Show cupid aided by microbe the suggestion that the nial fever Is due to a microbe has been less strongly opposed by med icae men since the recent experience ot Pott stoan in pennsylvania says the philadelphia record A number of young people who were cast for parts in a series of amateur dramatic performances were victims of an epi demic ot marriage it began during the rehearsals a young man first showing symptoms of the malady which soon extended to the young who was the most intimately associated with him in the plays the advocates of the microbe theory were not surprised when others presented evidence of infection before the rehearsals hear ceased five couples an bounced their engagement since then the manager the prompter and the stage carpenter have succumbed to the disorder and there is a reason able expectation that the epidemic will extend to persons outside the dra matic party out of the license fees already gathered the county clerk has bought a new overcoat and the preacher who does most of the marry ing has ordered a new carpet for his wife it Is recalled that of the young men and women who were trans ported from san francisco to manila in a government vessel to become public school teachers seventy eight went through the marriage ceremony before tha ship reached the philip pines among the victims in this case were many hitherto obdurate bach elors whose transformation cod be accounted for only by the germ theory other instances where mabrl mony has assumed an epidemic form have been explained as the effect of example but there Is in the conditions inconsistent with the oper atlon of microbe at first view it may seem unreasonable to think an organ ism so minute as to be visible only under a high microscopic power could work a man weighing pounds but any person afflicted with the grip will not doubt the enormous power of a disease germ it has produced a sul bidal mania and might therefore in spire a man with a purpose to marry |