Says the "Daily Telegraph" He who proposes any change in the marriage laws must be prepared for ruthless controversy. Though he may be unable to understand wherein his proposal _assails the principles of any of his fellow-countrymen, though he is wholly innocent of intention to offend, it is sufficiently certain that he will be proclaimed an enemy of religion and morality. Yet we dare to hope that the modest reform which has just been urged upon public opinion will rouse no strife, From time to time—it would hardly be an exaggeration to say from week to week—our columns tell of a bride and bridegroom frustrated of their legitimate aspirations by the inexorable hours of three o'clock. Some failure of the ordinary machinery of life, trains, motor-cars, telephones, postmen, makes one of the indispensable too late. And at three o'clock the other must go home single, with such composure as Nature and the circumstances permit. Again, we are familiar by report with the agonies which ensue upon the absence of a clergyman. A mistake, a misunderstanding, an accident, leaves bride and bridegroom at the church without anyone to marry them and frantic efforts to discover someone in the neighbourhood who has the authority of holy orders are made desperate by the approach of three o'clock.
That such episodes are ludicrous should not prevent us from recognizing that they are wretched enough to the actors and not very edifying to the world in general. It is
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.