Evening star., 1933-09-24
SUBSIDIZED MARRIAGE
BY FREDERIC J. HASKIN.

In an increase In wear and tear on
furniture to such an extent that un-
employment will be relieved and thou
sands Of the idle recalled to the rolling
pin and other factories.
To be sure that the money is spent
IN the right way, Il Is given to pro-
spective brides and bridegrooms In the
form Of certificates or bills Of sale which
are exchangable at stores for goods. It
Is interesting to note that non-Nazi
stores are excluded from the list Of
emporiums where the happy people
may deal.
How Is the money for these dowries
to be raised? Why, of course, by tax
ON bachelors. Italy has tax on bach
elors, but that goes to Signor Mussolinis
miscellaneous exploits. This one, in
Germany. goes straight into the hope
chests. It must be pretty tough for
the sincere swain, who, perhaps for
years, has been signing his heart out
for some reluctant Brunhilde, to be
taxed because he still is a bachelor.
And all the time he would give his
brown shirt not to be! It Is said that
on the back Of handbill.. and often
did, and 1t Is Germany whence most
OF our love songs emanate
Wholesale Weddings Follow Decree.
There must be a great deal Of cross
mindedness just now in Germany and
sudden suppression Of coquettishness
Fancy. for example. the young herr
who has been plying his suit a long
while for the hand Of some charming
Gretchen. Rejected DER and DER, he
bethinks him OF the homely girl In the
next town-but how she can cook-and
he bethinks him of the Reich's dowry
Of 1000 possible marks, and he be-
thinks him Of the onerous tax on
bachelors. Can there be but one
issue?
II one doubts, one should have seen
IN Berlin the other oAy the mass wed
ding Of TOO couples. How long these
people had spared is not recorded. It
took Herr Hitler to bring them to the
question. Statisticians have figured
that within "a hours after publication
OF the decree tnstituting the state
dowry and the tax on bachelors the
phrase this is so sudden" was spoken
each succeeding day.
Another trick In the business Is that
the decree provides that the bride must
be unemployed. That does not mean
unemployed at being bride but mem-
ployed In any way. She must not have
been able to find anything to do for
the previous six months. Those that
do have jobs are not utterly discrim-
mated against, but upon marriage they
must admit they will be busy enough
and give up their jobs Moreover, the
bride who receives State dowry must
obligate herself not to take a straight
commercial Job until the loan Is repaid.
She must get 1t out of her husbands
pocket There Is a loophole in that
provision II the old man is out OF
work or can't make more than a dollar
q day, then the bride may do her part
and bring IN what money she can.
It Is possible that Herr Hitler has
forgotten something. 1t Is possible that
he has not peered into the future in
quisitively enough. It is possible that
he has not vsualized the time when
the cradle factories will be working
overtime, and 1t is possible he has not
fully digested the adage that the hand
that rocks the cradle rules the Reich.
Then there may rise, in the rests q
Brahms Lullaby" a swelling choraDs
"You made Us what We are today"