The daily Gate City. [volume] (Keokuk, Iowa) 1855-1916, 1915-09-19

|HE LAW AND CHURCH
oyernment Will Not Recognize the
Marriage Of Officers, uniess
Certain Terms Are
Observed.

Nv Alice Robe, United Press Stan
Correspondent
ROME. August 15.-(By MaiD-
somewhere In Trentina" an Alpine
bldier was lighting for ltaly's honor
nd glory. But his thoughts kept
,rnine from the mountain passes be.
bre him back to the little hall of Mon.
bpulciano where he knew a young
rl was taking the solemn vows OF
atrimony.
The Alpine soldier was Meioli Giu.
eppe and the girl standing before the
ayor of Montepulciano, beside tall
oung man whom she was promising
'love honor and obey his
life. The young man taking the
ows of matrimony with this youns
hi was his own brother Giovanni
Leioli
The Alpine soldiers mind saw the
eremony plainly but he smiled happt.
for there was no perfidy or wreck
d romance in the happenings in the
pwn hall OF Montepulciano. Glow
nni was merely acting as a proxy
br him.
This was the first marriage by
roxy to be performed under the rul-
hgs of the Duke OF Genoa from this
bcality. Many marriages by proxy
Ire being arranged because Of nan
les being hurried away 70 their regi-
hents before the necessary civil stops
br marriage can be taken.
The woman question In Italy today
! one which offers many new phases.
For one OF the important bars to
hurch wives who become mothers
Ind whose husbands are at the front
that they are not recognized before
he Italian law.
Many hidden romance and many a
cart tragedy have been brought to
fight through the lurid glare Of a
bursting she'll. These tragedies are
lot alone those Of the people. Young
Fomen of good families have shadows
fast into their lives now because in
italy the, king must consent to the
marriage of his officers. Before a
lieutenant may marry, his bride must
bring to him as dot, 10000 lire
|S12.000) The girl captain loves
nust return his affection not only with
|ove but with 10000 lire. All officers
wives are investigated, though all
fanks do not have to demand q set
lowry for their brides.
Many story could be unfolded OF
pffcers who. good Catholics, have
married the girl they loved in the
church and who have kept their we'd
dings secret. For discovery would
mean loss of advancement. The gov
eminent is firm in having its, officers
good position. Girls with
put dowry but Of good family, imbued
with the belief that the I hurch was
enough for their becoming
wife, have seen their romances shat
Tered through husbands being sent to
me battle field to die. At home these
goung wives, unrecognized by the law,
are Keeping their secrets as best they
AN in their broken hearts. And
.hurch wives according to the laws of
ne land have no right to subside,
lcr have their children.
, Today in Italy the suffragists are to
ne front in battling with the prob
EN- which is stirring the whole world
that of war babies. And through
ne steps taken by these sufrragists
ne different phases OF marriage by
roxy, OF unhappy brides OF ofices
md OF church wives all come before
ne woman's court OF Justice. The
'ctlon taken by the Milan suffragists
md followed by other groups is: (a)
Q give help to soldiers, wives and
'hildren Of church weddings, OBJ to
o assist those women and children
VINO though bound by no legal or
'nurch ties. yet we're dependent upon
ne man called arms, (c) to care
OF children in institutions specially
provided for this purpose-children
! soldiers regardless Of their legiti-
macy.
But the work Of the Italian suffra-
lists has not stopped here for their
arrest and active efforts are being
!, ,rected toward this wedding by proxy
iause provided legally by the Duke of
rehoa The women are doing every
hlng In their power to facilitate these
isA marriages and are asking cooper
.lon OF all the military and civil pow
- Where serious cases arise to ex-
eaiate these matters SO that tho
roxy wedding may take place.
90 while tie men are lighting the
a.ue OF their country the women are
asnung the battles Of the babies and
ne homes. -
b. = 3 .