South Bend news-times. (South Bend, Ind.) 1913-1938, 1913-07-30
Especial Dispatch.)


LONDON. July IS.
~ LIZ the world and his wife are stn
~ talking Of the record damages OF
s250,o00 IN the breach OF promise
case in which Lord Northampton paid up
without letting the case go to trial The
questions which it has incidentally brought
TO the front have an interest for men and
women alike. for all who are parents, for
all who are lovers-for all grades Of
human society. in fact.
They are not new questions by any
means for they have brought tragedy into
innumerable lives at one time or another
and will continue TO do so. However far
the State may proceed in taking over the
responsibilities Of parenthood-and the
eusenists would have II assume the right
OF forbidding marriage at all in the case
OF the mentally or physically unfit-there
will always be fathers, If not mothers,
who believe themselves entitled to sanction
or veto the matrimonial arrangements Of
their sons and daughters II they think II
desirable to do so. Equally will there al
ways be sons and daughters Of sufficient
independence of spirit to claim TO do as
they wish in so entirely personal and indi-
vidual matter as marriage.
The question that many are asking is -
Who make the best peeresses? And the
topic OF the Markham versus Northampton
case has set everybody discussing, with
widely differing opinions, some going so
far as to say that actions for breach of
promise of marriage should be abolished
altogether.
The Rev. F. B. Meyer who is known in
America as in England for his strong
views on the marriage and divorce ques-
ton. was very outspoken in favor Of the
existing law.
Il think it is quite fair" he said. IF
man makes an offer to a girl and does
not keep it he must pay. Poor people
manage these things much better than
the middle classes and the rich. They
walk out together without actually being
engaged. and both parties have a chance
Of knowing each other. Better class peo-
pie, on the other hand. only meet each
other at balls or parties or in the green
room Of the theatre, and consequently
know little Of each other before engage
ment
I'm America, now. a young fellow can
take girl to theatre, a concert or a
picnic without being considered engaged. ."
A SIMPLE PROPOSITION.
Actions for breach Of promise Of mar
rage ought no more TO be abolished than
actions for the breach Of any other con-
tract" said Mr.. Freke Palmer, well
known solicitor. IF a man becomes en-
gagged to a girl and then breaks off be-
cause he has become attached 10 another
he must pay. 1t is a simple proposition.
The girl has suffered damage because
her chances Of marriage have been les
sened through sticking to one man for
several years. Then she suffers in feel
ings. A Tilted girl is jeered at by her
! friends. and generally she is mad 60 feel
small
at is all very we'll to say that It is a
sordid thing to bring beautiful sentiment
down to a commonplace monetary trans
action. But women must have some rec
ompense, and the only recompense IS
money. The only way - punish men who
break contracts IS through their pockets.
Defendants who have no money unfor-
tunately cannot be punished at all"
THE danger OF such actions" said Mr.
Fairfax, the chairman Of the Divorce
Law Reform Union. lis that they may
lead TO compulsory marriages and
therefore, to matrimonial difficulties in
the future. Evidence on this point was
given before the Divorce Commission
when Mr.. c. H. Pickstone. solicitor Of
Radcliffe. said that breach of promise
actions should be abolished. Numerous
marriages take place under a threat OF
an action and subsequent misery to both
Mon, POo,1T y,