The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1923-01-13

ability to hold up his or her end OF
the business, would be thought to be
so mentally deficient as to need a
guardian.
Yet that is exactly the kind of a
gamble that matrimony is to the ma
jority of people. and it would surely
be some restraint upon these plungers
if, in the marriage contract, the man
had to show that he was able to sup
port a family, and the woman mad
to prove that she was capable OF ad-
ministering its finances.
Many married couples spend their
time Quarreling over the money
problem Assuredly much pickering
and strife could be saved If, on the
safe side of the altar, man had
tho subject of household and per-
sonal allowances put squarely up to
him. He could then decide whether
he considered that domesticity was
worth the price, and the woman
would have the very great advantage
of knowing whether the man she
proposed to marry was tghtwad,
or open handed.
The marriage contract could also
settle another fight before it began,
as an Irishman might say, by decid-
ing definitely how married couple
was to live Most men get married
to get a home, and home cooking.
They are worn out with clubs ard
hotels and boarding houses. Their
digestions have been ruined by eat
inging community cooked food, and
/ as they escort some sweet young
thing up the church aisle, they are
praying that they will never again
have to partake OF anything a la this
or that, or see made dish again.
and If this dream is not going TO pc
realized, it is nothing but common
honesty for the other party OIL the
contract to state her intentions anu
determinations before the papers are
signed and recorded.
An Honest Bargain
IF n woman specified in her mar
riage contract that she would DO no
homework. and that she would spend
her time gadding around to bargain
sales, and clubs and bridge games,
and that at such times as they ala
not board, she would feed her nus
band out of paper bags, and tin cans,
she would at least let man know
what to expect, and sne Wouio iiahe
an honest bargain.
settle the baneful problem OF the
in-laws. 1t could be agreed between
the party of the first part, and the
5party of the second part, that neither
the mans mother nor the woman's
mother was TO live with them, ana
that instead of running free board
ing house for all the sisters, and the
cousins, and the aunts on both sides,
there was to be a strict time limit 1of
the visits of relatives.
Personal Liberty
Another clause in the contract
should deal with the matter OF per-
sonal liberty. Surely the love Oh
peace would rest upon the roof pole
of that household in which both nus
band and wife were guaranteed
latch key, ana the privilege OF using
1t one night a week without any
questions being asked. or objections
raised. further clause might pos
sibly secure to each one JOY I'M
known to the average home that Oh
eating what one likes, and wearing
what one pleases. without constant
nagging questions on the part OIL
the PARTNER of ones bosom.
If men and women tried as haro
to get along with each other as busl-
ness partners do, and made as great
an effort to make the business Oh
marriage a success. few marriages
would be failures. So perhaps the
marriage contract will work.