Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1920-02-03
Maine Vital Statistics.

I06 Gays OF CD6 CnllQ Drluo VI IL years
and the youthful bridegroom Of Is years
seem to be passing here in Maine and the
unusual marriages between couples who
have reached the fourth score milestone
are also becoming more and more in
frequent. Fewer freak marriages where
the bride or groom or both have gone
through the marriage ceremony for the
fourth, fifth or even the sixth time are
recorded for the past year, though more
couples than ever before we're making q
second or third marriage, following d.
vorce.
The last year, however, has two pecu-
oldest bride to be recorded since the COL
lection of vital statistics was required by
law in this state In 1892, was discovered
when the last compilation was made.
She was SO years of age and was making
her second marriage. Figures further
showed that one girl of 20 years was en-
tering her fourth marriage after divorce.
However, comparison of former re-
ports of the division of vital statistics OF
the Maine department of health shows
that the last bride of - years was mar
ried in 1914, and that the latest tabula-
tions show no brides of Is years. The
age minimum has been increased but one
year, though, for II girls of IA years
were married, and Al girls of Is years,
during the year 1918.
One case is recorded of young hus-
band OF 10 years, but the last years re-
ports show two boys of 10 years as the
states youngest husbands. One boy Of
Is last year made second marriage af-
ter having been divorced. Probably the
marriage of the year that would average
the youngest was that of girl of IA
years and boy of 18 years.
Comparison of divorce figures since
1892 show an increase from $50 that year
to maximum of almost HOO in 1917,
and these divorces have apparently been
followed by another marriage. 1t is as
tonishing the youthfulness Of some of
these divorced girls and boys who are
again boldly taking up the responsible
ties of marriage.
In the last year 9S brides under rs
years of age were married second time
after divorce; and 45 bridegrOoms under
rs years were also married for the Sec
ond time. There were 20 widows under
25 years of age who we're married Sec
ond time, two OF them but IS and third
but 10 years old when the second cere-
mony occurred.
Besides the doubling of the divorce
rate during the last quarter century, one
other fact stands out interestingly In
comparison of annual vital statistics re-
ports-incressing numbers of brides each
year are older by few months or years
than the bridsgrooms. The young wom-
en- in the many cases where the ages are
reversed from the conventional standards
are almost always girls who are indus
trially employed, this fact seeming to
point to the conclusion that the entrance
of women into business life has some.
how effected change in matrimonial
habits.
While an unbelievably large percent
age Of the men and women making the
$3.50 marriages the past year were mar
ried more than once, there was no rec
ord of any person, man or woman, hav.
ing been married more than three times
previously. Other years have always
shown q fifth new marriage and there
are several records of men entering mat
rimony for the sixth time.
Even casual examination of the vital
statistics records here reveal many inter-
esting facts, tragic and humorous, as
human history always must be. During
1918 there we're of course tremendous
number OF war marriages and one In
stance stands out from the records as
especially pathetic. A bride of % years
and her soldier sweetheart of the same
age were apparently married by special
license during brief furlough in Sep
TENDER, 1918, just before the young bus
band went overseas. In red ink across
this same record, apparently added about
two months later, was the information,
"This boy now 6lls soldiers grave In
France" Between bis wedding day 10
September, 1918. and the signing Of the
armistice on November II, 1918, he had
parted from his bride, sailed away to
France, fought and died.
Rather offsetting such tragic stories az
this are the painstaking and often de-
cidedly funny efforts the parties max
ing the marriage have gone through to
fill out the cards properly. One young
bridegroom stated that be was % 78
years old, while several girls were &C.
cretive to the point of absolute Darkness
concerning their ages. Several brides Of
Il were married to husbands from 45 to
81 years Of age, In fact the predouinance
of marriages of these child brides was
with men three to four times their own
age.