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Show With tho cry for divorce reform, which has received new vigor by tho appointment of a commission in New York to confer with other states regarding re-garding a uniform law on the subject, fresh attention is being attracted to tho need of marriage reform, which is really a preliminary step toward tho other. Thus, in perusing tho vital statistics sta-tistics of New Jersey, we find that in the town of Camden nloue, which 1ms less than a hundred thousand population, popula-tion, nearly live thousand marriages were solemnized last year, while in the whole state only 15864 matrimonial yokings wore registered. The appareut discrepancy, an exchange explains, is easily accounted for when it is remembered remem-bered that no lieenso to be married is reiptired in the Arcadian state of Jersey, and that Camden stands con- veniently on the border. Thoro speedy and safe marriage is the most profitable, source of industry; at tho depot you find runners who direct you to the most expeditions parsons; and the dominies marry couples from dawn to dusk, cheerfully calling "Next:" as each fond pair retires. Gretna Green was nothing noth-ing to this. In Camden alone 111,538 weddings had oeetirred stoeo 1887. |