A SCHEME FOR IMPROVING MARRIAGE.

Colonist, Volume XLVIII, Issue 11735, 18 September 1906, Page 4

A SCHEME FOR IMPROVING MARRIAGE.

Professor Charles Zueblin, lecturer of Chicago University on municipal government, and president of the American League of Civil Improvement, once more proposes a plan for improving the institution of matrimony. Some time ago Professor Zueblin caused much discussion by advocating a system of mar page on approbation, arguing that the greatest facilities should be offered for the dissolution of marriage in the event of their proving j unsuitable. In this new plan the professor proposes increased precautions against unsuitable marriages instead, of greater facilities for their dissolution. In effect, the suggestion is for so ordering the period of an engagement that, betrothed couples should have .every opportunity of becoming acquainted with one another's faultsandfoibles. ! Proesaor Zueblin. proposes that! there should be two ceremonies, the first constituting the legalising of the betrothal, and second, sis months later, binding the couple to indis soluble marriage. Engagement licenses should be issued by the county or State on payment of a fee, as in the case of. mazriage licenses. The engagement contract should be for a fixed period of si* months, neither more nor less, and marriage should be prohibited before the end of the term. If within a certain period after the expiration of the engagement license marriage does not follow, the contract, according to the plan, would be automaticaly dissolved, unless it was renewed. The professor maintains the belief that the majority of marriages which turn out unsuitable would never get past the legalised engagement stage pro vided *by his plan.