New Britain herald., 1922-12-16

markable sights on windy days Bu
 one day last week the popular col
 saw sight which proved to be real shock, one that made him lool
 twice. rub his eyes, and then act
 promptly and rhpidly.
 It was windy day, in fact 1t wa
 exceedingly windy and all along Maii
 street people were navigating agains
 a high speed breeze with lot of pow
 CT back of 1t. On Myrtle street bil
 poster vainly tried to keep his papers
 in the same neighborhood, with pooi
 success; negros hat blew off ant
 landed under the wheels os passing
 auto tr,Ssk.
 l A woman hustling to the bank, ap'
 peared in sight from one direction, jusl
 as a gust of wind "blew in" from an
 other direction. The wind was in
 quisitive and sent slight breeze into
 the lady's coat,pocket. There was a flash of green and the startled police man saw one-two---three--a all the way up to nine--one dollar bills blow ing down the middle Of the street, A 1 few seconds later the woman came along. T lost some money" she said,
 How much?" inquired the police
 man. Mine dollars" Well here it is," he replied. and the fugitive bills were restored to the grateful woman.
 Miss Cora M. Beale of the New Britain Welfare association brings to local attention a subject which is fast
 becoming recognized as one of the most important issues of our national life-the placing of restrictions on the issuance of marriage permits There is nothing entirely new in the thought as it has been considered for years by many welfare leaders who are ap- palled at the increasing number of marriages between men and women who are not mentally competent or physically fit to be mothers or fathers. But Miss Beale's report to her asso- citation brings the subject nearer home and impresses serious minded persons with the realization that such undesirable conditions exist here. The worst of the story has not been told. Tfe proper place for its discussion is in medical journals. At the same time, we should not become so prudish that we cannot discuss in a sensible manner situation that con fronts us. It may be put in a dark closet with the door shut but while that may hide it from view, it will not abolish it. There are fathers and mothers who are unsuitable to live in the marriage state. Not only is a great injustice done the innocent member of the partnership, but upon future generations who must go through life with unsound bodies or weak minds
 Most social workers and not few physicians vii lagree that epilepsy should be a barrier against contract ing a marriage. There can be no dis agreement on the subject of forbid ding the union of a couple one of whom is feeble-minded. It does not seem that there could be any hesi- tancy about forbidding a marriage which would bring forth children who would grow up to be unsuited to wrestle with the problems of life or to help build up the nation
 Marriage regulation is controlled by states. Connecticut should be among the leaders in passing restric- tions the aims of which would be to promote better marriages. It might be argued that marriage is of interest cnly to the contracting parties. That is an archaic idea. Even now the state requires person intending. to marry to go through certain formal ities such as securing marriage li- cepse. It also requires that a cer- tifcate of the wedding be returned to the city or town clerk for record ing in the city files. And 1t also places restrictions against divorce, re- quiring that sufficient cause be shown before the state will. dissolve the union.
 The state could go step farther and insist that candidates for mar riage pass certain physical and men, tai tests before being qualified to se- cure a marriage license. The reve- l lations of army examination boards IS evidence that precautions should be thrown around the individuals who comprise the state. An alarming percentage of men who | were examined had diseases
  ing the responsibilities of wedlock, and large numbers were of such a low degree of intelligence that the task of obtaining sufficient quotas of sol diers who could follow simple instruc- tions was discouraging.
 The day will come when the state will step in and say to those who want to be married: "In the name of the public, show us that you are qualified to be man and wife"
 The mother-in-law of a well known local minister is telling an amusing story, which Is quite a funny joke. on herself. She is a newcomer in Amer ica and is unfamiliar with the ways i of the law in the United States, never having had occasion to take advan- tage of its resources.
 It seems the ministerial family i owns a cat. Said cat is family pet. Last Tuesday evening it followed a visitor out of the house and was lost. There was consternation in the min- ister's household. The cat was gone. l he mother-in-law immediately sal lied forth in search. Here kitty-kit- ty kitty" she called, going around the rear of the parsonage.
 All would have been well had not ! a crowd of nervous youngsters been in the neighborhood. They saw a barely yndistinguishable in the dark, wandering, apparently aimless- y over the lawn and emitting a 4 AS~J~