The daily telegram. [volume] (Clarksburg, W. Va.) 1901-1926, 1916-03-10
LOVE- MAKING
REALITY IN FRANCE
As an Incident to Marriage is
One of the 0utcomes of the
War in Europe So Far.
Correspondence Of Associated presn)

PARIS, March 10.-Genuine court
! Bhip-real l0ve-makfng-aB an incl
dent to marriage Is one OF the inno-
vatIons that war has brought to
I France. 1t may develop into a revo-
luton Of the marriage system, and FB
almost certain In any case TO be the
death OF much OF the red tape that
has entangled, and moro or less
stranEled. cupid.
Marriage was hard hit during the
| first months OF the war, but by rea-
son OF the authorization OF unions
by proxy and the infusion of war
romance, 1t Is rapidly recovering.
In Paris there were only 76S mar
rlages in January, 1915, az against
2.341 In January. 1914. In Decem-
Der. 1915. there were ,2S9. showing
n remarkable recovery under the cir
cumstances.
In great many OF these war mar
riages. II Is noticed that girls without
fortune are for the time being run
ming their more fortunate sisters a
close race, since In great proportion
OF the marriages celebrated since
hostilities began the marriage con-
tract has been dispensed with; no
mention of dover nor talk about
money; romance has taken the place
Of finance.
Wounded heroes have In hundreds
OF cases fallen in love with and mar
ried their nurses: nearly every day
the story Is told of some man in IL
fighting regiment corresponding with
an unknown sympathlzer who has
come home on leave to find that his
"godmother" Is worth marrying for
herself.
Women and girls acting rs god
mothers" TO unknown correspond
ents at the front have developed what
Is lightly called 1.-The hErt at the
front" into formidable proportions.
and this is at this moment perhaps
the most efficient marriage agency In
the world. The sacrifices made by
some girls marrying soldiers who
have been blinded or MANNED almost
to the point of total helpfulness
have spread the contagion. and love
affairs are born at every hand by the
close communion of sympathetic
minds centered on great events. and
through the constant movement Of
soldiers coming In contact with new
faces. every one of which under pres
pnt circumstances Is bound to=be
sympathetic.
Some psychologists have inquired
whether there was not In France a
crying need for deeper affection. and
whether the decreasing natality In
the country was not due In great part
to the obstacles Of marriage and the
more material considerations that al
ways entered into 1t. The souI-stir-
ring incidents OF the war have UNI
questionably brought everyone into
closer union and there seems to have
been general wIping out of old
sores that kept acauaintances and
even families apart. There have
been many cancellations through
the exchange of news and the exploits
OF mutual friends, and many In
stances of divided families reunited
over the tomb of fallen hero.
Young people are now being
brought together not by contract nor
by the attraction OF wealth but simply
by the greater force now asserting it.
self of young hearts and common
wills. 1t Is asked whether 1t will con-
tinue after the war, and what effect
1t will have upon the future OF
France; an idealIstic people. after
being held In matertallstic bondage
so far as concerns so vital q question
to the race, is coming out so strong
in the present irresistible appeal to
romanicism that many believe 1t will
result in transformation. If not in
revolution. OF the marriage system.
Some contend that men will marry
younger and marry for love instead
of for money. will marry more in rea-
son and sincerity. and that with the
stronger tic of affection taking tho
place Of interest. divorces will become
less while the population will grow
correspondingly more numerous.