New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1914-12-09

Of the marriage laws, which freely per-
nit two human beings utterly unfit
and unprepared for matrimony to enter
blindly into it, without so much as a
sane question or q word Of warning.
There are only four states in the
Union, besides the District OF Column
bia, in which lunatics are forbidden TO
marry. Anywhere else in this whole
broad land a lunatic may freely wed
and people the world with little luna
tickets, and nowhere on earth is a
burglar prohibited from entering the
holy bonds and blessing the earth with
a little brood Of burglarettes.
No Cross-questioning at Altar.
mo. there Is no cross-questioning at
the altar. Time enough for that when
YOU reach the divorce court and apply
for the legal privilege Of living apart.
Only the pure in heart and in reputa-
ton are granted decree of divorce.
The clerk of the marriage license bu-
reau will take your word for it that
you are eligible for matrimony; but
the Judge of the divorce court Will not
take your word for anything. lie wants
proofs. He wants to know why. He
wants to know everything-what your
maid thinks Of you, what your butler
thinks of you, if you wear each others
collars, the size of your bank account,
YOUR favorite color and the Drand OIL
your sachet or your champagne. More
over. YOU can get married In hfteen
minutes, but it takes time and money
TO secure a divorce.
an New York State, for instance, you
are given three long months IN when
to think it over, after receiving your
interlocutory decree. During those
three months you are not married, you
are not dvorced-you don't know whaC
YOU arel But you are given time 70
repent, 20 reconsider. Yet, IN thls
same state, you may secure marriage
license in the morning and De on on
vour honeymoon journey by the AFTER
noon express; and nobody holds up
hand 10 stop you.
Girls Not Trained for Wifehood.
"The average American girl, when
she steps up 20 the altar, knows as
much about her Job as white KIT
ten with a pink ribbon around It's neck.
She has not received one days train
ING. nor given one hours thought 10
the business of matrimony. Into ner
dainty manicured hands will be put the
Grr,,s receipts-and the firm too
often goes 70 smash because the silent
mariner knows nothing OF her JOB. mat
is the American idea.
"And vet why should not every man
and woman who apply for marriage
license be made to go befors. Judge
or a specially appointed of1chl, and 70
nrodure witnesses and testimony TO
prove their eligibility for matrimony-
mentally. morally, physically and imam
ciallv-their fitness to establish fam
ilv? II there were such thlng as
marriage trial authors would not
waste 80 much time and space and
good white paper, advocating a trial
marriage Why should all the trials
come after marriage? Erect few bars
across the door of matrimony, and
everv man and woman will be scramb-
ling to get inside. -,
"Wben we educate our girls practical
l., whom we educate our boys morally,
,yber we tighten our marriage laws at
the right end, we shall find that there
ia notbing the matter with matrimony
better, finer, higher, more
nractical or more satisfactory than
good. old-nashioned monogamy-tne
love of one woman and one man
through all eternity-the love that
won't come of.