WIDOWS MORE POPULAR.

Taihape Daily Times, 9 May 1918, Page 3

WIDOWS MORE POPULAR.

BECAUSE THEY ARE YOUNGER.

The prospects or marriage for widows in Engand were greater in 1916, according to figures in the RegistrarGeneral's Annual Report, than they have been for 30 years. Spinsters' chances, on the other hand, greatly decreased, first because there are fewer men, and secondly because there are so many more young widows. Half a century ago the widow's popularity was at its height, and 10 out of every 100 marriages were marriages of widows. Since then the bridegrooms' fancy turned more and more to spinsters until four years ago, when it began to change slightly. The war sent widow marriages up with a rush. In a thousand marriages in 1876-80 there were 98 widow brides, in 1911 61, and 1916 85. Marriages of all kinds reached the highest number in 1915; in 1916 almost the lowest number was reached. The sudden fall occurred when compulsion for military service was applied to married men. The lowest birth-rate, the lowest death-rate, and almost the lowest marriage rate on record are the three, salient features for 1916 given by the Registrar-General. Births of males, numbered 402,137, and females 393,383, but the report says it will only be possible after the war to determine to what extent the old idea that war conditions lead to more boys than girls has been justified! Illegitimate births were 37,689, an icrease over 1915 of 1444. Of 88 reputed centenarians who died 70 were women.