Gods sake. don't! You don't know
what you are doing.
Mrs. Ruth Clay. the 17year-old
wife who was granted a divorce from
her 19-year- old husband in Judge
Ellis court, on the grounds of cru
city, was talking to a Sunday Amer
lean reporter during her lunch hour
at the candy factory where she is en-
pIoyed
Girls and boys between IL and
20 years old are children" she as
serted vehemently. They haven't got
the sense to decide what they are 60
ing to do with their whole lives. They
don't know anything about marriage
or what it means. They do not know
how to control their tempers or hold
their tongues. They do NOT know
anything in the world about how to
manage a house"
Her voice fell.
Runaway Marriages Wrong"
Runaway marriages are wrong
know what l am talking about, be-
cause ours was" she said. I'VE were
married nearly three weeks before we
told mother. even though she hadn't
forbidden It. About getting married,
we were just like children playing
ae
tractive and we didn't figure on what
the consequences Of walking into 1t
would be. We didn't simply because
we couldn't-we weren't old enough
to-"
She caught her hands together in a
strained little grip as she looked odt
of the window Of an upstairs floor.
He kicked me and fused all the
time" she said. Il used to blame him
for II after we first separated-but |
don't any more. He was just child
and he was bound TO act like one. He
didn't know any other way. And l
didn't know how to act either or 20
make him see what was right or
wrong"
Mrs. Clay said she wished that all
girls who were thinking of foOlishly
marrying under age could read what
she had to say.
If they want to marry, that's all
right" she declared, but let them
wait till they are old enough. II a
man really loves a girl, he viii wait
for her"
Mrs. Clay declared that mothers
should guard their daughters and
sons more carefully.
From the time they are little chill
dren of 8 and 9 years old. little boys
and girls should be talked to about
life and what it means" she said.
! Mothers and fathers both should
| take a hand In raising children They
should tell children about marriage
and its responsibilities as soon as the
children begin to go out in the
world.
Mothers Should Take a Hand.
IF boy and girl win persist i'm
marrying when they are too young
Mrs. Clay said. then the only thing
to do is for the mothers Of both to
get the two together and tell them
what they are going into and what
to expect. Then after they are mar
ried the mothers should continue 10
take the same interest in them, watch
them day by day and teach them
what their duties 10 each other are. y
Mrs. Clay says that ministers
could help conditions IL they would.
They ought sometimes to preach
special sermons to the young girls
and boys of their congress cations and
| their mothers and fathers. Things
| Ike that would not be easily forgot
| ten Young people are Influenced a
| great deal by what good men say"
Boys and girls can't get into better
habits than consulting their fathers
| and mothers and people older than
| themselves and listening to their
advice" Mrs. Clay finished. "Older
people know what they are talking
/ about. II boys and girls did this. the
courts would not be so full of young
mothers seeking alimony from hus-
| bands who have deserted them-fOr
/ Young marriages in most cases re-
/ suit in nothing but separations"