A Social Study of the Russian German 87 
have ever been raised to any of these cases, and the people will 
go on with the practice until it is challenged in the courts. 
Remarriage is the almost universal rule among the Russian 
Germans and the proportion of second marriages (and sometimes 
third) is very large. As has been seen, few persons are found 
living alone or unmarried, and the ages of widows on remarriage 
range from 20 to 60, and of widowers from 24 to 61. Except 
with young people who marry single persons, remarriage always 
means the union of two or more families and the rearing of 
another, so that some excessively large families are formed in 
this way. Financial considerations do not prove a deterring ele- 
ment in these alliances for one or both of the parties may be very 
poor. Moreover, it is considered that the large number of chil- 
dren acquired will prove an asset instead of a liability. It is 
customary in Lincoln for a man to dispose of his dead wife’s 
belongings to the neighbors for a financial consideration, since 
his new spouse will bring him the same things in her dowry. 
Some enterprising widowers several years ago saw the possibility 
of realizing a larger sum from these effects by a Sunday afternoon 
auction and at the same time providing a social function for their 
friends. ‘This method of disposal, however, is not general, but is 
an example of mongrel customs which arise from a combination 
of American and foreign manners. 
V. Divorce 
Among the German colonists in Russia divorce is an almost 
unheard-of thing. Although the right of separation exists, the 
disapproval of public opinion, the authority of religion, and the 
difficulty and expense connected with securing a divorce make it a 
rare occurrence. The only ground for it in Russia is the 
scriptural cause of adultery; and since women are taught to 
believe that they must submit to their husbands in all things, they 
are practically denied the right of divorce, though they may have 
abundant cause for action. Since marriage is an ecclesiastical in- 
stitution in Russia, divorce must be obtained through the church 
authorities. The parties must present their case to the pastor, 
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