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From The Militant, Vol. 12 No. 24, 14 June 1948, p. 4.
Transcribed & marked up by Einde O’Callaghan for ETOL.
The case of a young lady from Rockville Center, Long Island, who offered to sell herself in marriage for $10,000 in order to provide security for her two children, has aroused nationwide discussion.
National columnists have protested that this incident puts love on a cash basis and undermines such institutions as June, Moon and Spoon.
Moralists and preachers have tried to kid us into believing that marriage is built upon “pure love” and is sanctified by the most lofty ideals. Bourgeois marriage, according to them, is a thing of beauty, and Marxist materialists threaten to destroy this sacred institution.
But the case of the young lady from Rockville Center, Long Island, differs from many thousands of other marriages only in that this case has been made public.
This is considered very bad taste. Usually the young lady and her suitor settle the financial question in the privacy of the attorney’s office. That is – in marriages of the upper classes. Among the workers neither the girl nor boy has anything more than the clothes on his back, so they mate for love. But their love soon becomes burdened by family debts and economic anxiety. Among the rich, they settle the problem of economic security first, and look around for love later.
It is well known that among the wealthy the figures in the bank book have always been more important to the groom than the bride’s other assets, and vice versa.
When a woman sells herself for a pittance, that is “prostitution.” But when a Vanderbilt or a Rockefeller “settles” a million dollars on his blushing bride-to-be – that is “romance.” Such marriage contracts are strictly in the capitalist tradition, and will be duly legalized by a notary public and sanctified by the church.
Workers in the plant where I work see this sensational news about a “Wife for Sale” from their own particular point of view. One said that if he had $10,000 he would use it not to buy a wife, but to get rid of the one he’s got.
“$10,000!” said another worker. “That’s inflation for you.”
“But don’t forget,” he was answered, “there’s two kids thrown in.”
”No thanks, I’ve got six already,” his buddy replied.
“Personally,” said the first worker, wiping the sweat from his brow, “I think it’s highway robbery.”
And that is the low estate to which marriage has fallen under Capitalism. Under Socialism, no one will have to sell herself for security.
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