"NEWEST MARRIAGE."

Feilding Star, Volume VII, Issue 1927, 19 November 1912, Page 4

"NEWEST MARRIAGE."

CONTRACT FOR COMPLETE

LIBERTY Oli' ACTION

A Californian magistrate declined at the last moment to officiate at the marraige of Mr Garlton Washburne, ot Los Angeles, and Miss Helen Chandler, owing to an unconventional contract entered into when the couple became engaged. This contract set forth that the marriage should not be a bond giving either any control over or possession of the- other; that it should not be a bar to another marriage should this prove unfruitful; that the tie should terminate simutaneously with the death of love on either side; and that neither should have the. right to restrain the- other should he or she see fit to incur other parental responsibility. All was ready for tho ecremonv, and a large party had been invited to the marriage feast, when the magistrate suddenly declared that ho could not subscribe to the principles laid down in the contract, and would not placo himself in the attitudo of endorsing them by being a party to tho marriage. This unexpected hitch loft tho beautiful young woman in her bridal finery and the perplexed young man m a decidedly uncomfortable situation. Both were anxious to bo married ,and there was no one present to perform the ceremony.

After diligent search another magistrate was secured, who assured them that ho entertained no scruples about" pre-nuptial agreements so long as the marriage ceremony was performed in accordance with the laws of California. The rites were then performed, and a banquet, attended by _ some of the leading Californian society people, followed.