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Marlborough Express, Volume XLVI, Issue 13, 16 January 1912, Page 2

One of the signs of popular education is the rapidly diminishing number of persons who sign the-marriage, register with a mark instead of in writing (slays the Age). Since 1875 the Victorian records show a marked improvement in this respect. In that year of the persons who were marrie 1 7.4fi per cent, could rot sign their names. By the year 1890 the per? centage had fallen' to 1.52 per cent., and, since then thei^e has been a gradual reduction, until the latest records show the percentage to be .29. The percentage of persons, in England and Wales who sign their max-riage register with a mark is 1.22. In Scotland it is 1.31, and in Irolarid' 5.75. The progress.' of elenientaiy education iis shown in ia j "marked manner by, the ! marriage, records." During the five-year, period from 1841-45.* about 49 women in every 100 who married in England and Wales could! not wjite, but in 1903 the proportion of illiterates was only ■a little more than 1 in'-every 100 marriages. In the case of men,' the proportion was 33 in every 10Q in #i0?----eaoly period, and slightly over- 1 in* 100 in tlie latter. In victoria the improvement is «lso very strilcing. During the period 1853-55 about 27 women and 12 men in every 100 mar- j rittges. signed with marks, as coni- ( .pared with! about 1 in 300 in 1910.