The Birmingham age-herald., 1923-07-01
VIENNA HAS ALTAR GUIDE
Marriage Advisory Office Tells When
 And When Not To Wed
Kuh in a Vier

Frederick Kuh in Vienna letter to the New York Evening Post.
 Young republics rush in where hoary monarchies refuse to tread. That Is why republican Vienna can afford to test social experiments which would have been unthinkable in the Hapsburgs' halcyon days.
 Two of the latest innovations un- der the new regime bid fair to be- come milestones in social reform. One of these is the Berufsberatungs- stelle, or vocational guidance de- partment; the other Is the Ehebera- tungsstelle. or marriage advisory of- flee. Both of these institutions are still on trial and have barely cele- brated their first birthday. but with a years experience to survey, 1t Is possible now to form some estimate of their accomplishments.
 The marriage advisory office was created In June, 1922, as the result of a campaign by Liberals and sc cial democrats in the city council It should be stated at once that the purpose of this department of the Viennese municipality has no time for playful flappers.
 The chief of this municipal office Is Dr. Karl Kautsky, young, serious. enthusiastic. a physician and son of the famous German social democrat. The office Is open for consultations twice weekly; anyone may seek the benefits of the marriage advisers counsel, and everyone may reckon with the fullest privacy in his or her dealings with the bureau.
 Its basic principle Is that certain quality of health is no less necessary to a satisfactory marriage than a certain quantity of money.
 The number of Viennese who pa tronize the marriage advisers I... Nl,. far the experiment has been a mo- table success.
 The business of the marriage ad- wiser Is manifold. A glance into the official records discloses that the class of persons soliciting advice on matrimonial affairs ranges from metal workers to colonels in the includes young couples wishing to know whether they are physically qualified for marriage. whether they may hope to have children and whether those children may be ex- posed to hereditary ills.
 Unlike the municipal marriage ad visory office, the city's vocational guidance department is not unique. Similar, but not identical. instltu- tions are functioning in Berlin, Hamburg and other German centers. h Vienna, this organization Is chiefly concerned with helpln E school children to make their own choice of a trade or profession and equipping the child to fill the desired position compentently. In this re- spect, the Viennese municipality is assuming a task which, in America. is left to private philanthropic en- terprises.
 One fifth of all children about to leave school and enter the world of bread winners have been guided in their selection. Cf an occupation by this departments specialists. In most cases, every effort is made to induce parents to allow children to continue their education in high schools.
 Wherever poverty or the child's unfitness for study Is ascertained, an attempt Is undertaken to locate the boy CT girl in some skilled employ ment.
 In each case, the childs physical and educational records are care fully examined. The teacher or parents have already filled out a questionnaire. describing the child's memory, inquisitiveness. imagina- ton, will power. frailties and talents. The choice of vocation Is based upon these answers. coupled with the findings of the expert.