The Washington herald., 1913-03-09

of a large and important subject. Those
who desire more definite or more exten-
sive information than the text contains
will find some suggestions at the end OF
each chapter. In An age when men ap-
pear ready to proceed with diagnosis
and to prescribe remedies without much
preliminary study of the physiology of
city government, too much stress upon
the importance of the latter branches Of
the subject can scarcely be laid. We
have heard so much in recent years
concerning what the government OF
American cities ought to be. that an
apology is hardly necessary for the en-
phasis which this volume places upon
what their government really Is.
THE HOUSE OF SHAME. by Charles FELTON, Pid-
pin author Of 'Blennerhassett" The Como
politan Pres New York. Price S3
This Is a story of love and marriage,
not the old ia shioned kind with Its pre-
ceding days of loving courtship. the ring
and the kiss, the congratulations Of rela-
tives and friends, and the certificate at
testing the tie that binds until broken
by human or divine law. 1t tells Of the
plural marriage contracted i'm secret; con-
gratulations by no loving friends nor rela-
tives, no ring, no certificate; a marriage
by which a man takes two or more wives.
What are the results of such system
of marriage? To show them this story
has been written. The United States is
a nation Of monogramists. Public morals
and the law require that man shall
have but one living wife. Those who
contract marriages contrary to this law
are termed bigamists Plural marriage
Is polysamy. Polygamy Is bigamy.
Why should not all bigamists. argues
the author. pay the penalty prescribed
by law? 1t is contended by certain
sect that such marriages are a part
l6f their religious belief and that the
Constitution OF the United States
guarantees religious freedom. The Con-
stitution does grant religious freedom
to the individual: but a combination Of
individuals may adopt certain customs
and religious ceremonials. contrary to
public policy, which may injuriously affect
the morals
A man may believe In human sacrifice.
but he has no right to combine with
others and carry his belief into practice.
He may believe that all men should give
one-tenth of their income to God. but
he has no right to combine with others
and force such a contribution. He may
believe that a man should be allowed to
have more than one wife. He takes his
first wife openly, within the limits of the
law. But II he takes a second wife. a
third. or more, he does 1t secretly. thus
acknowledging the supremacy of a law
which he evades.
In some States and large cities there
are official registration records of births.
deaths. and marriages. In the great ma
jority these records are wanting or are
defective. In all the States they should
be complete and accurate In such rec
ords all plural marriages and nameless
children should be registered as illegal
and illegitimafe. The divorce laws of
forty-eight States are dissimilar. A law
breaker in one State should not be con-
sidered a law-abding citizen in another
How can these heterogeneous conditions
In the forty-eight States be co-ordinated,
asks the author? Manifestly, only by
uniform laws.
THE DAY OF DAYS. BY Louis Joseph vanee
illustrated, Little. Brown 4 Co. Boston. Phce
SIS
Mr. Vance's new story has all the
qualities that made The Brass Bowl"
The Black Bag" and others Of his