Page:Marriagewithade00forbgoog.djvu/27

 barrier having been broken down, other marriages most undesirable, both of consanguinity and affinity, would follow and there would be a general and almost inextricable confusion of relationships. Until this point, equally with the one just above, can be answered in the negative, I maintain that such marriages are “detrimental to the best interests of our social life”. But, of course, I must not stop here. These simple propositions and considerations will not, alas! convince those who are eager for the change. I may ask, well-nigh in despair, will anything influence those, whom self-interest it may be, or family convenience is urging on to this step? Will anything deter them from pursuing it further? The law of God? The law of the Church? The law of the land? The social hardship to the probable majority? The horrible results that may be expected? Will none of these considerations move them? Let me at least picture briefly the hard lot of the deprived sister-in-law and of others too, from extracts of a pamphlet, called “The sound policy of the existing law of marriage, as prohibiting the union of a widower with his deceased wife's sister, vindicated”: by George Wray, 1849. “A relaxation (p. 9) of the present law would press most heavily on orphan girls, who would be deprived of the home and shelter now afforded them by their married sister's roof. No longer would these be welcome inmates and their presence as now, a source of pleasure and happiness; suspicion would then usurp the place of confidence; every trifling act of civility or attention on the husband's part would then be productive of jealousy and distrust.” “But the wife (p. 11) and her sister would not be the only sufferers by the proposed change in the law,—the husband would have, also, grounds for lamenting it; since the inevitable effect of the removal of the prohibition would be to deprive him of the services of his sister-in-law. Thus the removal of the restraint, it may be safely predicted, would operate to the disadvantage of all parties on whom it could produce any effect at all; husband, wife, children, and wife's sister would, one and all, experience its blighting and baneful influence. It would sow discord and misery where now reign peace and happiness.”" Mr. Wray further says (p. 13) “it is asserted by the opponents of the restriction, that its removal will deprive the