The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1915-01-17
GIRLS WARNED OF
MARRIAGE BY TAFT
"Single Blessedness" Often Pref
cradle, Says Former
President.
AGAINST LITERACY TEST

Former President William Howard Taft
, warned an East Side audience OF girls
yesterday against forsaking single bless
! edness" just because II IL the custom TO
get married. He also came out strongly
against the hteracy test In the immigra-
tlon bill now before President Wilson.
Mr.. Taft delivered an address before
about 500 pupils Of the Hebrew Technical
School for Girls at Fifteenth street and
Second avenue. Relatives and friends of
the pupils also we're present Nathaniel
Meyers. president Of the school, introduced
the guest OF honor who listened intently
to the singing of patriotic songs by the
pupils
at Is the spirit OF labor that prevails
here among immigrants and the children
| OF immigrants born in this country that
causes me to be opposed to the literacy
test in the immigration bill" Mr.. Taft
said. 1.-THE immigrant as 7 have OBJ
served him, is willing to work to maintain
his place In the world. He In not one
OF those who want to live by his wits and
do no hard labor In producing Those
who live by their wits do not always make
| the best citizens or the best members Of
society.
1T IL the men who make their way IN
| life by labor, physical labor. that estimate
truly the value Of education. Because ne
cannot read or write himself, the imm!-
grant is determined that his children shall
/ obtain the benefits of schooling
while on a former visit TO tho East
side Of this city ! was much impressed by
the gratitude manifested by the mmi-
grant for the benefits obtained in this
country. His patriotism and pride in the
glorious deeds of hts adopted countr y
were strong motives that led me to veto
the immigration bill with literacy test
that came before me while President.
1T would not do any harm N some
OF tho old families of this country would
emulate the immigrant In this. az II
! points the way to real success.
TN this age of greater fratcrnal feeling
when philanthropic work In being eN-
| tended 10 IL good to see such concrete ex-
, amples OF philanthropy as this institution
| represents There In much generosity in
the world that only does good 10 tho
gver's heart. This work goes further
and does good TO very many girls and
their families. The success Of the school
Is inspiring.
81 was glad 10 see by your presidents
report that only 26o OF your girl gradu-
ates out Of 400 got married. That i'm
pressed me az showing great sense on the
part of the girls am not opposed to
marriage. No. I am believer In II.
But when "A marriage is forced 10y cir
cumstdnces conjugal life II not so desir-
dnle ~ slhele plesSeunsss LOT inc woman
Many women remain single and devote
their lives to noble purpose
MANY women believe they have 10
marry not because they love the men
I they marry or expect to become attached
TO their husbands. but because II is the
| custom TO marry.
THE graduates OF this institution who
| have gone out into the world and make
| from $40 to 500 a month by their work
/ have made no mistake In their choice OF
single blcssedness.
( The ease with which the marriage tic
Is now broken endangers the sanct'y
OF the home. Easy divorces make the
/ pcrpetuity of the home most precarious.
/ The girls educated here are not inclined
! 10 promote tina: danger 90 society Girls
are not broken down by work in school
! the teachers sometimes break down.
/ believe school vacations are too long ~
B present"